Stag dirk progress...By-Spoon

[Mark E.]

Ok, it's been a while. In continuation of the previous posting concerning the fork, I have made some revisions to the spoon effort. First, NO COPPER. That stuff gets HOT. Second, brass didn't work so well-the stuff I had work hardened, and kept flaking and cracking after I bashed on it. SO.....I used a pewter spoon (casting). Era appropriate material in appearance of form, and very easy to work with. I bashed the handle flat, trimmed, and mated it into a roe deer antler to match the fork. Finish nails as cross pins, and VOILA! By-spoon. There is nearly no flex at the antler to bowl joint, and it is a handy size. I plan to flap wheel the pointy bits off of the antler grip later, and am still in a quandry as to what to do with the skull pieces still stuck to the crowns.













Next installment will likely be the by-knife. I am going to make it out of a hay fork tine. For now...Does anyone have exposure to the scabbards of the 16th to early 18th centuries, Scots or English? As this dirk is to have the history of a reused broken backsword, I would like to follow the trend with a re-used section of scabbard as well...

Mark

[Thomas H]

Looks Great ,

[Mark E.]

Thanks!

Not sure if you have followed my "progress" thus far...But I am leaning on the side of a more 'coulda been' set, rather than the things of beauty more commonly found. Something my rather common ancestors would have used/carried, constructed of regionally available materials.

[Thomas H]

I understand and you have picked a very nice stag to use ,Man I just kept looking at the stag handle and thinking ,that is Awesome. due to the shape and color ,real good choice

[piperdbh]

How do these weapons handle in actual use? Can you eat soup with the spoon? It looks like it would be hard to hold, although I think it looks really great and would like to have one for a sgian spoon.

[Mark E.]

How do these weapons handle in actual use? Can you eat soup with the spoon? It looks like it would be hard to hold, although I think it looks really great and would like to have one for a sgian spoon.

On the weapons side-I have already chopped thru a 2x4 with the dirk-and it isn't officially sharpened yet! I was impact testing my tang and tang nut efforts. Feels great, if a bit point heavy. Next deer season, I plan to see how it feels penetrating hide/neck muscles, maybe rib cage-it will be sharpened a that point. I plan to take it to cutting tests when it is at a point of finish. I might try to jamb it thru 3/4" plywood at that point too-not sure if that is a part of the cutting tests, but shields did exist in the day. Hopefully the guard is substantial enough to stop my hand from riding up the blade. As a defensive weapon, it is long enough to protect my left arm from wrist to elbow, and has enough blade thickness (3/16" or so-was hand forged, so no real set thickness, kinda varies) to allow me to trust it if someone whacked me with anyting lighter than a 2 hand sword or ax. It is also differentially tempered, so it won't shatter from an impact.

I can eat with the spoon, it is great with Campbell's soup (another Scots addition there-thought it appropriate). The bowl is deep enough to hold the juices, and wide enough for the chunks. Oatmeal works well too. The hump seen on the antler fits perfectly in the palm, and the length keeps one's knuckles out of the chow.

The fork is a tad too long-but I was working with a piece from the 1750's-if you check my previous progress post, you will see the original form of things. It does work-but I must be careful so as not to poke things that shouldn't ought be poked. I prefer it to my previous by-fork, as that was too short. Ditto on the antler hump and palm bit.

I didn't reckon the folk carrying such implements would do so if they didn't work-so I designed them first for function, then form. I am happy with the results.

[Dale Seago]

Gorgeous pieces, both of 'em!!

[Whidbey78]

Pretty darn cool idea and really nice execution as well.

For the skull remnants, why not cap them? Nothing too fancy, but it would probably look interesting with a metal cap. That or just grind them out...easier, but not a unique. Just a thought.

Nice job as is!

[Mark E.]

Thanks for the comps...I actually considered capping them in copper, but...I have seen some interesting and artistic bud carving herabouts, and was considering a Jacobite rose or even a flared thistle piece...dont know. Probably leave them as is until I figure something out. In a hundred or so years...

[chukissaki]

Very nice