my first sgian dubh

[DWFII]

This is my first sgian dubh. I have never done anything like this before and I made some mistakes. The bolster (?) is pewter that I poured around the blade (that was my worst mistake). The blade is from Atlanta Cutlery. The handle is walnut, I believe, although it was sold to me as ironwood. The pommel is amboyna burl. The handle is about 3/8 inch thick and flat on the leg side but slightly flaring on the presentation side.

Everything is solid.

Thanks for all the tips and the inspiration. I'd do some things different the next time but at least I got a functional knife the first time out.

[McMurdo]

Looks very nice, the talent on this board is just amazing

[michaelbeeman]

Dang, that sure looks great for a first effort! Well done, DWFII!

[IrishGary]

For a first attempt, it was awesome... in fact, it looks really good on its own. Keep up the good work!

[pdcorlis]

First attempt? - WOW its beautiful, great job!

[osric the pale]

very nice...if there is a mistake with the bolster, i can't spot it !
~oz

[thescot]

Man, for a 200th attempt, that is a beautiful blade. One has to have at least tried making a knife to appreciate the work. I can't see anything wrong with the bloster, but I'll take your word for it not being great. It's a sgian dhu anyone would be proud to own and wear.

Thanks for sharing the picture. Congratulations.

[DWFII]

very nice...if there is a mistake with the bolster, i can't spot it !
~oz

thanks...

I don't know (or didn't know) anything about pouring pewter. I started with an idea from O'Neill, I believe, of pouring "poor man's pewter," which has a lower melting point. Then I started thinking about the lead and decided to go with the lead free pewter.

Whether that made a difference or not, I don't know. But when I poured it and it had cooled, there was a separation be tween the pewter and the wood. I think enough moisture came out of the wood to create a "cushion" between the wood and the cooling pewter.

I had to peen the excess into the gap and even though it was solid around the blade, I am not sure that there is much more than a thin "flange" of pewter that is filling that gap. Enough that I was able to sand it so that it blends smoothly with the curves of the walnut, in any case. Phew!!

The moral of the story? (I'm always good for one) is that if I can do it...fumbling around and making dumb mistakes...anyone can.

[DWFII]

Man, for a 200th attempt, that is a beautiful blade. One has to have at least tried making a knife to appreciate the work. I can't see anything wrong with the bloster, but I'll take your word for it not being great. It's a sgian dhu anyone would be proud to own and wear.

Thanks for sharing the picture. Congratulations.

Thank you. I am pretty proud of it if only because I may never make another one but despite all my bumbling around I ended up with something I could wear.

I originally poured a pewter pommel too, but even though I had several threaded posts to anchor it, it ended up loose--on the posts. And it had the gap between the wood and the pewter as mentioned above. So because it was loose on the posts I couldn't peen it in to fill the gap. I took it off thinking to recast it, put it "somewhere safe" and was never able to find it again. So I substituted the amboyna burl.

But, call it serendipity, if I had been successful in poring the pewter pommel, it would have been handle heavy. As it is it balances beautifully right behind the bolster.

then too, I think one of the things I would do different next time is inset the medallion a little.

[thescot]

That burl pommel really sets it off.

Nothing like serendipity to make things work out and help us all appreciate life in general.

I tell you that's one of the prettiest blades I've seen, unique, functional, and something one should be proud to wear.