Ashokan 2010 Challenge Dagger

[Atlas Knife Company]

The Kidney Dagger (Ashokan 2010 challenge)
Steel: 1075 w/ Mustard Patina
Guards: copper
Pommel: 304 Stainless
Handle: CA Finished Lacewood
blade 9.25"
OAL: 15.75"

My fit and finish needs work, but I made it in only 6 days. A week before Ashokan some blocks from Burl Source showed up and I decided to start carving a ballocks handle. By the time my son's football game was over, I had a handle and needed a blade. I had a piece of Damascus that would have worked, but I didn't want to ruin it on my first double edge dagger. Except for a slight curve to the overall blade, I'm really happy with it. The handle, on the other hand, I hate working with wood. As much as I tried, I couldn't get the hole through the handle straight. Time for me to grab a bunch of 1x1 blocks and start practicing.

The only work done after Ashokan was grinding the bottom guard of the handle down from a rectangle to a smaller, more rounded piece matching the handle shape. This is my first knife posted here in the gallery. This knife is marked #3. I have two other knives waiting to be marked as well as a few knives before these(mushroom, fillet, kid's hunter), but they were more for practice and not deserving of being marked.

 

[Hengelo_77]

Don't get me wrong your work looks good.
But to my knollege the bollocks or kidney's at the handle have the function of a guard.
Historicaly they did not have an extra metal guard.

Not to be negative, I like the craftmanship, just wanted to point this out

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

I was in fact aware of that fact. As well, the blade should be single edged hollow ground with a hollow ground spine. However, it's just too ugly without the guard, especially as small as I made the kidneys. I wanted to make a tradition dagger with a ballocks styled handle for the Ashokan challenge. My wife wants me to remove the handle and make a non-ballocks dagger for her out of it. I kind of planned on doing that anyway. I mean, really, who wants a bollocks dagger?

Thanks for commenting though, it's better than no comments.

 

[Burl Source]

The knife looks like it is well done.
But......... it just makes me feel uncomfortable.
I know it is the style of knife but it looks a lot like male body parts.

I hope you don't take offense from my comments, none was intended.
The knife definitely has entertainment value, being able to see people's reaction to it.

 

[Hengelo_77]

The knife looks like it is well done.
But......... it just makes me feel uncomfortable.
I know it is the style of knife but it looks a lot like male body parts.

That is why in Victorian England they were referred to as 'kidney daggers' and no longer 'bollock dagger'

In earlier times (some) men would actualy wear then in front of them on there belt, handle up.