Blade: 12" single-edged blade of differentially hardened 1075 high carbon steel. 4mm thick for a light and fast blade to mimic the properties of a cut down sword blade. Blade polished and etched to bring out the differential hardening of the steel, honed to a very fine edge. Handle: Hand turned from a solid piece of Bubinga hardwood into the classic slender thistle form, carved in three sections - the haunches with a band of heavy three strand lace in a classic dirk knot, with raised studs at the interstices, the shaft fully carved in a more delicate closed basket weave, pommel with abstracted thistle-head pattern. Mounts: A fabricated peaked copper ferrule at the base and crenelated copper top plate, cold forged to lock onto the pommel. The blade is secured with a threaded steel pommel nut turned into the form of a thistle and oil-blued. Sheath: A robust scabbard of laminated millboard covered in thin pigskin leather with a forged copper chape and crenelated locket to match the pommel. A riveted copper bail and ring secure a cowhide belt loop. The scabbard houses a by-knife: 3" single edged blade of differentially hardened CS70 steel, copper guard plate and Bubinga handle.