Dagger Handles

One I just made. Didn't go for too much authenticity in the handle, more bling.

you are having way to much fun with that new flint

thats lovely, a really well chosen bit of wood too

It from that tree I asked you to ID, possibly white poplar, beautiful wood. I've made a lot of handle from it over the last few days.

http://prehistorics-uk.tumblr.com/archive

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This isn't a Beaker dagger though it has similar dimentions, it's from California from one of the tribes there. This picture is from the British museum's online catalogue. Hmm...

Wow, interesting hafting and handle.

Here's one I made based on the one you posted.

Very nice, is the binding hemp? " />
Here is the start of one I made a month or so back. The handle is split from a small log of Ash and carved down.

" />Note the use of authentic tools, not! This is showing the hollowing out for the blade.

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After a lot of faffing it started to fit nicely.

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Notches for the sinue binding added.

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All glued up with epoxy, again authentic! Wood stained and bound up with sinue and hemp cordage. The earlier photos have a tennon on the end of the handle, I was going to put a bone pommel on the end rather than use the cordage, but the pet shop stopped stocking the cleaned up bones I use for projects like this. Puah.

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The sinue going on the the blade was an interpretation of a beaker dagger found in Wales, it had differential patination where the sinue touched the blade and is the only hint at maybe what these handles actually looked like in the U.K. I'm sure there was many different types as these daggers are not all notched at the sides. I'm making some more of these in the future, They do look impressive!

That is absolutely stunning, you have definitely upped the game, I'm going to have to come up with something better.

I used Jute.

Here's another one I made today.

He he! thanks, I've been pondering these handles for ages.
I've got to get some of the White poplar wood as the grain is really colourful.
This is the Welsh dagger I mentioned, the photo is all I could find online though there is an illustration which shows the binding traces better, it's also been partially polished on both sides of the blade which is unusual: http://education.gtj.org.uk/en/blowup1/25858

Thanks,

Can see how only one side of the cross is going to be pressed against the dagger and then only halfway as the wood raises it above the blade. Yours seem to match this effect perfectly.

Here's this weekend's attempt. Unbound and bound. The bound one looks better in real life, but the unbound one photographs better.

That's cool, I'm liking the flared handle.

lovely bit of work and wow nice looking flint - when are we off to load up (@;

Lovely, have you ever worked with Laburnam wood?

Never heard of it before, but I just looked it up, it's stunning, I'll keep a lookout for any trees locally.

Laburnam is a poisonous wood but this is mainly when wood turning you can get a rash although its not best used for food containers. i have alot that i have been drying for aboout 4 yrs now if you fancy a chunk i would soon get some sent.

I had some Liburnam trimmings years ago, for the life of me I cannot remember what the hell I made from the pieces but I do remember I liked the wood figuring!

How about this for the mother of all finds?

http://www.aabne-samlinger.dk/femernforbindelsen/femernforbindelsen/nyheder/2014/141006_flintdolk/

It translates as,

Outstanding ceremonial weapons found at Rødbyhavn
"A hilt dagger of this type never before found in Denmark., We know the type, but to find such a hilt magnificent specimen is absolutely fantastic. Enthusiasm was enormous, as the dagger suddenly there was after the excavator had removed the overlying layers. But when we got it up and saw that parts of a bark butt was almost intact preserved on the other hand, would the excitement never ends, "says a grinning Anders Rosendahl, archaeologist at the Museum Lolland-Falster.

At the beginning of the Bronze Age took bronze role as the preferred material for the manufacture of prestige tools, but as the demand was greater than the supplies, they made in the early part of the Bronze Age still daggers of flint. Flint dagger the design of imitating bronze daggers, and flinthuggernes excellent ability to shape flint came during this period really into its own.

Flintdolken was the man's weapon of choice in this period, and followed him often in the grave, but found from Rødbyhavn found in a tomb, but on old sea.

It is approximately 20 cm long and made of a dark gray flawless piece of flint. Around the hilt has been mounted birch bark to provide a better grip. But the thousands of years the earth has shown that it is preserved only on the side that was down to find the time. The dagger was the day the discovery was made, sent directly to the National Museum to be responsible for preserving the cortex.

Flint daggers with preserved butt has never been found in Denmark, but is known from eg Germany. However, there is nothing to suggest any link between Denmark and Germany in this respect and the other finds from the excavations previously suggested. Museum Lolland-Falster hope that conservation and detailed studies of the bark can tell you more about the dagger.

Until then enjoy the museum excitement about the fantastic discoveries and look forward to what the excavations would otherwise produce from the Lolland soil.

For questions about the found contact: archaeologist at Museum Lolland-Falster Anders Rosendahl 51 85 08 52 or

high resolution pics here

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