I made a major mistake on the handle (two actually) but I'm driving forward anyway.
Murph,
I'm still a newbie, but if I waited till I got my first one perfect, there never would have been a first one. And dude, that is one sweet blade! I mean for real, come on, it frightens me to think what your blades looked like when you were 12! I got to a point that no matter what it looked like it would still be finished, because I was missing out on the practice for the rest of the knife. When your at the beginning, every knife you make is another lesson, in every lesson there will be several mistakes and every knife is more practice. That IS the nature of knife making, but from what I can see from this one, your doing a fine job.
I made the same mistake you made on #2 or #3, if the knife I make doesn't end up with the right fit and finish, my son will readily take every one I make, for his collection, plus you can't have too many shop knives. Just remember, when you flat sand the back side of the handles put them together flat side to flat side and hold them up to the light, if you can see the slightest bit of light through the middle, it's not flat enough. Once you've got that whipped, lay them on the tang and do the same thing, again not the least little bit of light coming through where the slabs meet up with the tang. After you have the slabs flat with no light coming through and if you do have light coming through on the tang, you have to flat sand the tang. This is best done before you start your grinds if it's possible. Once you've got them both done, just be careful not to hit that area with a belt and finish your grinds, you should have a perfect fit up then. None the less that is a really nice looking knife, reminds me of that big Spyderco chopper I like so much, I think that one was a Hoffman design, if I'not mistaken. Just keep driving forward, all mistakes are a lesson, provided you learn form them. Trust me, it gets very frustrating making the same mistakes over and over and...you get the idea.
BTW, do you understand how to flat sand? I thought I did and I was doing it the hardest way (laziest way) possible. Just ask, every one here will help, these DAWGS are the very best the world has to offer, with out a doubt!
Hope this helps, Rex