Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Couple with Cholla Cactus scales

Just have to make the sheaths and put the final edge on them.
First is another EDC with stabilized and black filled Cholla cactus scales with black liners.
Second is a new design for me. Bird and Trout type knife with stabilized and blue filled Cholla cactus scales with Bear track mosaic pins. I had trouble getting the blue to show in the pics like it does on the knife. I'll try to get some better pics in the daylight tomorrow.
Both blades are Alabama Damascus Redneck Skin pattern.








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Where can I get a knife like that?!?

Which one? The EDC was for an order but I would be glad to make you another one.

The Bird and Trout is available.

I like the top one. PM me the info

PM sent.

You are the man! What are the dimensions of the top knife?

Very nice.

I really like that EDC.

PM sent.

Thanks

Dave

They measure right at 5 3/8" overall and 2 1/4" tip to scales. 7/8" spine to edge at the plunge line. I can make them .100 thick or thicker depending on what someone wants. This one is right at .140 thick. They are all done as one offs by hand so those dimensions will vary slightly from one to another.

how do you "stablize" the stuff so you can use it in a handle? ive seen the stuff in the raw and no way you can make a handle out of it in that state......looks like its filled with something black.....acrylic? did you do it yourself?

The Cholla cactus is stabilized first with a heat cured resin that's drawn into the wood in a vacuum pot then cured at 220 degrees for 2 hours. Then all of the big open pours are filled with a resin based epoxy that's been dyed to color and that is put into a positive pressure container while it cures so every void in the cactus is filled.
I do it all myself and it takes time.

cool, thanks for the info....

That little B&T looks like it would make a great little EDC.

Nice looking stuff Mike.

Yes sir if I don't sell it then it won't hurt my feelings any.

Droptine, pm sent

Sweet, great looking work, agree with those grabbing them up.

I've got to go and hunt for some more Cholla that's suitable for making scales. I'm just about out.

i'm happy to see cholla again; seems it was popular back in the 80s. lot's of prep work but the result is fantastic.---cranky72

I've made a few knives with Cholla. I stabilized it the same way. I just wish I could make one with the natural look. That dead cactus has such character but it gets ground off.

Mike

Is the Bird and Trout still available?

Thanks

Sorry for the late reply. As of right now it's available and I have another one that is very similar on the bench now. Just trying to decide what kind of scales I want to use on it.