- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
- Messages
- 1,114
As far as daggers/knives are concerned I think the XIX century(early XX maybe?) is my favorite time period. I really love what bladesmiths were doing back then.
I own a small number of originals, but because of their age I'm very careful with them. Not too long ago I applied a layer of Renaissance Wax(as inspired by my friend
PocketKnifeJimmy
) and I mostly keep them on display.
I wanted a replica I could fondle with a clear conscience. I set out to either have one made or somehow... make my own. I contacted a few makers, their prices I couldn't really afford. At least not now. So that option was out.
I was browsing Atlanta Cutlery (the infamous page that won't ship daggers to California because reasons
) and found out that while they won't ship a fully assembled dagger to me, they will ship a dagger blade blank tempered and unsharpened. Go figure lol. They are not expensive at all: $12.95.
I now had the perfect blade for my project. Then I needed to find the rest of the items. The guard was easy, I found one made out of brass on Etsy for $6.95.
I ordered these items and waited for them to arrive. When I finally got them I started working on the ferrule. I have noticed many daggers of that time period have some kind of metal ferrule usually grooved and tapered separating the guard and the wood/antler handle. No idea why. To emulate that style I went digging inside a scrap metal bin inside the maintenace shop of where I work and found a small reducer I was able to cut, beat and torture into shape. $0
The last thing I needed was the handle itself. I do not have access to a lathe so I needed to find something already made to shape. I looked in many places for something inexpensive I could use to emulate that roundish handle shape. I was also considering using deer antler to turn it into a WW1 german style kampfmesser but I ended up not going that route. I went to Mexico to visit my parents for Thanksgiving and I went inside an artesanias store where I found a cool looking machete and the last bit that I needed...
the handle would be made using a Mexican maraca (two maracas for $8 so actual cost $4?)....Drilling the hole in the handle was the hardest part of the project. Of course I didn't go straight and the first time I attempted to insert the tang of the blade it was totally crooked. I used a bigger drillbit and had to be really careful. I also used a couple of files I found. Eventually I got everything assembled relatively nice and then I applied some epoxy I already had. Once it hardened for over 24 hours I sanded the handle and applied some wood stain(which I already had as well). This is the final result:
Total cost of materials: $23.90
Tools I used: Vice, bench grinder, Work Sharp, hammer, small piece of pipe, drill.
Conclusion: is it a good knife? most likely not. The blade is made and tempered by Windlass Steelcrafts which are good I do not doubt them. What I doubt my construction lol. Almost everything is holding together because of the epoxy and not because of good fit. Oh well. At least it looks pretty(I think) and I'm amazed I was able to pull this off without prior experience, help or proper tools.
I own a small number of originals, but because of their age I'm very careful with them. Not too long ago I applied a layer of Renaissance Wax(as inspired by my friend
PocketKnifeJimmy
) and I mostly keep them on display.
I wanted a replica I could fondle with a clear conscience. I set out to either have one made or somehow... make my own. I contacted a few makers, their prices I couldn't really afford. At least not now. So that option was out.
I was browsing Atlanta Cutlery (the infamous page that won't ship daggers to California because reasons
) and found out that while they won't ship a fully assembled dagger to me, they will ship a dagger blade blank tempered and unsharpened. Go figure lol. They are not expensive at all: $12.95. I now had the perfect blade for my project. Then I needed to find the rest of the items. The guard was easy, I found one made out of brass on Etsy for $6.95.
I ordered these items and waited for them to arrive. When I finally got them I started working on the ferrule. I have noticed many daggers of that time period have some kind of metal ferrule usually grooved and tapered separating the guard and the wood/antler handle. No idea why. To emulate that style I went digging inside a scrap metal bin inside the maintenace shop of where I work and found a small reducer I was able to cut, beat and torture into shape. $0
The last thing I needed was the handle itself. I do not have access to a lathe so I needed to find something already made to shape. I looked in many places for something inexpensive I could use to emulate that roundish handle shape. I was also considering using deer antler to turn it into a WW1 german style kampfmesser but I ended up not going that route. I went to Mexico to visit my parents for Thanksgiving and I went inside an artesanias store where I found a cool looking machete and the last bit that I needed...
the handle would be made using a Mexican maraca (two maracas for $8 so actual cost $4?)....Drilling the hole in the handle was the hardest part of the project. Of course I didn't go straight and the first time I attempted to insert the tang of the blade it was totally crooked. I used a bigger drillbit and had to be really careful. I also used a couple of files I found. Eventually I got everything assembled relatively nice and then I applied some epoxy I already had. Once it hardened for over 24 hours I sanded the handle and applied some wood stain(which I already had as well). This is the final result:
Total cost of materials: $23.90
Tools I used: Vice, bench grinder, Work Sharp, hammer, small piece of pipe, drill.
Conclusion: is it a good knife? most likely not. The blade is made and tempered by Windlass Steelcrafts which are good I do not doubt them. What I doubt my construction lol. Almost everything is holding together because of the epoxy and not because of good fit. Oh well. At least it looks pretty(I think) and I'm amazed I was able to pull this off without prior experience, help or proper tools.
