Akimoro's Blog

I started with a Magnolia branch.  I cut out a length that suited my grip.

I began shaping it with a draw knife.  Once it was roughed out, I moved it to the belt sander for clean up.

After splitting the handle lengthwise, I routered out a groove for the tang.  For this I used a Dremel with a cutout bit.  Holes were drilled for the pegs, which are one inch steel round stock.

The stain was a "natural" color Minwax polyurethane. It turned it from an off-white to more of a rotten banana color.

Three layers of epoxy, dried, sanded, and steel pegs put in.

First layer of handle wrap is sissel twine.

Second layer is leather from a cow's belly.  It is very soft but holds a grip.

For the scabbard I used a piece of PVC pipe and made it look like bamboo using a LARP tutorial.