Dagger Blank on the Way! Now what?
 

OK folks I have wanted a decent dagger for a long time. Mostly to have to wear to renfest, etc. But also just freakin because. Texas state law says that such a blade must be 6.5" or shorter. Try finding a non POS 6.5" or shorter blade that isn't less than 3" long and/or doesn't cost two arms and three legs.

I have been searching, googleing, and parusing the net for a LONG time tring to find something close to what I wanted and persto today I ran across it. (SEE picture below) The blade and the brass pins are on the way as of about 15 minutes ago. I will not be putting a guard on it, however I will make a decent leather sheath, most likely to fit the small of my back, but who knows.

Anyway. What about the handles? I was thinking about bodark (osage orange) or antler. The problem is I don't want to spend a ton on the scales for my very first attempt (And keep in mind this is a $20 blade.) BUT I want something that will last well.

Opinions?

BTW Knife description is as follows.

Forged with 1085 high carbon steel by Windlass Steelcrafts®. Each is 1/8" thick and tempered. 10" overall. 6 1/8" blade.

GoodOlBoy

I would even be willing to go with bone, or other woods IF they hold up well. I have found girraffe (sp?) bone on ebay for sale. Some for good prices. And I have found alot of other woods that I don't recognize.

Basically I want to stay away from anything synthetic or man made in the process for the handles.

GoodOlBoy

GB, that thing screams for a dark wood of some sort, and maybe even a colored crystal or jewel on the hilt or embedded in the handle.
In keeping with your Renfest roots, of course;)

I used Dymondwood on these and it's hekd up good.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...g?t=1175739698 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...g?t=1175739554

I have been looking at alot of the Amboyna Burl scales on ebay, problem is I don't know what the actual lifetime of that wood is. I thought about buffalo horn, but that just doesn't feel right for this particular application. I agree a dark wood is probably better, although I am REALLY leaning towards the reddish colored woods.

GoodOlBoy

Lifetime of the wood? Do you mean how long it will last ?
I'd suggest a hardwood. Let it sit around your house for 3 or 4 weeks, so it will get climatized to the humidity of your house. Put a green wood ona knife handle, and it's going to shrink, super dry wood, and it's going to swell from moisture absorbtion.
There's always "stabalized " wood.. google W.S.S.I. -A great company out of Iowa for stabalized wood.
finding nice knife scales for under the $20 mark might be a challenge, but who cares if the knife comes out to $60--you put it togather yourself.

put a shell at the end and shoot it at deer :)p

Well for an additional $10+change (AFTER shipping) I picked up TWO sets of stableized cocobolo scales from off ebay. It is all on the way. I wanted to wait and find a wood I liked better (although this has some beautiful grain in it) BUT I just couldn't. I hadta hadta hadta have it now now now. I feel like a kid in a candy store. My wife has been rolling her eyes at me alot, mostly because I have been talking about making knives and hawks for years, but partially because now she is worried that this project will actually cause me to start making them. :p Seriously she is great she puts up with all my hair brained ideas, and a plethora of hobbies.

Can't wait Can't wait. Will post pictures after I get everything in and together.

GoodOlBoy

GOB - Great choice on the wood! VERY good idea to go with the stabilized wood. Altho...........if it is real cocobolo, that wood can be very tough to work with as one can be very sensitive to it. Make sure you wear a dust mask and wear gloves. Wash often. If you start to break out, might as well start looking for another type of wood. And, if you are going to sharpen the blade, you really should consider adding a guard. Just my .02 cents worth!