Julius Pettersson Traditional Norwegian Hand Drill – 8 Mm

These traditional Norwegian Hand Drills have been hand-crafted from start to finish by esteemed Swedish blacksmith Julius Pettersson. In Julius’ homeland, these tools are known as ‘Navare’ – the Swedish translation of ‘auger’.

A few years ago, Julius was fortunate enough to attend a bespoke smithing course based on traditional Norwegian techniques. The course was led by Johannes M. Fosse, a renowned blacksmith now well into his 80s. Johannes shared his knowledge of a special craftsman’s tool known as the ‘Navare’.

Common usage of the Navare, or Hand Drill, dates back to the 1800s, but they are best known for being used by Norwegian boat builders in the 1940s and ’50s, helping to drill thousands of holes for the construction of wooden ships. One popular story even states that these tools were first discovered on ancient Viking ships. To keep these skills alive, Julius has now produced a unique set of hand drills based on this traditional Norwegian design.

Hand-forged from hardened, tempered steel, each drill comes with a fixed wooden handle and protective sheath, both of which have been carved by hand. Use of the drill requires little effort, as the drill bit’s conical tip helps to pull the tool into the wood when turned. The drill bit’s tapered shape also allows you to choose between straight or tapered holes. Overall, it is a great traditional tool for woodwork and carving projects.

Details:

• Tapered bit
• Weight: 54 g
• Total length: 165 mm approx.
• Drill diameter: 8 mm
• Handle width: 90 mm approx.
• Please note this drill is designed to be used on fresh wood only