Another tang, need some handle advice.

V

voodoolord

Joined
Jan 31, 2017
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I still haven't built a handle for any of my blades as I'm gathering material and trying to gain as much knowledge as I can before I start grinding my tangs. This one I would like to be a Elizabethan style dagger even though it is a little more leaf shaped. I would like to have a somewhat short cross guard and a small pommel. Problem is I am totally stumped on what handle material to use, what to use on the guard and how to shape the tang. Any tips would really be appreciated. Thanks.


 
i would try nickel for the guard, since it is easy to work and shape. any wood would work, but maybe look at some antique ones and see what they used.
 
If you want to make a classic dagger, use a round handle that is slightly fatter in the center. This is called a truncated biconic shape ( AKA - reverse hourglass). Any black material will work. Blackwood is good. So is canvas Micarta. Thread the pommel and make the guard a simple quillion. Weld a piece of 1/4" threaded rod on the tang to go through the guard, handle, and pommel. After welding it on, you can grind the rod flat on the sides to match the tang thickness.
 
I'm not quit sure how you would go about welding a piece of all thread to the tang. Are you talking about butt welding it to the end of the tang or what?
 
Yes. Just a butt weld. Chamfer it and the tang to get better penetration. But as small as it is you'll likely just tack tack tack all the way around and then grind it back a bit for handle clearance.
 
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