DIY - Mountain Laurel Sgian Dubh

**sirdaniel1975** · 2nd July 11, 01:25 PM

So, the other day got my two Damascus Steel sgian dubh blanks in from ACC. Ones for me and the other is for a buddy (un-named xmarker). Mine was the 1st build and I used a broken branch of mountain laurel for the handle/hilt.

Now; I like simplicity, functionality, and rustic features.

Stained it with acrylic paint 3/4 brown and 1/4 black

**sirdaniel1975** · 2nd July 11, 01:28 PM

**cavscout** · 2nd July 11, 02:49 PM

I dig the idea of using Mtn. Laurel! Spent many days hiking through the Appalachians so that wood has a lot of dear memories attached. Nice job.

**sirdaniel1975** · 2nd July 11, 03:15 PM

I love the stuff too. I re-shafted my Tomahawk with it years ago.... 1998 actually. It still looks like I just carved the bark/skin off.

**Woodsman** · 3rd July 11, 09:08 AM

Cool, being from Pennsylvania I like the use of Mountain Laurel -our state flower. I may be wrong but this looks simple enough for even me to do. Any tricks to making one of these? ...meanwhile I'll hunt up some broken Mountain Laural branches.

**ChattanCat** · 3rd July 11, 09:15 AM

The sheath looks a little small for the sgian dubh

**sirdaniel1975** · 3rd July 11, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Woodsman

Cool, being from Pennsylvania I like the use of Mountain Laurel -our state flower. I may be wrong but this looks simple enough for even me to do. Any tricks to making one of these? ...meanwhile I'll hunt up some broken Mountain Laural branches.

Sawed & carved with a swiss army knife.
Shortened the tang with a dremmel.
Drilled hole with power drill.
Beveled a notch for the blade.
Glued together with Gorilla Glue.
Shaped with a dremmel.
Sanded with 60, 150, & 400 grit sandpaper.
Stained with acrylic paint: paint it on and wipe it away. Repeat
Sand again then repeat stain process.

**sirdaniel1975** · 3rd July 11, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

The sheath looks a little small for the sgian dubh

Like the force perspective photography, do you?

**CMcG** · 3rd July 11, 11:25 AM

How is the steel on those ACC blades? Can it take and hold a decent edge?

**sirdaniel1975** · 3rd July 11, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

How is the steel on those ACC blades? Can it take and hold a decent edge?

I'm not finished sharpening yet, I've taken a wee break. With what I have done it's about 90% sharp right now. For the sharpening I have done, it seems good. Now on their Carbon Steel blades, ...... they are really stainless, at least the dirk blank is. So I'm sure the sgian dubh blades are stainless too. The damascus blade is damascus steel. When I was sharpening it I could see the tiny layers. The blade is very sturdy and will make a useful blade.