So you want to know how to carve a scottish dirk handle? -- myArmoury.com

Russ Ellis · Industry Professional

Or maybe you don't... but you really should. I got an email from Mr. Evans about this particular item and I thought I really ought to pass what I found out about it along... I ordered my copy yesterday.

Jonathan Blair · Posted: Fri 30 Jul, 2010 1:31 pm Post subject:

What I need isn't a scottish dirk carving course, but a sword grip carving course. Or someone to make me a sword grip. Sad

Dustin R. Reagan · Posted: Fri 30 Jul, 2010 3:08 pm Post subject:

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Thank you for the head's up!

Chris Goerner · Posted: Sat 31 Jul, 2010 6:26 am Post subject:

You beat me to it, Russ. I was waiting on my copy to do a mini review.

In addition to the CD, a book will also be available. You can order it through the same link -- just scroll down to the bottom right hand side of the screen under "More from Vince and Grace Evans". The book is $34.95. According to Vince, the book has 184 photos compared to the CD's 243 photos, but call me old-fashioned, I still like books. For the price, ordering both is the way to go, IMHO.

I'll post more when my copies arrive.

Chris

Chris Goerner · Posted: Sat 31 Jul, 2010 7:08 am Post subject:

Oh, by the way, there are some teaser photos on Vince's website to give an idea of what will be in the book: http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/829129 The first 10 photos are for the new book, while the remainder have been out there for a while.

Chris

Lin Robinson · Posted: Sun 01 Aug, 2010 4:17 am Post subject:

I ordered the CD yesterday. I have a dirk grip chucked in my lathe right now that has been there a couple of years because I could not figure out the next step. This should do it. For some reason I find it difficult to make something with complex lines without having an illustration to go by. Thanks for the tip.

Vince Evans · Industry Professional

I hope the documentation is thorough enough. Because I have been working in this field for so many years, some steps that seem commonplace to me may have been inadvertently overlooked. If there is a question about a specific step, feel free to ask. There’s not a lot of written instruction on the CD, the title of each image is its description. I did not address the making of the blade as that is a whole process in itself, typically requiring more equipment than the average home workshop would have.

I don’t know how much Lulu charges to ship outside the USA. If international shipping seems too high through Lulu, contact me and I’ll see if I can mail it to you at a lower price. I’ll be keeping a few discs on hand.

R D Moore

Thanks for doing this Vince. I ordered a copy yesterday and can't wait to get it. I think it will shed a lot of light on some areas I need illuminated.

Russ Ellis · Industry Professional

Just a thought, in corresponding with Mr. Evans he noted that taking the pictures (they took a LOT more than are on the CD) pretty much doubled the time it took to make the dirk. That makes me think that if you all can it would really be a good idea to order one of these to encourage that sort of effort! Just a thought. I agree with Chris, getting the book sounds like a good plan to. I managed to overlook that there was one! Now I'm going to have to see about ordering that!

Peter Johnsson · Industry Professional

Thanks for the head up, Russ!

I went and ordered both book and DVD straight away.

Vince, thank you for taking the trouble of documenting your work step by step! I´m certain it will be very enjoyable to learn from this tutorial.

Russ Ellis · Industry Professional

Glad I could point it out to you guys! I figured in this case the messenger wouldn't get shot, and I really did want to put what I have to assume will be a fabulous resource out there for everyone's benefit.

Lin Robinson · Posted: Fri 06 Aug, 2010 4:47 pm Post subject:

I received the CD today. It only had to come about 175 miles as Lulu is based in Chapel Hill, NC.

Any way, it is great! I have reviewed the photos one time and it has already answered a lot of questions for me. The few that are not answered I will list and pose to Mr. Evans. I am now thinking about ordering the book.

Vince, thank you so much for doing that. It is a great resource and, while I doubt I can ever carve a handle as well as you do, I am going to give it a try and see what happens!

Russ Ellis · Industry Professional

Mine came in Saturday (sorry about the tardiness of my reply). I would echo Lin's sentiments, it's a very nice collection of phots which shows far more than just carving the handle. Also, Mr. Evan's tools must be ridiculously sharp!

I found myself wishing that the entire process of creating the dirk from start to finish was there, I was so fascinated by the parts that I saw. (that's not a hint or anything... Wink

)

Chris Goerner · Posted: Thu 12 Aug, 2010 3:11 am Post subject:

Got my copy of the photos the other day and was very impressed by the quality of the photography as well as the information they capture. Although the carving of the grip was what I was most interested in seeing, I found myself facinated by the metal work. I never really thought about all the steps involved in the grip and scabbard mountings.

After looking at the photos and examining the finished product first hand, I have to say I have a whole new appreciation for the talent and experience that goes into making a Vince Evans dirk!

Chris

Julien M · Posted: Thu 12 Aug, 2010 8:04 am Post subject:

Thanks for unveiling your techniques Mr Evans!

If it deals with scabbards and sabbards mountings on the top of carving how-to, I'm even more interested. Ordered mine today, and for info shipping to Great Britain cost me around 9£.

Cheers,

Julien

Vince Evans · Industry Professional

Thanks everyone for your feedback on the CD. Your comments will help us to improve on the next documentation that we do.

Would you like to see a caption printed directly on each photo describing what is going on or will that detract from the photo? On this CD the image title is the description.

Do you like the photo CD version or would you prefer to see the process done in book format with captions for each photo? The color photobook that we did this time had specific templates that we had to work within which was limiting. If there is enough interest we would consider re-working the color photobook into a black and white format with captions for each photo, possibly coil-bound to lay flat on a work bench.

Lin, feel free to email me with questions.

Chris, nice subtle comment Wink

Russ, thanks for all of your input.

R D Moore · Posted: Thu 12 Aug, 2010 7:10 pm Post subject:

Both are a great idea really. Although I didn't have any trouble understanding the process from the CD as it is; stop cut, bevel, shape, detail, clean up, and finish are well pictured. All I need now is some talent.....and a box of Band Aids. A spiral bound notebook with captions would be a nice addition to my work bench, though.

Lin Robinson · Posted: Fri 13 Aug, 2010 4:51 am Post subject:

Vince...

Thanks very much, again, for the CD and book and willingness to help. I have sent a PM and will send another this weekend, outlining some questions.

Vince Evans · Industry Professional

I apoligise, apparently the descriptions that I had for the image titles did not transfer to the CD. If anyone who ordered a CD would like the descriptions that should have gone with each photo, please email or pm me with an email address and I’ll get those to you.

We will work on getting that fixed this week.