To be perfectly honest, another friend of mind wanted to know what kind of blade work I was capable of. The dagger it's self took no more than Thirty(30) minutes to make and texture. I have spent a few years as a weapons/blade smith while I was also holding a successful job as a Farrier. Have to do some thing with all the old shoes...
At any rate the aggravation came into play with the scene, that alone took nearly two hours. Mostly it was my own compulsive grasp for perceptive perfection.
    Lighting; "...if the sun in the billboard image is over there then that gives me the location of the 'sun' lamp great. Wait... now I can not see the daggers... okay add standard lamp in front of the table behind the camera... great now there is a show traveling toward the sun..." 
    After several expletives latter I finally arrived at the posted image, partly out of frustration I surrendered and decided to keep this one. One day I will get this right, I know I will. I will learn all the neat little tricks and ins-n-outs of great lighting. Until then I am certain that lighting will be one of my most consistent problems.