Wanting to try something a little different, I chose a dagger design for knife number 11. As you can see in the photos, the knife is symmetrical along its length, with the double-edged blade tapering down to a central point.
As before, I used O1 tool steel with a full tang, meaning the tang is the full size of the handle and can be seen all the way around between the 2 scales attached to the sides. The scales are English Oak and the guard is brass. The 2 smaller pins are aluminium and the decorated large one at the end of the handle is made of 3 brass pins set in epoxy resin inside an aluminium tube.
The original design I had planned did not include a guard. I wanted to just leave the scales on the tang, but when it was 'finished' it reminded me of a St. Bernard dog that had lost its whisky barrel ... good, but missing something important. So I had to find a way of making the guard in two halves and attach them to the sides of the knife. Tricky, but I think the result is acceptable.
Dimensions are:
Blade - 160mm long (6.3"), 30mm wide (1.18"), 3mm thick (0.12")
Handle - 110mm long (4.3"), 30mm wide (1.18"), 20mm thick (0.79")
Guard - 62mm tall (2.4"), 20mm wide (0.79"), 6mm thick (0.25")
Overall length - 270mm (10.6")
Although the blade has been hardened I have not put a sharp edge on it. Not required as I do not plan for it to be used, but to remain a decorative trophy knife. The oak scales have been treated with beeswax and buffed to bring out the natural beauty of the wood.
Enjoy the photos.
Double score lines to mark the centre line of the blade edge
Rough bevels ground onto both edges on both sides
Blade has been hardened and sanded smooth
Scales glued and pinned in place
Completed knife
Handle, showing the pins
Handle, showing the full tang
