What I do is basically re-handle projects on old poor condition military knives. Basically I try to buy ones in such poor condition that they: A. Can be obtained cheap. And B. Have lost historical collector value. But I believe that they are generally made of great steel and are a worthy basis for a knife project. Often I re-shape the blades to non original profile.
At 1st I learned to do the traditional compressed stacked leather handles. But I'm starting to bore of that and am venturing into other handle materials. Currently working on an antler handle.
Next up I have a very used & abused Cattaraugus 225Q blade. What I have in mind for it is a kind of combination handle. Stacked leather with some colored spacers on the ends. And a piece of cow bone in the middle. And replace the pommel with a Ka Bar type pinned one.
What I'd like to find is a source for suitable cow bone. That is not hollowed out in the center so that I can drill and hollow to fit my tang. Any ideas?
At 1st I learned to do the traditional compressed stacked leather handles. But I'm starting to bore of that and am venturing into other handle materials. Currently working on an antler handle.
Next up I have a very used & abused Cattaraugus 225Q blade. What I have in mind for it is a kind of combination handle. Stacked leather with some colored spacers on the ends. And a piece of cow bone in the middle. And replace the pommel with a Ka Bar type pinned one.
What I'd like to find is a source for suitable cow bone. That is not hollowed out in the center so that I can drill and hollow to fit my tang. Any ideas?