Noggin

[iloco]

Does anyone make noggins.   I have been looking for a burl to make one but haven't found one a suitable size.  What methods do you use to carve out a noggin if you make them.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

The traditional tool is the crooked knife.  It looks similar to a hoof knife.

[iloco]

The traditional tool is the crooked knife.  It looks similar to a hoof knife.

I have a couple farriers knives from when I use to shoe horses.  Will dig them out and see if they can be used if sharpened properly.  
 Noggins are something you hardly ever see for sale.  I would buy one at a reasonable price if I could find a nice one.
 Just wanting one to hang with my other Accoutrements.

[J Henry]

  Got a picture of one?

[iloco]

Here is a link showing some pictures of noggins on The Contempary Maker Site.

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/search?q=noggin

[jrb]

Anybody got pictures of originals?
Who used these things?
 Possibly French voyageurs?
On google, I find lots of Native American ladles (spoons),even a few cups, but not these type things.

[iloco]

Anybody got pictures of originals?
Who used these things?
 Possibly French voyageurs?
On google, I find lots of Native American ladles (spoons),even a few cups, but not these type things.

Google for noggins, canoe cups.  A few should come up.  Look in the images search.

[Joe S]

Interesting.  Must be a lot of work with a knife.  What do you do with them?

[iloco]

Interesting.  Must be a lot of work with a knife.  What do you do with them?

If you are in the mountains on a long hunt when you get thirsty you use the noggin to get a drink out of the creek or spring.  Saves from laying down to drink.  Could be used as a dipper to eat soup or other items from the camp fire.

[Joe S]

So, half spoon half cup.  That’s exactly what they look like.  Sort of an early sierra club cup.  Suffers from exactly the same design flaw too – wide and shallow.  I guess we’ve been making that same mistake for a long time. 

[Longshot]

Burl is gonna fight ya in every direction.  I've made a few noggins and found that the drill press, with either a burr or bit, is useful in excavating much of the interior, with either a spoon gouge, hook knife or curved riffler used to finish.  Working the inside first often makes things easier.
Go for it!

[Vomitus]

  iloco, I have one made from a dried gourd. Peanut squash? shellacked. Somewhat fragile tho.

[iloco]

  iloco, I have one made from a dried gourd. Peanut squash? shellacked. Somewhat fragile tho.

A gourd would be a little fragile.  I am going to try and find a burl this spring when weather breaks and make me one.
 I saw a table at the CLA show that had a couple for sale.  Wish I had remembered to ask who they belonged to.

[huntinguy]

They are pretty popular with the  "bushcraft" crowd. You might look at BushcraftUSA  forum. Folks over there sell the Scandinavian versions.
Seen a few videos of their traditional manufacture. Lots of work. They used to boil/soak in salt water to cure them so they wouldn't crack.

[iloco]

They are pretty popular with the  "bushcraft" crowd. You might look at BushcraftUSA  forum. Folks over there sell the Scandinavian versions.
Seen a few videos of their traditional manufacture. Lots of work. They used to boil/soak in salt water to cure them so they wouldn't crack.

Thanks, I will have a look in that forum.

[Hungry Horse]

 Unless you just feel the need to look like the early pioneers, I'd forget making a noggin. Using a noggin today to scoop a drink from a mountain stream is not safe. most mountain streams today contain an intestinal parasite that although not fatal, will sure make you think it is. This parasite is also not readily treatable by anyone other than a doctor. That will make your looking authentic pretty costly, if you get this little bug.

                  Hungry Horse

[iloco]

I want a noggin to go with my collection of Accoduntements.
 The streams in the mountains where I live I would not be afraid to drink from them if I were thirsty.
We have a lot of springs that are some the best water one can find.
 I agree lot of contaminated streams exist.  Heck even my well got contaminated and I had to hook onto town water.  We are destroying ourselves.