Making a Sgian Dubh...

[highlandtide]

I am thinking of making a sgian dubh out of driftwood (since I live at the beach and all). I am from a long line of Master Carpenters even though I myself am not one (15 generations ending with my grandfather who had all girls!). I think I have all of the basics but I would like any advice on how to make the handle and all. Are there any sites that have comments and maybe instruction on proper assembly?

[Casey]

Hank,

Are you trying to make the entire thing out of drigtwood or just the handle?

Casey

[highlandtide]

I think just the handle. I have an old one that I may use the blade from. I just think it would be pretty cool if a beach kid like myself had a driftwood sgian dubh.

[Casey]

Hank,

I just went into Yahoo and typed in knife making and I got a lot of different sites.

Give it a try and see if you can find anything that you like.

Casey

[highlandtide]

Yeah Casey I have seen the sites about knife making, but I can't seem to find any about specifically making a black knife.

I mainly don't know how to afix the blade to the handle properly. As in should I make the handle two pieces and then fix them together around the blad or should I make the handle one peice and then drill a hole for the blacde mounting. I guess I will dig a little further.

I think Philbo and Kilt'n'Khuk are into making knives so maybe the have some advice?

[Blu (Ontario)]

I'll be watching this thread as I too am interested in doing something similar. (not driftwood though)

[GMan]

You and me both Blu. The idea intrigues me.

Glen

[Doc Hudson]

Yeah Casey I have seen the sites about knife making, but I can't seem to find any about specifically making a black knife.

I mainly don't know how to afix the blade to the handle properly. As in should I make the handle two pieces and then fix them together around the blad or should I make the handle one peice and then drill a hole for the blacde mounting. I guess I will dig a little further.

I think Philbo and Kilt'n'Khuk are into making knives so maybe the have some advice?

Hank,

I'm no kinife maker, but I can give a little info on the grips and attachment.

The one-piece or two piece design depends on the shape of the tang. If it is wide, you will need a two-piece grip. To attach, user brass or copper rivets.

If the tang is narrow or round, then you will need a one-piece grip. Most of the one-piece grips are attached by screwing on an endcap.

You should get a Dixie Gun Works Catalog. The offer several books on knifemaking and the also sell rivets for attaching the grip panels, and unfinished knives of many designs.

[Alaskan Celt]

[Brasilikilt]

Hey highland

I still haven't forgotten about my "Making a sgian dubh" tutorial idea I asked you about.

Does your sgian dubh blade have a stick tang or a bar tang? In case you don't know the "tang" is the non sharpened part of the knife which connects to the handle. A stick tang usually screws into the handle somehow, while a "bar" tang usually has holes which the rivets or pins pass through

I think you'll want your chunk of driftwood to remain intact on the outside without any visible seams or obvious places where wood is glued together.
My suggestion is to get a dremel or similar type tool (a regular 3/8" carpentry drill would also work)an auger bit is what you want as you can carve whatever shape hole you want, as opposed to a regular drill bit which is restricted to a round hole.

I hope this helps.......I'll check back with you to see how the project is coming.

Brasilikilt