Rowan wood sgian

[JS Sanders]

I finished this sgian recently. The wooden portion is a branch collected from the mythical rowan tree in the Highlands. This wood is every bit as tough as Tennessee hickory.

The snakehead end is a stock cast I made from a grey ratsnake found dead long the roadside last summer. I used poured pewter to fashion the bolster and learnt the technique from others here.

The business end is 4140 steel sgian blade purchased from Track of the Wolf almost a year ago. I left the blade shiny & a bit polished, though may change that to a browned one.

This one elicits a lotta interest.

[Tartan Hiker]

JS...great job. That's a really nice way to utilize the casts that I never really considered.

[JS Sanders]

<< That's a really nice way to utilize the casts that I never really considered. >>

Thanks verra much. The one you fashioned actually gave me the idea.

Over the weekend I picked up a smallish DOR Nerodia. I didn't really study it much, but wrapped it in plastic and chucked it in the freezer.

Cheers,
steve

[Tartan Hiker]

Looks like you smoothed the cast's surface a bit. Did you use fine sandpaper, steel wool, or something else?

[JS Sanders]

<< Looks like you smoothed the cast's surface a bit. Did you use fine sandpaper, steel wool, or something else? >>

Not much, but I used fine grade emory board and the polishing side to buff out some sheen. Also, you can see some smoothing in the transitional area between wood & casting. Used a Dremel tool there.

As for wood finishing, I learned a long time ago if that wood is sanded almost to it's finishing state and then wetted, the grain is raised. Repeat sanding and wetting until the grain no longer rises. This could be 6-12 times, but once done it makes for a very refined surface.

[attworth]

Beautiful. I still have a few of your snake heads that I need to fashion into blades.