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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 8:39 am    Post subject: Early-mid 18th century Scottish dirk I've just finished.         Reply with quote

Hi all,

I've not seen too many dirks here lately, but here are two pictures of one I just finsihed.
I made it using a blade I'd got from a guy I ken in Scotland, local oak, thick leather and brass plates.
I based the design on typical dirks from the early-mid 18th century. I went for the more typical three band braid and a triangular celtic knot on the haunches. The hilt is not dyed but finsihed with boiled linseed oil and danish oil.

I hope you like it. This is the second dirk I've made and I'm much pleased.



Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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Chris Goerner




Location: Roanoke, Virginia
Joined: 19 Sep 2004
Likes: 14 pages

Posts: 356

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 8:48 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Yes, Henrik, we've seen too few dirks as of late Sad

Your dirk looks fantastic. Nice job on the carving! I like the look of the early dirks.

As much as I like the dirk itself, I'm particularly impressed with the scabbard you made for it. Nice detailing. Did you make the scabbard tip as well?

Chris

Sic Semper Tyranus
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 8:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Chris Goerner wrote:
As much as I like the dirk itself, I'm particularly impressed with the scabbard you made for it. Nice detailing. Did you make the scabbard tip as well?

Yes, but I can't yet do any brasing, so I had to make it open and just preasure fitted with a simple stitch holding it in place.
Thank you for the compliments, Chris. I'm going to make another one this summer for a friend of mine, as this one was. I'm so happy I've finally found someone who can supply decent EN45 blades to my specs. Happy

Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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Lin Robinson




Location: NC
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Likes: 6 pages
Reading list: 6 books

Posts: 1,241

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 10:03 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Henrik...

That looks great. Can you share the name of your bladesmith, assuming he is working commercially?

Fine job.

Lin

Lin Robinson

"The best thing in life is to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women." Conan the Barbarian, 1982
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Thom R.




Location: Tucson
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Reading list: 30 books

Posts: 630

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 10:08 am    Post subject: Re: Earl-mid 18th century Scottish dirk I've just finished.         Reply with quote

Very very nicely done. Nice carving on the wood and the scabbard looks really good to me. Thanks for sharing! tr
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 10:18 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Lin Robinson wrote:
Can you share the name of your bladesmith, assuming he is working commercially?

Lin,
It's from the MacDonald armouries, so it's not done by stock removal, not really blacksmithing, but they turn out decent blades.
I'm not sure if Paul or Marco did the blade, but I'm pleased with the work they did on the blade.

Again thanks for the good words!

Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 10:30 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote


Notice how high up the scabbard goes on the haunches.

Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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Thom R.




Location: Tucson
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Reading list: 30 books

Posts: 630

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 10:38 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I like how the tang stands proud out and above the nut - that seems period correct to me.
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GG Osborne





Joined: 21 Mar 2006

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 487

PostPosted: Thu 27 May, 2010 2:09 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Congratulations, Henrik! Exactly the kind of work I would expect from someone passionate about the period. Excellent work!

By the way, about soldering the tip. Here's my technique. Squeeze the two sides together (overlapping in the squeeze) until when they spring back they are together. Use a propane hand torch to gently heat up the piece and then apply a good quality solder flux compound along the inside of the seam. Heat the seam until when you touch the solder to the open end of the tip on the inside it will run freely down towards the tip. If the seam lips are exactly even, you will get some leakage to the outside. Apply enough to get a good "weld" but not enough to gum up the work. Let cool and then burnish with steel wool and voila, you should have a nice firm seam. Technique works with brass as well.

Take care, my friend!

"Those who live by the sword...will usually die with a huge, unpaid credit card balance!"
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Lin Robinson




Location: NC
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Likes: 6 pages
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PostPosted: Sun 30 May, 2010 4:15 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Henrik...

I have been to their web site in the past and tried again after your post. Many of the pages gave me an error message and I was only able to view a little bit of their work. I did not see anything about availablity of dirk or other blades. How did you handle that? Did you just email with questions or has the site been more available in the past?

Thanks, and again, that is an excellent job.

Lin Robinson

"The best thing in life is to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women." Conan the Barbarian, 1982
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Tue 01 Jun, 2010 11:01 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Lin Robinson wrote:
Henrik...

I have been to their web site in the past and tried again after your post. Many of the pages gave me an error message and I was only able to view a little bit of their work. I did not see anything about availablity of dirk or other blades. How did you handle that? Did you just email with questions or has the site been more available in the past?

Thanks, and again, that is an excellent job.

I went and saw Paul at his workshop in September last year, after the Prestonpans event. Just slip him an e-mail.

Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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Christopher Gregg




Location: Louisville, KY
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Reading list: 2 books

Posts: 675

PostPosted: Tue 01 Jun, 2010 11:26 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Henrk, that's one fine dirk! Keep up the good work, and let me know when you start taking orders Cool .
Christopher Gregg

'S Rioghal Mo Dhream!
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Tue 01 Jun, 2010 1:42 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Christopher Gregg wrote:
Henrk, that's one fine dirk! Keep up the good work, and let me know when you start taking orders Cool .

I'm already booked with two and am not taking more as the turnout is sloooooow Razz

Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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Todd Salazar





Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 79

PostPosted: Mon 07 Jun, 2010 2:59 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Terrific work on that dirk, Henrik. It looks terrific! Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Happy

-Todd
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Stephen Wheatley




Location: DORSET ENGLAND
Joined: 15 Nov 2008

Posts: 93

PostPosted: Wed 15 Sep, 2010 10:16 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

That is fantastic work! I should think your basket-hilt project will be a beauty to behold as well. Ever thought about carved bone or antler? Ive used some as hanger grips but lack your carving skills so use it raw.
Stephen Wheatley
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Wed 15 Sep, 2010 10:53 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thank you!
I would love to have a go at both those types. But I'm still a bit unsure how it would be put to it's best use. I kind of think the antler looks better and more historically accurate on smaller daggers and hunting knifes, such as skean dubhs, sgian achlaises and on gralloch knives.
Antler is a winner on hangers. I just love 18th century hangers with those grips and it looks as if the grip will be very firm when used.

Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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A. Spanjer




Location: USA
Joined: 26 Apr 2009

Posts: 242

PostPosted: Wed 15 Sep, 2010 11:18 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I guess I missed this when you posted it back in May.

Excellent work! That is truly a beautiful Dirk. The scabbard is excellent as well.

Is the butt cap brass or steel? I can't quite tell.

Na sir 's na seachain an cath.
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Wed 15 Sep, 2010 12:53 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

A. Spanjer wrote:
I guess I missed this when you posted it back in May.

Excellent work! That is truly a beautiful Dirk. The scabbard is excellent as well.

Is the butt cap brass or steel? I can't quite tell.


Thanks! It's brass. Same as the tip of the scabbard.

Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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Lin Robinson




Location: NC
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Likes: 6 pages
Reading list: 6 books

Posts: 1,241

PostPosted: Thu 16 Sep, 2010 5:07 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Henrik...

I was finally able to reach Paul MacDonald concerning dirk blades. I think he will be a good source and was very prompt in his reply.

Thanks for the information....

Lin Robinson

"The best thing in life is to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women." Conan the Barbarian, 1982
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh




Location: Agder, Norway
Joined: 03 Mar 2004

Posts: 386

PostPosted: Thu 16 Sep, 2010 6:10 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Lin Robinson wrote:
Henrik...

I was finally able to reach Paul MacDonald concerning dirk blades. I think he will be a good source and was very prompt in his reply.

Thanks for the information....

He was very quick at making my blades. But at the time he had an apprentice. Simple things such as these blades shouldn't take too much time.

Cheers,
Henrik

Constant and true.
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