second sgain dubh--a commission

**george7** · 26th August 08, 08:33 PM

Great work! You should set up shop at the highland games.

**Beertigger** · 26th August 08, 09:04 PM

Verrrrryyy nice.

**BEEDEE** · 27th August 08, 05:13 AM

That is definitely a collectible sgian dubh.

Brian

**DWFII** · 27th August 08, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

Very nice work. You're right about the pewter pommel being too heavy (learned the hard way

)

What is the spacer between the woods?

Thanks.

I almost learned the hard way too.

Like I said this is only my second attempt at pouring pewter...ever. The first time I poured it right on top of the wood and around two stabilizing pins to create the pommel. The wood released a bit of steam (I'm guessing here) and that created a gap between the wood and the pewter. What's more, the pins had a light coating of oil or something similar on them (I didn't realize that til later) and the pewter wouldn't stick to them.

So the upshot was that the pewter was loose on the pins and not tight to the wood.

I could see and feel that the knife was going to be badly top heavy and that only added to my decision to rip the original pewter pommel off and replace it.

On that first knife ...as well as this one...I put a layer of zinc between the handle and the pommel. It's a little malleable and any slight (emphasis on slight) mismatch in the joint can be burnished closed. That was my reasoning...seemed to work out fine.

**DWFII** · 27th August 08, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by georgeblack7

Great work! You should set up shop at the highland games.

Thanks.

I'm not set up to make knives and I have zero knowledge of blacksmithing/bladework. Because of both these factors I can't make these for anything worth my time. It's got to be a part time thing or hobby at most for me.

But that's why I posted in DIY...to illustrate that even someone like myself...ignorant and re-inventing the wheel at every step...can make serviceable and even pleasing gear for themselves.

Of course, there are bound to be prototypes that you may not be satisfied with. After 35+ years of making boots and shoes (and doing other leather work) I am embarrassed to show the original sheath I made for the first sgian dubh. I quietly tossed that one in the trash.

**scotchmaster** · 27th August 08, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by DWFII

I had so much good response to my posting of my very first sgain dubh (with zero experience making knives) and among those responses was a member who asked me to make him one just like the first one.

Well, I can't do anything exactly the same twice in a row--it's a matter of principle. But this is pretty close.

I started with a damascus blade provided by the customer and added a lignum vitae handle with a pewter bolster and a amboyna burl pommel. I inlaid the medallion into the handle just a wee bit.

The sheath is constructed around a zinc shell and is made of "dinosaur skin" (ostrich leg).

I don't really have any intention of making these commercially (I've got enough on my plate with boots and shoes) but, as so often happens with first time projects, I felt that I had gotten lucky in several places and wanted to work out some of the kinks in the technique.

All in all it was a worthwhile experience and I learned some things and developed some new techniques.

This is absolutely beautiful work. If you ever give up boot making you could make a fortune.

Slainte!