Gary Mulkey Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 Since I recently decided to flute the handle of my most recent dagger and I thought that some might enjoy the process. As I am self taught in this so my technique may vary from others but hopefully this will give you an idea of how I go about it. A traditional dagger hilt is to carve twisted flutes into it along with some twisted silver wire inlayed to separate the flutes. In this hilt, I chose to give it eight flutes each having a 360 degree twist. [The number of flutes and the amount of twist is a matter of taste. I have used as low as four flutes each having a 180 degree twist up to eight flutes each with a full 360 degree twist as with this one.] My first move is to cut equidistant slots in each end of the handle; the number matching the amount of flutes to be given to the handle. These are just deep enough to match the diameter of the twisted wire inlay. Then a grid is drawn out on the handle with pencil. First connect the slots on each end of the handle with straight lines. Next draw equally spaced lines around the handle perpendicular to the others. The number will determine the amount of twist to the flutes. Since I wanted 360 degree flutes with this one, I drew eight grid lines (matching the number of flutes). I then drew diagonal lines going corner-to-corner on each square of the grid with pencil and cut a kerf on each line with a fine toothed hacksaw blade. [The kerf should be as deep as the diameter of the inlayed wire.] These can be cleaned up with checkering or riffler files. Once you have the inlay kerfs cut, carve (or file) half round grooves between the kerfs with a tapered rattail file. (It's important to use a tapered file as the grooves will need to be different widths (unless your handle is perfectly cylindrical). The next step is to twist the silver wire. This is done easily with any hand held drill and a vice. Once twisted, super glue strands of the wire into each inlay slot while wrapping both ends around the end of the handle and into the tang cavity of the handle. I hope that this helps show how the fluting can be done. I'm sure that there are other methods to accomplish the same outcome but this one works for me. 3 Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Craft Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Gary Mulkey said: Since I recently decided to flute the handle of my most recent dagger and I thought that some might enjoy the process. As I am self taught in this so my technique may vary from others but hopefully this will give you an idea of how I go about it. A traditional dagger hilt is to carve twisted flutes into it along with some twisted silver wire inlayed to separate the flutes. In this hilt, I chose to give it eight flutes each having a 360 degree twist. [The number of flutes and the amount of twist is a matter of taste. I have used as low as four flutes each having a 180 degree twist up to eight flutes each with a full 360 degree twist as with this one.] My first move is to cut equidistant slots in each end of the handle; the number matching the amount of flutes to be given to the handle. These are just deep enough to match the diameter of the twisted wire inlay. Then a grid is drawn out on the handle with pencil. First connect the slots on each end of the handle with straight lines. Next draw equally spaced lines around the handle perpendicular to the others. The number will determine the amount of twist to the flutes. Since I wanted 360 degree flutes with this one, I drew eight grid lines (matching the number of flutes). I then drew diagonal lines going corner-to-corner on each square of the grid with pencil and cut a kerf on each line with a fine toothed hacksaw blade. [The kerf should be as deep as the diameter of the inlayed wire.] These can be cleaned up with checkering or riffler files. Once you have the inlay kerfs cut, carve (or file) half round grooves between the kerfs with a tapered rattail file. (It's important to use a tapered file as the grooves will need to be different widths (unless your handle is perfectly cylindrical). The next step is to twist the silver wire. This is done easily with any hand held drill and a vice. Once twisted, super glue strands of the wire into each inlay slot while wrapping both ends around the end of the handle and into the tang cavity of the handle. I hope that this helps show how the fluting can be done. I'm sure that there are other methods to accomplish the same outcome but this one works for me. Yes, it did work for you! That dagger is awesome!!!!! I just learned how to do something I have been dreading on upcoming piece I have on the back burner! Sorry when I hit quote I didn't know I was getting everything! Edited June 7, 2017 by C Craft 1 C Craft Customs ~~~ With every custom knife I build I try to accomplish three things. I want that knife to look so good you just have to pick it up, feel so good in your hand you can't wait to try it, and once you use it, you never want to put it down ! If I capture those three factors in each knife I build, I am assured the knife will become a piece that is used and treasured by its owner! ~~~ C Craft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C-S Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Great how-to, thanks for sharing its an awesome piece. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Keown Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 That exemplafies the value of the forum as a depository of knowledge that we all can learn from. Excellent information shown in the simplest of ways that conveys the "how to" very clearly. Thanks @Gary Mulkey 2 Von Gruff http://www.vongruffknives.com/ The ability to do comes with doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hewitt Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 (edited) Every day I come here and it's very rare that I don't learn something new! I've often wondered how to do that without making a complete mess of it so there's every chance that I'll shamelessly steal your excellent method at some point in the future. Thanks, Gary, a really good read, your post, but then again, they all are! bob Edited June 7, 2017 by Bob Hewitt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonas Liebel Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Thank you for sharing! >>> Check out my Youtube channel <<< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Nice Gary, and thank you. It never dawned on me that the width of the filed groove will change as the diameter of the handle does. That explains some trouble I have had. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 Thanks, gentlemen. I hope that this little WIP helps a bit. Gary Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 that was great. concise, and gives hope. It makes the process make sense without losing it in the fine detail. 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...
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