Staghorn handle sgian dubh.

[Archangel]

Greetings, Barb!

Perhaps a "handle piece" for a larger knife might grind/sand down to a size/shape that would work for you? The material itself isn't that difficult to work with... And it's relatively inexpensive.

Just a thought.

Hal

...but, it really, really, stinks.

[dano9672]

...but, it really, really, stinks.

BWAAHAA! Yea, that's a good material to use hand tools with for sure.

[Piper]

Atlanta Cutlery carries a passable blade, for about $15 if I recall. They also have a Damascus Steel version for about $34. I've made a couple of sgain dhus (sgains dhu?) using their blades. The one that I normally carry I made from a blade made by a guy I know from the Rendezvous circuit, and an antler crown from a whitetail rack. I used poured pewter to hold the blade in place. Turned out quite well, for a little under $30, and some of my time. The Atlanta Cutlery based knives come out cheaper, because the blades cost less.

[Brasilikilt]

Piper
I've had my sights on the Atlanta cutlery sgian dubh and Scottish dirk blades for quite a while now as they are they only Scottish blades I could find in carbon steel.
I was considering buying the really cheap completed knives off e-bay and simply rehandling them, but I suspect the steel in those blades is probably not much better than melted down hubcaps and beer cans!

[Archangel]

Atlanta Cutlery carries a passable blade, for about $15 if I recall. They also have a Damascus Steel version for about $34. I've made a couple of sgain dhus (sgains dhu?) using their blades. The one that I normally carry I made from a blade made by a guy I know from the Rendezvous circuit, and an antler crown from a whitetail rack. I used poured pewter to hold the blade in place. Turned out quite well, for a little under $30, and some of my time. The Atlanta Cutlery based knives come out cheaper, because the blades cost less.

I was considering this same route. Actually been in contact with Atlanta over these, there's a bit of complication to ship to Canada. Also held off until new credit card month started, these games and fairs have done big damage.

Can you give some idea of what you did in more detail? Maybe show some pictures?

(Just so's this is on the up and up, I'm planning to make these to sell. I've made knives and sheaths before and have my own plans/designs.)

[Dreadbelly]

It's not that I have an aversion to bladed weapons... I just like blunt objects and hold them with a great deal of affection.

Would be so improper to keep a blackjack or a sap stuffed in to your sock in the same manner as a black knife?

[Bob C]

I don't carry the sgian dubh as a weapon. It's more like a pocket knife.

[Doc Hudson]

It's not that I have an aversion to bladed weapons... I just like blunt objects and hold them with a great deal of affection.

Would be so improper to keep a blackjack or a sap stuffed in to your sock in the same manner as a black knife?

In most states, such useful weapons are verbotten to the general public. However, in times gone by, I've been known to stick a lead-shot filled leather bag in my pocket, and I recently came across a commercially made blackjack that belonged to my wife's father or grandfather. Both the blackjack and homemade sap now reside in my bedside table, not pockets.

I always thought it odd that a man can get a permit to carry a concealed handgun, but not for a fighting sized knife nor for a blackjack or sap. Judicial stupidity in my opinion.

[Archangel]

I always thought it odd that a man can get a permit to carry a concealed handgun, but not for a fighting sized knife nor for a blackjack or sap. Judicial stupidity in my opinion.

Gotta agree with that.

[Wompet]

Atlanta Cutlery carries a passable blade, for about $15 if I recall. They also have a Damascus Steel version for about $34. I've made a couple of sgain dhus (sgains dhu?) using their blades. The one that I normally carry I made from a blade made by a guy I know from the Rendezvous circuit, and an antler crown from a whitetail rack. I used poured pewter to hold the blade in place. Turned out quite well, for a little under $30, and some of my time. The Atlanta Cutlery based knives come out cheaper, because the blades cost less.

Like Archangel, I am also thinking about making a couple of sgians dubh (sp), but only for my one brother and myself. My other brother (who would rather have a trebuchet ) and I were looking at the Atlanta Cutlery blades, but weren't sure of the quality. We also hadn't quite worked out how to firmly fix the blade in an antler crown handle and have an end result that would look good.