first sgian dubh

**berserkbishop** · 10th February 08, 11:16 PM

First off, I apologize if this is a double post mods, I thought I had posted this but I cant find it again. If it is a double, feel free to delete it. Darn finicky internet.

After seeing all these talented members making their own knives, I decided to give it a shot. All in all I spent $6 on this project. I cut the blade out of a dollar store chef's knife and the antler was given to me by a friend.

I am wishing I had poured a bolster for it because the blade is slightly too wide for the antler. I put some cheap glue on it to hold it together for Burn's Night and now I cant get it back apart even if I wanted to. Any advice or comments are welcome. I know we have a lot of talented members on this board that could teach me a thing or to.

BB

**Dirk Skene** · 11th February 08, 06:57 AM

Materials for $6.00

That's darn good fella. I am no so talented.

**Arizona Scot** · 11th February 08, 07:00 AM

Looks good BB like I said before I wish I had half your talent or ambition.

**djweso** · 11th February 08, 07:36 AM

I can only hope that my first try comes out this good. (Once I get the courage to try that is). Well Done!

**McFarkus** · 11th February 08, 07:56 AM

Man, it seems as if you can make anything with nothing. I'm jealous.

**James MacMillan** · 11th February 08, 07:58 AM

Great first effort. Can't wait for the next one.

**O'Neille** · 11th February 08, 08:20 AM

Many glues will loosen when heated. You can try to position or remove the blade while heating it slowly. The blade looks to be in a different position in picture two. Have fun tinkering, just think you can make ten knives for the price of one factory made one that is little more than a trinket.

**berserkbishop** · 11th February 08, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by O'Neille

Many glues will loosen when heated. You can try to position or remove the blade while heating it slowly. The blade looks to be in a different position in picture two. Have fun tinkering, just think you can make ten knives for the price of one factory made one that is little more than a trinket.

It only appears to be in a different position. I changed the angle of the pic so the knife's imperfection of being too wide for the antler would be visible.

Now about this heatin, what is the best way to go about that?

BB

**McMurdo** · 11th February 08, 03:05 PM

It looks great BB good luck getting the blade out my suggestion, is leave it and if you wish make another.

**Tartan Hiker** · 11th February 08, 06:14 PM

If you really want to try a poured bolster cut the antler back about 1/2". You'll lose that neat flare in the antler, but the bolster can be filed to form a more graceful transition between antler and blade. That's what I'd do, and that eliminates the need to unstick the glue.
The poured bolster will not readily "stick" to the antler if it's just a plain blunt end, so you may want to drill a couple of holes at odd angles into the end of the antler so the pewter has a bit more purchase.

My only concern with this solution would be the length of the tang. Drilling a couple of 1/8" holes right through the antler and the tang in two places and pinning with a brass or bronze rod would make the whole thing more sturdy and less likely to let go if the glue failed. The glue will prevent the bolster from helping lock the tang in place, so pinning might keep things from moving. Grease the pins and pin holes with epoxy.