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 chner photo Weyer |
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chner photo Weyer |
Traditionally quillions served a functional purpose. They protected the hand from being cut and also were used to trap an opponents blade. In modern daggers, the quillions provide an area for creative design. In the example photos above of a Wolfgang Loerchner dagger, he consciously works with the negative space created by the guard to create an overall effect.
In order to get a good fit between the blade and the guard, it is necessary to file the shoulders at the back of the ricasso square and flat. While you can freehand file this area, it is more accurate and easier to do if you create a hardened jig to hold the blade.
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This jig was made by Ed Kalfayan (248) 548-4882. It has hardened jaws and slides on dowel pins. It is a simple, but effective tool.
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Another version made by welding a spacer between two hardened steel jaws. While this is easier to build, it doesn't have the range of the other jig. Still it will hold a blade when clamped in the vise and allow you to set square shoulders.
When filing, be careful not to cut into the jig faces. It will not only damage your jig, but also because the jaws are hardened, it will ruin your files. It is wise not to set up a square shoulder at the junction of the tang and ricasso. This will create a potential stress riser and possible point of failure. I use round edge flat file designed for sharpening saw blades for this purpose. Since this area will be covered by the guard it is not necessary to have a sharp corner.
The tang should be substantial and I do not advise cutting a shoulder on the flats of the blade. Taper the tang from the widest point at shoulder and the narrowest at the far end of the tang. Check this with calipers in both the width and thickness to insure that you don't over file the hole in the guard to get by a high spot on the tang.
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