another newbie question

[grabagear2]

so I tried looking it up in the search box but couldnt find anything. I am getting close to finishing my first knife and i was wondering. For the handle would you recommend cutting out and shapping the 2 pieces of wood and then fixing them to the knife OR cutting out the basic shape attaching them to the knife and then finish the sanding and shapping while the 2 peices are already attached to the knife? or am i way off?
thanks in advance guys!!!

 

[Anthony Chaney]

Well, here's my 2 cents. Knifemaking is like cat skinning, there is more than one way to get the job done. What I do is cut out the basic shape, attach it to the knife, wrap the blade in tape and shape the handle on my grinder.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

That is how 99% of makers do it.

 

[Chant]

If your knife doesn't have a guard or bolsters (i.e., just the wood for the handle), you should finish the front of the handles before attaching. Otherwise, you'll mess up the ricaso while trying to finish the front.

(If it does have guard or bolsters, finish the front of them before attaching).