Local Artist Kristina Molder Brings the Art of Scrimshaw to Case Knives

As the Case Celebration in the Ozarks approaches at Shepherd Hills Cutlery, local artist Kristina Molder is giving knife collectors a closer look at an art form with centuries of history behind it.

Molder is a scrimshander who works with Shepherd Hills to create detailed, hand-scrimshawed artwork on Case knives, including limited series and one-of-a-kind pieces.

“I work with Shepherd Hills to do a lot of different, really interesting series on Case knives,” Molder said.

An Art Form With a Long History

Scrimshaw has its roots aboard American whaling ships, where sailors used simple tools and materials available to them to create intricate artwork.

“They would use a sewing needle and soot from an oil lantern to ink their design,” Molder explained.

Sailors scratched designs into materials such as whale teeth and ivory, often creating portraits of loved ones back home, patriotic scenes and other images.

Today, Molder continues the tradition using modern tools and materials. While ivory has historically been considered the traditional material for scrimshaw, she said cattle bone provides a similar surface for the artwork.

The process begins by scratching the design directly into the handle using a tool called a scribe, which has an extremely sharp carbide tip.

“It is pretty similar to drawing,” Molder said. “You just have to kind of press down harder and actually scratch the design into whatever material you’re working on.”

The fine point allows her to create smooth, detailed lines without chipping the bone.

From Shepherd Hills Employee to Scrimshaw Artist

Molder’s introduction to scrimshaw actually came through Shepherd Hills.

She was working in the company’s catalog sales department and helping with a previous Case Celebration when she had the opportunity to sit in on a scrimshaw class taught by renowned artist Linda Karst.

“I was able to sit in and try it out a little bit, and I fell in love with it,” Molder said. “I’ve been doing it since then.”

Karst went on to mentor Molder and teach her the techniques behind the art.

“I was very fortunate to learn from, I would say, the best scrimshaw artist,” Molder said.

That introduction eventually grew into Molder creating her own artwork and working with Shepherd Hills on special Case knife series.

Every Knife Done by Hand

There is no shortcut to the finished product.

Molder said her collections typically consist of 10, 15 or 20 knives, with every knife completed individually by hand.

“Each color is laid down one at a time, and every line in the artwork is scratched by hand,” she said.

For one recent design, Molder created a Halloween scene featuring a tarantula, jack-o’-lantern and bats. The detailed artwork is scratched directly into the bone handle before color is added to bring the image to life.

Collectors attending this year’s Case Celebration will also have an opportunity to bid on something even more unique.

One-of-a-Kind Collaboration Coming to the Live Auction

Molder has collaborated with acclaimed knife artist Brian Yellowhorse on a special knife that will be offered during the Case Celebration live auction at Shepherd Hills.

Yellowhorse added mammoth ivory to the front of the knife, along with distinctive blue mammoth tooth material, while Molder contributed her hand-scrimshawed artwork.

The finished piece is a true one-of-one.

“It is one of a kind, the only one that we will be making,” Molder said.

The knife will be available to bidders during the live auction on the grounds at Shepherd Hills Cutlery.

The collaboration is just one example of the craftsmanship visitors will be able to see during the Case Celebration in the Ozarks on Saturday, September 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shepherd Hills Cutlery in Lebanon.

The annual event brings Case knife collectors and enthusiasts from across the country to Lebanon for a full day featuring special Case knives and collectibles, live demonstrations, free knife sharpening, drawings, contests, live bluegrass music, lunch on the grounds and the live auction.

For Molder, the event also brings her journey with scrimshaw full circle. What began with sitting in on a class while helping with a Shepherd Hills Celebration has grown into an opportunity to carry on a historic art form and put her own work into the hands of Case collectors.

This year, visitors will have the chance to see that craftsmanship up close and, for one bidder, take home a one-of-a-kind piece created by two artists whose work has become part of the Case knife collecting tradition.