Mini-sgian dubh kilt pin in progress

[jmercier]

Well I finished the blade and sheath in time for the NH Highland Games this weekend, i need to afix a pin to the back of the sheath still but that's all that's left to do.


I've never made a wooden sheath before (or any sheath for that matter, having just modified other cheap ones to fit my other sgian dubh) I took the same wood that i had split to make the handle, and ground outa pair of depressions the shape of the blade.



Next I slid the blade in and out of hte two pieces clamped together to find the spots that the blade was still touching / rubbing against the wood.



Next once the blade fit in properly, I cut a piece of flexible magnetic strip, and marked inside the sheath where I wanted the magnet to fit with a small chisel.



Much grinding and filing later, I had created a 2nd depression which fit the magnet, and was deep enough to not interfere with the blade going in and out of the slot. I then superglued the magnet into place.




I then used wood glue in small amounts on the contact points between the two halves of the sheath and glued it in place, and let it stay clamped over night. This afternoon after I got home from work, I took the now dried sheath which was a rectangular block still, and spent a long time shaping it at my grinding station. The result being a matching wooden sheath for the mini sgian dubh. I'm not that happy with the result of the woodglue I used. It was supposed to dry clear/dark like the epoxy I used for the top part of the handle, but be stronger for the wood on wood application, however the resulting join line is infact a little bit lighter than the surrounding wood, and detracts from the overal look IMO.

"top" view in sheath


The blade outside and beside the sheath


The side of the blade and sheath


And lastly, the back side of the sheath (note it's flatter than the front side, because when I afix a pin to the back of it, it will be the side against the kilt)

[jmercier]

I realized that I didnt have a 'top down' view of the blade and sheath, so here it is.

[James MacMillan]

Nice work - and good results!

Truly one of a kind!

[McMurdo]

That looks great, excellent work, you should be very proud of it.

[Sean_the_Kilted]

looks great. You did good work. Is the blade sharp for use? Be careful with the pin. It might be too heavy and rip a hole in your kilt.

[jmercier]

the blade is very sharp, the pin doesnt weigh much at all. The problem i'm having with it right now is that it's top heavy, since the pin to attach it to the kilt is only on the sheath, but half the height and weight is above the sheath, it keeps trying to lean forward. I'm trying to come up with a good solution at the moment.


EDIT: I came up witha solution for now... i glued a pin to a strong magenet, which i'm pinning to the inside of the apron, which is holding the blade handle back yet letting it still be able to be removed from the sheath with ease. The magnet weighs as much as the pin itself though =/ Not the best solutoin but it works for now.

[Fox]

Maybe a useful magnet site: http://www.wondermagnet.com/