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That's exactly the kind of deal I need to run across, Bruce. Like you, I need a band saw to cut blocks into scales and then to get the scales down close to final profile. You'd laugh at the jerry-rig methods I'm using to do that without a proper saw. Congrats!

Really enjoying this, Dennis. As a newbie, there is so much to learn. I'm just adding scales to blanks, but I've improved and at the stage where I'm not ashamed to give a knife to family and friends. But what to do for a sheath? There are plenty of cheap, lightweight Chinese sheaths, and there...

If there's one thing I've already learned it's that the best way to avoid a problem or a disaster is to do your best to think the whole project through before starting. Easier said than done. Thanks.

I put some nice maple burl handles on a stubby Damascus skinner blank. The blank is thick, at least 1/8", I'd say without going and measuring. The spine and entire edge had good Damascus pattern, as does the blade. In the process of adding scales, I polished the edge of the blank where it meets...

I really, really appreciate the responses, guys. I look at your knife photos here and your craftsmanship, detail and creativity amaze me. I don't have an in-person mentor, so it really helps that I can come here, even with questions that y'all probably chuckle at. Thank you.

Guys, please tell me if my newbie questions need to be started in the Beginners' forum. I'd be happy to do so, but that forum doesn't seem to get much traffic, and I haven't been snubbed here, so I assume I'm OK. I've recently cut some scales from a block of burl maple. I ran them through my...

While I'm a newbie to knife work, I've been a benchrest rifle competitor and reloader for 20+ years. I often -- but not always -- use JB Weld to bed actions to stocks and for various other purposes and I pretty well swear by the stuff. I'm sure glad everyone hung with this discussion until some...

OK, I may be crawling out on a limb asking this, but I've been out there before. I'm a newbie who isn't working steel at all. At this stage, I'm just learning to attach, shape and finish scales on pre-built blanks. So, if I buy finished blanks from online sellers like Jantz, USA Knifemaker...

I searched before posting, but found nothing. I'm a relative newbie and had used brass pins on my scales until today, when I wanted silver pins, so I used stainless steel. I got everything glued up and let it cure 24 hours. Then I cut the pins off as close as possible with a Dremel. Next step...

Randy, I'm a newbie and have so much to learn. Could you do a quick description of what grits you used to shape/sand those scales and then how you got the great high shine?

I agree it's common these days for "tactical" to be equated with "military," "survival," or "ninja cool." For me, to be tactical a piece of equipment must be practical, functional, simple, and foolproof as an anvil. Another aspect of the tactical label, for me at least, is whether the knife is...

Love that the red in the spacers and in the mosaic pin match pretty well, but I'm not crazy about the red against the purple of the scales. Really sorry that your son may never actually use the knife. I skin and butcher the deer I kill and this knife looks like it would balance and perform...

Chris, I just bought some maple burl blocks that are 6.5x6.5x2.5, I think. I had the same questions as you, but I'm limited as to the saws I own, so I had little choice but to take slices along the thin edges. I just picked an edge, crossed my fingers and did it. Came up with some nice-looking...

John, I'm a newbie, so there's a ton I don't know, but I do know I absolutely love that G10 guard. Is that strictly a custom item that you crafted, or is someone selling such guards. The burl and blade are beautiful, but the black guard, coin and spacers are what caught my eye. Really exceptional.

Thanks so much for the replies, this is exactly the kind of information I was hoping to get. Can I also get your opinions about my dye question? Before the glue-up and shaping? After? Why? I just found this post from J. Doyle about 4-5 years ago, which I believe addresses my dye question. If...

A couple of weeks ago I ordered on ebay a maple burl block that was 6.5x6.5x2.5. While the block wasn't stabilized, the wood appeared plenty hard and solid to use as is. I cut about half the block and got three sets of scales, then it dawned on me that since the block seemed fairly heavy, it...

Blue painter's tape, or similar. When you get your handle glued on and pinned, during the handle-shaping process you'll "booger up" the blade if you don't have it protected with painter's tape. "Booger up" is a technical term that you'll learn pretty quickly if you don't already know it. FWIW...

Admonishment understood and accepted. Name calling and venting doesn't harm the target, doesn't solve my problem, and probably lowers my character in the eyes of others. Thanks for that reminder.

Thanks, Boss, and others. I think the seller is a scumbag swindler who knew that "stabilizing wood" in the title would be misunderstood. But I also suspect my fight will be with eBay and not directly with the seller. I suspect eBay is far more beholden to its sellers than to individual buyers...

Beautiful knife, Justin, and I love the handle. The blade shape leans a little more toward spear point than I like, but that's absolutely a personal preference. Nice work!