Dirk

[ChattanCat]

It looks like it might be a full tang blade. Does the very top knob unscrew?

[Thomas]

Hi,
It´s a CasIberia dirk, right?. I got one as my first dirk. But to be historically accurate the handle is much too thick and far too long. I shortened mine by cutting away the pommel cap. It´s brazed, not screwed. I sawed it off, after that the pommel,too (you´ll need it again) Then I sawed the grip off at 2`from the top. Stop sawing when you feel touching the tang. After that I cracked the waste material off. Then you will be able to tap the tang. Put on the sawn-off pommel again and fix it with a new brass nut. In the end you´ll just have to shape it as you like it. I gave a simple carving to my own one.
I´ll try to post some pics soon.
Regards
Thomas

By the way- That celic stone in your pictures looks really fantastic. Is it your own work?

[Charlie Mc.]

Atlanta cutlery sells dirk blades for 16.96 get one and then work on a handle. Leave your current blade be.

http://www.atlantacutlery.com/atlant...il.aspx?ID=824

[Glamrockdj]

Thanks guys, I bow to your experience and will leave it alone. I was at Culloden this weekend and saw some lovely Dirks and it just got me thinking.

I've never done anything like this before but I may well get a blade and see what I can do.

I've tried unscrewing the bolt at the end but it doesn't seem to want to budge.

The stone was carved by a good friend of mine called Ron Henderson, he has a page on my site here

http://www.thesonsofscotland.co.uk/ronsstones.html

[Charlie Mc.]

cas iberia often epoxies their handles in place. The only way to get them off if this is done is to chisel them off.

[Arlen]

First, I love Ron Henderson's work. He makes some gorgeous Pictish stones and if I were not about to move to America I'd be ordering one from him.

Second, I am going to agree with the popular opinion on this one. That's a beautiful and very good quality dirk.
Go ahead and get a blade once you have the money and make a hilt for it that you like.
It's be special because you made it yourself.
I started out to learn woodworking on my own. After time I got good enough that I started making sgians and just finished a dirk.
It's worth the work.


Good luck!

[Thomas]

Hi,
here are two pics of my "customized" CasIberia dirk together with some of my self made dirks, one early dirk and two late jacobean dirks. I needed roundabout 3 hours to shorten the handle. Carving will need a little longer of course.
I think the CASI dirk is the best "production dirk" representing the early dirk.
The problem with dirks representing the era of 1650 to 1700 is that there aren´t many. Most blades you´ll get to buy won´t have the right shape. Do you know Armour Class in Glasgow? They make wonderful swords and dirks.
Congrats on your very impressive homepage. Great pics and lots of information.

Regards from Germany
Thomas