Ironwood Pewter Sgian Dubh

**JRB** · 16th December 07, 11:17 AM

Beautiful knife!

Originally Posted by Oldhiker

what is the function of the notches in the blade?

That is called jimping (I believed) and it is to allow purchase for your thumb when cutting. Sgian dubhs are extremely short gripped and don't really have enought room for a full palm on the handle. The jimping offers a very stable place for you to guide the blade through whatever medium you're tackling.

**Joe Gondek** · 16th December 07, 11:20 AM

Really nice,good design,simple and pleasing to the eye
I like the way you pre-poured your bolster and pommel
what did you use to make your mold?

**Riverkilt** · 16th December 07, 11:36 AM

Beautiful finish to that Ironwood. Brings back memories of hiking Ragged Top and camping in what is now the Ironwood National Monument when the Ironwoods were in bloom. Was so frustrating that the old film cameras couldn't capture the delicate beauty of the blossom colors.

Ron

**O'Neille** · 16th December 07, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by turpin

O'Neille, do you use a drill press to keep that hole centered in the handle?

Yes, I use a drill press and a machining vise. It keeps everything plumb. I just eyeball where I want the center of the handle to be and drill in quarter inch (cleaning) increments. Even with a drill press it's good to drill a pilot hole from opposite ends to get your holes centered. I don't use a hand drill because I break too many bits.

**O'Neille** · 16th December 07, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Amoskeag

Where did you get the hardware?
Bob

The blade is an Atlnanta Cutlery blade left over from a trade. Everything else I made.

**Bugbear** · 16th December 07, 12:59 PM

I like that you're using ironwood, good stuff.

**O'Neille** · 16th December 07, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Archangel

A request: could you please post another picture showing how you finished off the pommel bolster? I noted the threading and was curious about that part of it. Thanks.

I can't get the camera to photgraph it. It won't focus on the shiny surface. I'll try to explain it.

I made the handle 1/8 inch too long for adjustment. I then prepared my bolster and filed a notch in the edge of the tang threads to serve as a tap. Once I have the threads cut in the bolster I incrementally remove wood until everything threads together very tightly. I cut the tang to approx length and make sure everything threads together before getting a little epoxy everywhere. On this one I just filed, sanded and buffed it flush.

I had machined a brass nut to a pleasing doughnut but decided against it.

**O'Neille** · 16th December 07, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Ted Crocker

I like that you're using ironwood, good stuff.

I think so too. It doesn't take much. It has an aroma, when worked, that isn't very pleasing though.

**O'Neille** · 16th December 07, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Joe Gondek

I like the way you pre-poured your bolster and pommel
what did you use to make your mold?

I use vinyl-polysiloxane. I just gooped it around the largest end of the handle and let it set up as an open mold.

It's not pretty but I cut my losses by not redoing anything that will still work. It takes less than five minutes to set up.