The Hound sgian

[McMurdo]

Raptor, please let us know when it goes on ebay, I would just love to have that.

[Rab Gordon]

Excellent !

Rab

[Raptor]

I seem to be always thanking you guys for your kind comments. I'm my own worst critic, & all the little flaws that show up in my efforts seem really magnified to me. I've been told that they make them look genuinely hand crafted, but I'm something of a perfectionist. Anyway, I actually received my first commission yesterday: a sgian in the regimental colours of the Royal Australia Regiment (infantry) after the soldier in question saw the one I made for Red. Anyway, I'd just like to thank all of you for giving an amateur the encouragement to keep at it. Thanks!

[Sean_the_Kilted]

Gorgeous as always. I am a huge admirer. A few questions: Are you still using kitchen knives as blanks and cutting them as you did in your first attempts? Do you use any machine sanders to shape them or are they all by hand? Finally what do you do to them to give it the shine? wax? alot of varnish? Keep up the great work. I'm sure they will get a pretty penny on ebay.

[Raptor]

Gorgeous as always. I am a huge admirer. A few questions: Are you still using kitchen knives as blanks and cutting them as you did in your first attempts? Do you use any machine sanders to shape them or are they all by hand? Finally what do you do to them to give it the shine? wax? alot of varnish? Keep up the great work. I'm sure they will get a pretty penny on ebay.

These are still using kitchen knives. I have recently started playing with forged carbon, but I am still feeling my way with that.

No machinery whatsoever, other than the angle grinder used to cut out the blade, & a bandsaw to cut the actual blank for the hilt. All shaping is done with rasps & files, chisels, sandpaper & elbow grease

No varnish, as I think it hides the natural beauty of the timber. I generally use a carnuba or cabinet maker's wax, followed by a microcrystaline turner's wax, hand-rubbed.

The antler one isn't being sold, it's a birthday present. The hound isn't going to make it to ebay either... one of the members seems to have got himself a new dog