Scott A. Roush Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Here is another dirk based on the early style. It is based on a piece that went up for auction that had a bit of hullaballo about being associated with Simon Fraser.. the leader of the Fraser clan who was beheaded due to affiliations with the Jacobite risings. He was a bit of a character and I read that 'laughing your head off' originated with him as he was laughing towards his doom due to the collapse of spectator stands as he was waiting to die. I made an attempt to give the blade some historical steel character by folding up some 19th century spring material that I salvaged from a logging camp. Not exactly sure what it was.. but very high carbon and associated with an old location. Anyway... I cut it up and folded it for a 150 plus layer billet. The description indicated that the grip was bog oak.. but seems unlikely due to the grain and the yellow wood peeking through damage. Anyway.. it was decided to use my Lake Superior diver salvaged stuff for the grip...despite it's less than favorable carving attributes (I miss boxwood already). The spine had the Fraser clan war cry scratched brutally into the spine.. obviously not the work of the original maker. In fact... I wonder if the holes in the spine and the crudely scribed half-circles were from the former presence of a brass sleeve over the spine. So.. I'm really enjoying the dirk and am looking forward to trying some with silver fittings and more elaborate blade engraving. It is very nice to be using high temp salts for heat treating these as it allows me to do the carving/engraving in the blade prior to heat treat. http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krateros Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) amazing piece of work.inspiring as usual.i love the rouph flower''y'' thing on the butcup Edited October 1, 2015 by Krateros Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Dang, Scott, you're just accelerating the excellence, dude! Neat-o, in other words. That steel looks like it may have been shear to begin with, but I still like the character it lent by stcking it up like that. About the piercing, for some reason the Scots were really into that as decoration on swords and some dirks, as well as pistol parts. Look up all-steel Scottish flintlocks to see some impressive piercing on the triggers and hammers. I've seen at least one basket hilt with an off-center short fuller like that dirk that had seven square holes set on the diamond running down the fuller. I sometimes get the impression if one were able to go back in time and ask about certain features on regional decorative arts, (and this goes for everything, not just Scottish stuff) you'd find many craftsmen who would say "that's just the way it's done" until you traced it to the originator who would say "Because I can." I like this piece a lot if you can't tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott A. Roush Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 Dang, Scott, you're just accelerating the excellence, dude! Neat-o, in other words. That steel looks like it may have been shear to begin with, but I still like the character it lent by stcking it up like that. About the piercing, for some reason the Scots were really into that as decoration on swords and some dirks, as well as pistol parts. Look up all-steel Scottish flintlocks to see some impressive piercing on the triggers and hammers. I've seen at least one basket hilt with an off-center short fuller like that dirk that had seven square holes set on the diamond running down the fuller. I sometimes get the impression if one were able to go back in time and ask about certain features on regional decorative arts, (and this goes for everything, not just Scottish stuff) you'd find many craftsmen who would say "that's just the way it's done" until you traced it to the originator who would say "Because I can." I like this piece a lot if you can't tell. Thanks a lot Alan. I'm really enjoying these projects. And yeah.. I guess I've seen the piercings as well. I have those brass spine coverings on my mind because of a beautiful dirk Vince Evans recently finished that had one. And it was amazing. As to the steel.. I etched it and it didn't really show any wood grain.. but I've heard that not all shear steel shows that. So.. who knows? It sure hardened well and welded easy. You REALLY have to etch this a long time to get the welded layers to have topography. I'm also not sure if or how often dirks would have been made from something like shear steel. I haven't really seen any with wood grainy pattern. It seems like most of them were forged from steel made in Toledo or Solingen.. so I'm assuming these would have been crucible steel??? http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Mitchell Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Very high on the "AWSOME" scale!! If it's not a trade/craftsman secret, what did you use to darken/age your wood on your handle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 I don't think I've ever seen a picture of the spine of a dirk before. Is that the usual taper of the handle? Very fine work, thanks for sharing. Geoff "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott A. Roush Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 Very high on the "AWSOME" scale!! If it's not a trade/craftsman secret, what did you use to darken/age your wood on your handle? Nothing but Tried and True oil Dennis... that 'black oak' really darkens with oil. This stuff is actually white oak that has been in lake mud for over a century and has darkened due to the anoxic conditions. And thanks! I don't think I've ever seen a picture of the spine of a dirk before. Is that the usual taper of the handle? Very fine work, thanks for sharing. Geoff Geoff... Many dirks had pretty thick spines and some not much distal taper either. Mine might have more distal taper than it ought too. Some dirks seems to be made from broken sword blades and these don't have the heavy geometry of the ones that were purposefully forged. Over the last couple of years I've noticed what appears to be a relationship between Mediterannean dirks, Scottish dirks and Belduque. All of these had very thick spines and were mighty stabbing weapons. As to the taper of the handle... I'm not sure! It seems like there are various shapes.. but most seem to be pretty bulbous in the middle. And some come down to practically nothing between the main grip section and the pommel piece. I do know one thing.. it feels amazing in the hand.. especially when held in the 'ice pick' style. That is scary. http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Abbott Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Very well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Leaving aside the possibilities brought up by Alan Williams of the Ulfberhts being crucible steel, crucible steels were unknown in the West until the 1790s. Bloomery steel was available but not well understood nor the desired outcome of the bloomery process. That leaves the Evanstad method which is apparently unique to parts of Scandinavia and the blister/shear process. Since it is easier to get relatively uniform carbon diffusion and cleanliness from that process it was from bloomery, that was the main method of production foraround 2200 years or so. If you triple-refine wrought and then blister it well and then triple-shear it you get the highest grade of steel easily available in western Europe from antiquity to around 1820. You still find 19th century tools stamped "triple shear" or "cast steel." The cast refers to crucible steel rather than method of manufacture. To further hijack the thread, Huntsman invented crucible steel while trying to make a more uniform clock spring for marine chronometers during the race for the prize to whoever made a clock accurate enough to measure longitude. He did it by melting triple shear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott A. Roush Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 Leaving aside the possibilities brought up by Alan Williams of the Ulfberhts being crucible steel, crucible steels were unknown in the West until the 1790s. Bloomery steel was available but not well understood nor the desired outcome of the bloomery process. That leaves the Evanstad method which is apparently unique to parts of Scandinavia and the blister/shear process. Since it is easier to get relatively uniform carbon diffusion and cleanliness from that process it was from bloomery, that was the main method of production foraround 2200 years or so. If you triple-refine wrought and then blister it well and then triple-shear it you get the highest grade of steel easily available in western Europe from antiquity to around 1820. You still find 19th century tools stamped "triple shear" or "cast steel." The cast refers to crucible steel rather than method of manufacture. To further hijack the thread, Huntsman invented crucible steel while trying to make a more uniform clock spring for marine chronometers during the race for the prize to whoever made a clock accurate enough to measure longitude. He did it by melting triple shear. Okay.. In my head I keep thinking 'cast steel' was developed earlier... but that wouldn't show in dirks until the 1800s then. So... blade steel being forged into dirks in the 18th century would still be either straight bloomery steel or shear steel. Or some Evanstad method.. if that was indeed being done outside of Scandinavia. http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Yep! If you can find a copy, "Steel before Bessemer" is a good read, all two volumes. I don't have one, can't afford it. Same with "The Knight and the Blast Furnace." I love this dirk... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Mitchell Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) Nothing but Tried and True oil Dennis... that 'black oak' really darkens with oil. This stuff is actually white oak that has been in lake mud for over a century and has darkened due to the anoxic conditions. And thanks! Thank you for your reply, Also you and Alan for sharing your knowledge, great stuff! Regards Edited October 1, 2015 by Dennis Mitchell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEzell Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Excellent work Scott, you have me wanting to make a few dirks... I love the fact that the materials you used give it an aged look without any artificial aging. George Ezell, bladesmith" How much useful knowledge is lost by the scattered forms in which it is ushered to the world! How many solitary students spend half their lives in making discoveries which had been perfected a century before their time, for want of a condensed exhibition of what is known."Buffonview some of my work RelicForge on facebook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott A. Roush Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 Excellent work Scott, you have me wanting to make a few dirks... I love the fact that the materials you used give it an aged look without any artificial aging. Thank you George. Dirks would suit your style it seems to me.... http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShimanek Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 You have some nice tools and know how to use them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kip Kaiser Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Awesome work Scott!!! Always a pleasure! A man is no better than his word! Check out the web site @ www.thekaisercustomknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin_Lyles Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 At first I thought the original was yours..... Then I kept looking and saw more. Holy smokes. Great work!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Rose Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Beautifully done Scott! As for Euro crucible steel I will have to disagree with Alan about the dates: Huntsman first produced it in the late 1740's for his clock springs. The French began using it for knife blades in the 1750's although the English makers didn't start using much of the new steel until the late 1760's - one reason being it was too hard to work compared to blister and shear. By the late 1830's enough crucible steel was being produced that at least two Americans - Wesson and Remington - were using deep drilled cast steel for pistol and rifle barrels. As Alan noted there are various grades of shear steel based on various grades of WI. The few original pieces I have etched of double and triple wrought seldom show much of a pattern. Chuck Burrows Wild Rose Trading Co chuck@wrtcleather.com www.wrtcleather.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 D'oh! As usual Chuck is correct about the dates. That's what I get for pontificating off the top of my head and not checking my references, sorry. Thanks for setting things straight, Chuck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Rose Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 You are welcome Alan - sitting on my butt recuperating from a week of chemo doesn't leave me much energy other than read the forums...... Chuck Burrows Wild Rose Trading Co chuck@wrtcleather.com www.wrtcleather.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard van Dijk Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Oh that is nice I love the simplicity of it. Richard Richard van Dijk My link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Scott - I don't usually like dirks, maybe a function of the lowland Scot ancestry (did they use dirks often, or not)? I used to be able to say with confidence that I only liked the dirks that Vince Evans and Grace made. Now, I have to add yours to that list. Seriously, the attention to detail and the way you strive to be true to the historical traditions (with cool modern tools like salt baths) is a joy to behold. It has been a great pleasure to see a friend develop such formidable skills as a craftsman and lay-historian. In short, you geek out on this stuff just like the rest of us, only better. please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Detrick Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 This really is quite wonderful work. Honestly Scott, I don't think I have ever seen anything you have made that I wasn't impressed with. That carving is so tight too. Did you use carving chisels or the knives and scrapers? Thanks. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." -Albert Camus http://www.krakenforge.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott A. Roush Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 Sorry to be late responding to comments. I've been.. surfing in California and introducing my kids to the ocean! I miss the West coast.... Anyway. Thanks for the comments. And thank you Chuck for clarifying and noting that few dirks show any kind of pattern. This is something I've *felt* but didn't know for sure. Still.. the customer and I liked the idea of showing just a hair. Scott - I don't usually like dirks, maybe a function of the lowland Scot ancestry (did they use dirks often, or not)? I used to be able to say with confidence that I only liked the dirks that Vince Evans and Grace made. Now, I have to add yours to that list. Seriously, the attention to detail and the way you strive to be true to the historical traditions (with cool modern tools like salt baths) is a joy to behold. It has been a great pleasure to see a friend develop such formidable skills as a craftsman and lay-historian. In short, you geek out on this stuff just like the rest of us, only better. I really appreciate it Kevin.... It's an honor that you include my dirks with the Evans. Not sure how I could do it without their work for inspiration. Wes... This oak was a pain to carve. I used a combination of carving chisels, very pointy knives and the 'higane' scrapers I've learned to use through my studies in Japanese metal work. http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Rose Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I've been.. surfing in California and introducing my kids to the ocean! Long board or short board? Chuck Burrows Wild Rose Trading Co chuck@wrtcleather.com www.wrtcleather.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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