So i just can't fight it. I want to make a dirk. Now I flew through making my sgian duhb, and i surely do like it. But for something like this, I want to take my time and really do a good job on it.
So I started tonight selecting a good piece of steel. A length of tool steel was selected. I cut a piece down to 19 3/4 inches by 3 inches by 1/8 inch.





Now I didn't want to jump right on a grinder, because the heat would de-temper the steel, so I made a couple crude cuts with a liquid cooled band saw. Then I rough ground the basic shape I want.



I didn't get any farther, because I didn't have the antler with me I want to use for a handle. In the next few days, I want to plan out the hilt, the handle and pomel and really take my time crafting each part. I plan on this being a working blade and taking it hunting and camping (preferably with a flintlock rifle i have my eye on).
As stuff happens, I'll keep you posted.
But first, I need to figure out a better way to transport the stupid thing on a motorcycle. haha