Dirk

[DCampbell16B]

For Stickman,

This is the only picture of a dirk I did probably 40 years ago when I did a lot of reenactments. I sold it to some guy in Winnipeg for $300. Canadian. The dirk handle is hawthorn. The knife and fork handles are bone.


20230326_104659 4.jpg

[stickman]

Nice job. Did you make the scabbard? I like doing the wood carving and the metal work but I don't like doing the leather work.

[ShaunMaxwell]

That's a beauty! Nice work!

Cheers,

SM

[piperalpha]

For Stickman,

This is the only picture of a dirk I did probably 40 years ago when I did a lot of reenactments. I sold it to some guy in Winnipeg for $300. Canadian. The dirk handle is hawthorn. The knife and fork handles are bone.

are there any book or resources for handle carving?

[DCampbell16B]

In college I had a book which described how to do Celtic art, from the knotwork to the mythical beasts. I used a lathe to turn the basic form, then worked from there. There were several books with different dirk styles I pored over. I was lucky as well, in that I had a friend with an antique dirk, so I could see how it was laid out as well. I got pretty good at it, but really didn't follow up what with a family and all. But I still use the procedures to lay out lines to carve on the bits I do now for fun.

Vince Evans does fantastic work. Apparently he does have a book on carving dirks (I just found that out). Google "Evans Scottish dirk".

[piperalpha]

In college I had a book which described how to do Celtic art, from the knotwork to the mythical beasts. I used a lathe to turn the basic form, then worked from there. There were several books with different dirk styles I pored over. I was lucky as well, in that I had a friend with an antique dirk, so I could see how it was laid out as well. I got pretty good at it, but really didn't follow up what with a family and all. But I still use the procedures to lay out lines to carve on the bits I do now for fun.

Vince Evans does fantastic work. Apparently he does have a book on carving dirks (I just found that out). Google "Evans Scottish dirk".

thanks so much

[DCampbell16B]

Nice job. Did you make the scabbard? I like doing the wood carving and the metal work but I don't like doing the leather work.

I did make the scabbard, but it was a heavy leather, without a wood frame, that came up around the haunces of the dirk. If I remember correctly earlier ones (like really early) were like that. The handle is really a later style (about 2nd quarter 18C). I should have put the knife and fork side by side, too.

[OC Richard]

Oh that's a gorgeous dirk!!

It's so nice when someone has a real eye for the style from a historic time-period and makes something that feels authentic.

$300 eh?

It's worth ten times that now, probably.

[DCampbell16B]

Thanks, OCR. I appreciate that.