So I was doing the rough shaping of the handles and made a MAJOR mistake. Shaped the first handle scale (and it went just fine, all normal). Then on the second one I did something I have never done before - I started shaping the back side, what is supposed to be flat. Needless to say I was more than just a little pissed off!!!
Usually when I make a mistake I sit down on a bucket and just stare at it, dumbfounded. This time, I wanted to throw up, and throw the thing through a window! Then I started looking at my options. I thought, maybe I could make the lanyard pocket go all the way through as more like a horseshoe notch. Well, that wouldn't work because I would still have two left-side scales. Then I thought, well, what if I cut off the contoured part, and laminated on another slab of material.
Turns out I had ONE piece, exactly what I needed, left over from another project. It was one half a set of scales and it was big enough to work...
I re-drilled all the holes, shaped the profile, sanded the finger pocket, and damnit if it didn't work!! You can still see a very faint line at the joint of the two slabs, but we're back in business.
Lesson learned. Slow down and stop and think at every step, even if you have done this dozens of times. Then, think some more before you throw a fit.
I will always see this flaw, and honestly I don't mind. I am glad I saved this and I will remember that we all have flaws.
Anyway, hope you guys enjoy watching this process. I'm off to have a cold one now.