Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > DIY: crab-hilt daggerDIY Project Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Radovan Geist




Location: Slovakia
Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Likes: 5 pages

Posts: 399

PostPosted: Mon 23 Jun, 2014 12:40 am    Post subject: DIY: crab-hilt dagger         Reply with quote

I have started this project already last autumn, but finished it (well, not fully) only last weekend.
For a long time I have been intrigued by crab-hilts - both daggers and rapiers. Before embarking on a more difficult path (rapier), Iīve decided to make a dagger, with a simple side-ring (crab-hilt daggers also had trapezoid plate-guards, or a full hilts, similar to those on rapiers).
The blade was made with a bunch of others (http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=29410&highlight=) and sent for a professional heat-treatment last autumn. After receiving it, I have first smoothed-out the hammer marks, and polished it to satin finish with sand papers. (picture 1)
The hilt has a "sandwich construction", secured by welding and rivets - picture 2 shows it before riveting.
The ring was cut from an iron tube with sufficient diameter and 4mm thick walls, and it was welded to the hilt - picture 3.
After that the quillons were bent, cleaned and did some file-work - thatīs picture 4.
I tried to heat-blue the quillons, but I had only a gas torch at hand and unfortunately it did not come out very well - picture 5 (itīs shown with a pommel, which was later replaced).



 Attachment: 156.29 KB
DIY-crab-hilt-dagger-1.jpg


 Attachment: 89.48 KB
diy-crabhilt-dager-2.jpg


 Attachment: 113.56 KB
diy-crab-hilt-dagger-3.jpg


 Attachment: 116.92 KB
diy-crab-hilt-dagger-4.jpg


 Attachment: 138.58 KB
diy-crab-hilt-dagger-5.jpg

View user's profile Send private message
Radovan Geist




Location: Slovakia
Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Likes: 5 pages

Posts: 399

PostPosted: Mon 23 Jun, 2014 1:00 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

...and the second part:

Grip was made from a piece of hard-wood (probably a red beech - picture 6), formed by a rasp and sand papers. The handle is "squarish" in cross-section, so I have decided to replace the original pommel (shown on one of previous pictures). The new one was cut from a piece of mild steel with a hexagonal cross-section, narrowing towards the top.

After some cleaning and finishing, the final piece is shown on last three pictures. However, I would take it as semi-final, because I still plan to heat-blue the hilt and the pommel (I have used a threaded tang, so it could be dissembled). And of course, I will to the scabbard, because I plan to use this dagger in stage-fencing.

Any comments and suggestions are welcome.



 Attachment: 74.34 KB
diy-crab-hilt-dagger-6.jpg


 Attachment: 132.48 KB
diy-crab-hilt-dagger-7.jpg


 Attachment: 163.43 KB
diy-crab-hilt-dagger-8.jpg


 Attachment: 126.08 KB
diy-crab-hilt-dagger-9.jpg

View user's profile Send private message
Tim Lison




Location: Chicago, Illinois
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 6 books

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,606

PostPosted: Mon 23 Jun, 2014 10:27 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Really nice! I have always liked these crab hilt guards. This came out well. I do have to say that I like the round pommel better, the square one is nice, but I think the round one helps to accentuate the curves of the guard. Do you have plans to leather wrap the grip?
View user's profile Send private message
Radovan Geist




Location: Slovakia
Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Likes: 5 pages

Posts: 399

PostPosted: Mon 23 Jun, 2014 11:24 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

hm, good point on the pommel, Tim. I still may change my mind...Happy
leather wrap: I was not thinking about that, but it might be a good idea. I have to think about it and look around for some thin but strong leather. It will have to be black, as Iīve already started to make a scabbard from black leather.
In any case, I managed to get to some bits of more interesting wood from a friend of mine, whoīs making furniture. If I donīt go for the leather, I will surely replace the grip, using a darker wood. I will surely post the pictures.
View user's profile Send private message
Julien M




Location: Austin TX
Joined: 14 Sep 2005

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,086

PostPosted: Wed 25 Jun, 2014 1:26 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Great work Radovan, your willingness to undertake complex designs is very inspiring!
The dagger looks really good. Are you going to wire wrap the grip?
View user's profile Send private message
Radovan Geist




Location: Slovakia
Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Likes: 5 pages

Posts: 399

PostPosted: Wed 25 Jun, 2014 10:29 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

thank you, Julien:)
No wire-wrap planned. I will go either for a leather wrap, or a wooden grip (but from a different, darker wood - pear, cherry, or some dark wood I got from a friend of mine, but could not identify).
View user's profile Send private message
Tim Lison




Location: Chicago, Illinois
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 6 books

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,606

PostPosted: Thu 26 Jun, 2014 2:51 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Oh, wire wrap would be cool! However you decide to finish it, it will be nice.
View user's profile Send private message
Radovan Geist




Location: Slovakia
Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Likes: 5 pages

Posts: 399

PostPosted: Sun 12 Oct, 2014 10:58 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I did not have much time to work on my project lately, as I was busy around our house and garden. Besides working on some ongoing stuff, I have only finished another crab-gilt dagger for a friend from out re-enact. group. She had asked for a different hilt design, with plate instead of a ring. This time, the quillons were shaped from a single bar of mild steel.

Unfortunately I did not take any pictures from the process as my cell-phone with camera broke down. However, hereīs the result.



 Attachment: 159.61 KB
DIY-crab-hilt-2-1.jpg


 Attachment: 166.01 KB
DIY-crab-hilt-2-3.jpg


 Attachment: 166.92 KB
DIY-crab-hilt-2-2.jpg

View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > DIY: crab-hilt daggerDIY Project
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum