La Tene Dirk.

A 9½ inch double-edged blade of O1 high-carbon tool-steel, with a faceted grind, finished with a mirror polish and heat-blued. 4 ½ inch handle turned from 6000 year old bog oak, handcarved with Pictish spirals and Celtic knots. Sterling silver and copper mounts, including sculpted guard and disc pommel, sculpted and engraved multi-layer blade collar. Handcarved and stained open knotwork sheath of black walnut, lined with velvert, allowing the blade to show through the interstices, with a sterling silver collar and stitched leather throat and belt loop.

The design of this dirk reflects aspects of the evolution of the Highland dirk – the silhouette is that of an ancient La Tene period blade, the handle resembles a medieval ballock dagger in form, but with the full haunches of an early dirk, and while the carving of the haunches is classic dirk, the Pictish spirals of the waisted handle betray its early Celtic roots. COMMISSION - £1500

Parallel Working Dirk
I made this private commission to the owner's particular specifications and unusual 'straightline' design (compare traditional designs) with vertically mounted by-knife and fork (see Works in Progress). The handle, by-knife and fork handles and sheath are all hand-carved from a single piece of London plane in separate but interlocking basketweave patterns, then stained and lacquered. The handle has a silver Burnett rose on a blued steel background, and thin copper fittings. The reverse is carved with a single knot to provide extra grip. This Dirk has a 10 inch single-edged blade of O1 high carbon tool-steel, clay tempered for a hard edge and springy spine, with fullers and a hand rubbed finish which has been etched, patinated, and honed to a razor edge. SOLD - £1250

VIKING KNIVES

Based on archaeological finds, particularly from Gottland, as well as on traditional Scandinavian knives still in use today; there is little archaeological evidence for handle shapes, natural materials tending to be partially or completely lost to the ravages of time. Designed to be worn in the traditional fashion, on a belt at the front or back of the body, edge up and handle pointing right.

Viking Knife. The knife pictured above has a 4 ½ inch single-edged blade of laminated steel, with a high carbon core and soft iron outer layers, flame hardened and tempered. The blade has been etched and hand polished, with forge finished flats. The 4 ¾ inch handle has been made in three parts, with a core of stained birch wood and scales of carved antler. It has been fully handcarved with Viking ring knots, based on the prow carvings of the Osenberg ship, and Celtic knotwork motifs, and waxed to bring out the luster of the materials (see Works in Progress). The blade is mounted with a copper guard plate and rivets, and has an “A” rune inlayed in copper in the butt. Traditional Viking style sheath, made of heavy cow hide covered in stained goatskin. A cowhide insert has been tooled with a beast motif (from a ninth century horse brass found on Orkney). The sheath is reinforced with rivets and engraved copper sheet, and has hand forged and brazed copper D-rings to attach the belt loops. SOLD - £600.