It's not to complicated:
1) make a stick tang blade
2) you make a guard using brass, bone, wood,.... Mark the center line, drill small holes next to eachother and connect them using a small file or saw; make sure the slot is not to big for the tang. This guard will cover the holes (and epoxy) in the handle.
3) take your handle material, scribe the centerlines on every side, put the tang on one side of the handle, scribe it's contours.
find a drill(press) and a drill long enough to drill the handle-slot.
4) if needed, thread the end of the tang (before hardening the blade or heat the tang end slowly (don't ruin the temper of the blade itself))
5) glue everything in place (I use slow setting epoxy glue (araldite), attach the butt
6) after setting, shape the handle using a belt sander or files
polish the handle using small strips of sanding paper (like you would polish the tips of your shoes)
7) i made very thin (and elegant) sheats using polycarbonate material(3 mm thickness). This 'plastic sheat is covered with thin black leather and glued (and /or sewn at the back of the sheet). this method is desrcibed in bob egnaths notes on knifemeking (see at the bob egnath link in knives.com)
it's possible that i've forgotten something. You can allways email me.
I've seen an ad of an american knifemaker specialised in scottish stuff (it was in blade or knives illustrated)
good luck
tim
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