![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tL54qFeX7ZkUDp74L0L3VJ2rwEwGXKuvhAbZTUnWol1PwD-em7pgdbWNa9GfSn7C-Uj-MNMNmXZeASnNfvKyf5ZxNBWFvOp62QK_ZJu-STXnER8lZvC0Dpm1uJPBSnfXH0Imh_=s0-d)
I was commissioned to make 2 replicas of the daggers that Hei uses in the anime series
Darker than Black![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vDgl8OI2ORPAgZ4GgByynrb9OjQ-nMjtpy2WDAue1At1VqfIlpm-HDFcUA3av_5250CkUZjF9k2EUuzVyvuu_bX4jUt4UnRcMlmOcZ5z7Z3HnSbJ617GABWg7SEx1uNSZeIiQn=s0-d)
Since I was making 2 of these and they're symmetrical, I decided to sculpt one half of the blade. This would be molded and cast 4 times in resin, then the resin halves assembled to make 2 complete knives. I started out by cutting the rough shape from illustration board.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tqWZAhpVjQQCsh0ttbjzCCelWcQwTTbTWTEje5MB9jmGSqQDWW1FkdzYU2YB_Nzxb7OTvSicGf5394qFfSBKHacVvKX1OsTzptXTiGH_i67uvyWjCrCH9PGk21UDdSCz489kO7=s0-d)
I then skimmed this in apoxie sculpt to give me the beveled edges of the blade and hilt.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tt1JA-NG2LkTOYaw_w1Dzwu3YH9DD1ksTWU1OUEIa9AOUjq_O6-5PoyehLLGJk5R8aHCaGsZQc_FFcc2EKIgAuSR7W9CadzkLBG86q8RwtkanG0RGHLX_pjvumP87FbJHak8jF=s0-d)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tpV3SYKAWgucgPD2mSKMc4UP-0rN10TgEEXlNFj0_pB6qqSFxeLRRPngL25iNE3vqjvxduMrL0d1ThrCP0zaVLS5UgziM35swggJT7zAaZs75cKxSGwePnNFF0fDgs6pIxz8BC=s0-d)
After bondo, primer and shaping, the finished piece was mounted to a piece of MDF for molding.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_szuspOtn-pLbbaOvl_YFeXxoctY5MopRR0a8dS7Jlw7y3RqJ78v1YxnHwxIK-blNXKRLEhaOdk7xP-2M-240__TzXIf0931WKfziHJArQzD_4Mh9lJGLyucpMtfgGaPLp7Pfbq=s0-d)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tCrRWDsk_MP7G8rGZ8GK0v5XVe3c8suyI8x2hzVAmxytyIblupZUoQKsGpV9K9ig1ncJwoK3h0oHCrMeiVq85Siwgrpn2OExDNqhoRxY98blOCmHlHFiZ3pKuqYnQQS-6c8yKV=s0-d)
I used RTV silicone to make the mold, and casting resin for the blades.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vyJOT-A4dW37E76HSMxsRFqJIacCc8jiCnS1cIM49l2WLjBzyl7vNV2G29QlY3cIZekyZbaEiNSZ1Pb9wqAhSkNsSfFhCeNB9k-ri_jIYUDOFKhTk8zDGE34aavlL1aTti8_QD=s0-d)
6 copies were pulled in case I made any goofs. The mixture of resin wasn't right on the upper right blade, so that one was scrapped.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vaBPujVcwkkzxBiYxyvn8r2fDbkuDk9pJXOTiVSsiKj7XfYNi3RJoWelnrMz48okcWQB7EXdCvfN1wyn44-qZ1g21XnWa8ss0mjgfJpYvsP--sjr_YX2xdzupoi7aInhE7TO_7-05o5MZDQltn=s0-d)
Since the casting resin isn't terribly rigid on its own, I carved recessed out of the blade and hilt to hold a 3/8" steel rod to act as the core. These were glued in with gorilla glue, which expands as it dries and will ensure a tight fit.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tMkeeccTnHErhdViFwnL97BiZcLo7TyKhIk1BLeksc363UffI0Q3X4DWicSd9pMkWO-dHBdtS2FL9AYbmnggFxrUPG3sK83PjOsvG6cFWdSbcj-9gyEN5WVek6TUVnwKHd94NRCIvzWYqH_Vy9=s0-d)
Both blades got 'da clamps, and dried overnight.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sletGsrzyQIIHb5xKc0UIlJTWo7LqlfEwTBkvGsS8lgsNsAPT95vdZm5_J-hoXNGibXKhUpUoxyQ5EHJsYWOXS24l0QyF19iIYT7nsRQD_fODoxDerIG8vjfQcTojTpY1GMhuV=s0-d)
After that, its time for bondo, primer, and sanding! yippee.....
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uWTDwa7CzOXIi4uwsnf30GlAaoYuWPwkgjhOWf0xAvBamnVRCVlHLiikyF7t_R0pd46n6ow5_9AWCEoWjgxghVUj57wgEutzDNkTwOgVEkM_T8iBiwUPTRDazpifGCCu_Qqqdy=s0-d)
I originally finished these in a "clean" look, but discussed with my client the option of weathering them to make them appear more realistic. After a bit of hesitation, but it was eventually decided to go ahead with the realistic treatment:
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v3txZqScSoSkme0p_C5wsDO-U2c76OJNj719WDqgSsOY91n1s_NaT1L6GM1j9uu8PbxnyxhQGfZFGDf8hFqb0-wa0S-ClJQjbA6hCZhZnt2B4a9cNz4pL85kCd8gKrZ-nfdee3=s0-d)
Here are a couple more shots of the finished blades:
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v5zbxsYDDXFri-MdYRAR7wEUKznr5j9Q6Vjp25ouVyFkxaF0eR54h5n9SVdKDZIB-_d5dxfj90NuijUnOJ3o73V7oF3hXmKaqeuT9wvXjsOs-gtzs9Yh1hnt7mPH_yY4CLyCba=s0-d)