Blade #2 finished, first fully finished knife ( Sgian Dubh )

Justin.Mercier

Justin.Mercier

Joined
Oct 21, 2006
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So, I finally got the time (took a few days off work!) to finish my 2nd forged blade, and first finished knife. Iv'e actually had the blade itself done for almost 2 months, but I've been out of town a lot and unable to work on the handle and whatnot.

George always complains that he never sees finished product from cable damascus that people forge at his place, well here's one for you IG ! Many thanks! Now I'll have a proper sgian dubh for when I'm up at the higland games in a few weeks at Loon Mtn.

This is my first damascus, which I forged out by hand from cable which IG gave me. Also it's the first blade I've ever put a handle on, so while it's my 2nd 'blade' its' my first finished knife. The handle is stabalized deerbone with a rosewood end piece. The fit isnt as good as I'd like, but I'll do better next time. Filing a triangular shapped hole through the center of a piece of wood isnt the most precise way to fit it on. Next time I'll make sure the tang is a more uniform shape and size.

Here's the "front" (the side of the blade and handle facing out from the leg when worn in the sock)

sgiandubh.jpg


and the backside

sgiandubh2.jpg


here's a link to a larger version of the first pic.

http://www.tharkis.com/images/sgiandubhlarge.jpg
 
Nice job Justin! Looks like it might have come right from Stacy Apelt's stocking top! :D If you show that around at the Highland Games, I bet you'll get requests for similar knives. -Matt-
 
Excellent job. Looks good in the case. Bet it looks better on the hose.

I spent my summers in Meridan, NH as a lad. My grandmother sewed my first kilt in 1956 and took me to some sort of Highland gathering in Vermont or New Hampshire.

I'll be at the Williamsburg, Va games on Sept,29. I will be forging blades. I have about 30 Sgian Dubhs in the works for the event.

Again, nice job.
Stacy Elliott Apelt, FSA,Scot
 
ooh i'll want to see pictures of those sgian dubh at some point Stacy =) I always have the damndest time finding pictures of non-mass produced sgian dubh.

More people should wear kilts, they're great pieces of clothing ! I have 4, one formal one in the strathclyde district tartan, and 3 casual ones (two amerikilt and one utilikilt) And though I get funny looks from time to time, they're wicked comfortable. I havent worn one to work yet, but some of hte people I work with have said I should, if only so they could watch everyone else's reaction.

If it was in NH or VT it likely was the NH highalnd games which have been held for ages now. I'll be at Loon Mountain for them this year from sept 21st to the 23rd.

I've already got plans to do a 2nd sgian dubh, but this one with a more traditional wooden handle with carved celtic knots.
 
This was in 1956, before the NHHG started (around 1976, I think).
Here is a great tutorial for Sgian dubh handles.
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?&p=999&uid=550150&gid=829129&imgid=9689118&offset=0

I have one I am making for myself, using a very similar pattern. The handle is ancient elephant ivory. and the scabbard is Black dyed mammoth ivory. Both are completely carved, with sterling fittings. The blade is damascus. It is nearly done. I'll post photos in a week or two.

The ones I make for sale are handled in a variety of woods and ivories and have sterling caps and collars. The blades are damascus. I also do custom and dirks. I currently have a commission from the president of Clan Hamilton, USA. I have made one for a Chieftain, also.
Stacy E. Apelt, FSA,Scot
 
Goes to show a difference of perspective with age =D 76 having been a couple years before I was born, I just think of the NHHG as having been going on 'forever' =)

Awsome picture tutorial on that dirk handle. Thank you very much for that link, that's going in my permanant "things too cool to forget where they are" folder.
 
Justin,
Looks great!:thumbup:

I was down in Florida for a few days last week at the "Dissy" parks and saw a guy wearing a kilt...he was smart....It was SO hot I wished I had one!:D
Mace
 
Looks awesome, Justin!!!! I really like the transition from handle to blade.


...and Mace... ANY excuse for you to wear a skirt, eh?
 
MrPurple said:
Looks awesome, Justin!!!! I really like the transition from handle to blade.


...and Mace... ANY excuse for you to wear a skirt, eh?
Click to expand...

They're KILTS not skirts. REAL men wear kilts !

I'll wear one of my casual every day kilts to the next hammerin I go to. They're great when working infront of a hot forge, very comfortable.

I decided after seeing another thread elsewhere that my next project is going to be a nice mini-sgian dubh with antler tine handle as a kilt pin. =)
 
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