Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades I made a rough African Blackwood knife handle in steps

I got the blade here:
ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-2-Knife-Making-Supplies-Blank-Blades-Medium-Stainless-Steel-8-OL/202404104535

440 stainless steel knife making blanks hardened to 55-57 RC. 8" overall, 3.75" blade and 1/8" thick at the spine. Needs edge sharpened and handles made. These are great practice blades to work with and easy to drill out for handles
I don't want any more "practice" drilling through 55-57 RC stainless..... thank you.


So when the pins I core drilled out of a piece of Black Locust were too large by 0.015" in the diameter, I pounded them through the handles to size the pins down. I did not want to try my drills on those holes after I tried a file on the butt of the handle and it would not cut the 440.


I glued up the handle skins and pins with 5 minute epoxy and started milling and filing the handles smooth.
I would have liked the grain in the pins parallel with the grain in skins for matched wood movement, but with the epoxy on the pins I could not see anything.



When the handle felt OK, I decided not to sand and finish with True Oil, but to leave the rough file finish for gripping.


I was inspired by the rough surface of COVID-19 virus under and electron microscope.

That’s some “Sic” inspiration....😜😎

That rough knife handle really bombed.
It is my Edsel.
The wife wants me to go back to making bolt action rifle bolt handles with decorative coins.



But she wants them for handles in the grandkid's chest of drawers.
Everything I have ever made for those grandkids, so far, has been taken away, because they hit each other over the head with it.