Another one about 90% finished. Looking for suggestions

[Bfusmc03117]

So I'm almost done with this one and I'm working on the handle. It's canvas micarta. I'm trying to shape it to feel good in the hand but I'm having trouble getting good angles on the grinder and the hand sanding Is tuff in the tight spots. And while sanding I got the blade a little with the sanding paper so that made me pretty mad. Any suggestions to shaping this handle and fixing the scratches on the blade? I'm still learning and it seems my order of operations may be off.

I know the knife is a funky design. I tried to make a good skinner that had some sort if finger choil on the spine for my index finger because that's how hold my knives for skinning . I think it's a little ugly but not sure what else to do about it.

 

[PT Doc]

I would take the majority of the curve off the front but not all of it. Angle upward and forward toward the spine. Now that the scales are on, it can be frustrating to rework. Maybe call it a day, hang it on the wall and remind yourself to work it all out ahead of time.

 

[Bfusmc03117]

I would take the majority of the curve off the front but not all of it. Angle upward and forward toward the spine. Now that the scales are on, it can be frustrating to rework. Maybe call it a day, hang it on the wall and remind yourself to work it all out ahead of time.

When you say get rid of the curve are you referring to the funky notch thing I put on the spine of the knife or the actual curve of the blade? I think in done with this for today. But I was thinking perhaps grinding the notch down until it's like a mini choil. Flat with the spine yet sweeps up last minuet to keep a strong tip. What's your take on that?

 

[Fletch Helical]

Shape the front of your scales basically to finished before you put them on. This will save you the hassle you learned of having the sandpaper hit the blade, or. make sure you wrap the blade good with painters tape or electrical tape before you take sandpaper anywhere near it. You only need to be finished right where they are going to meet the ricasso or wherever they're going to sit. The only fix for now it the hard one, you need to re sand the blade to get the scratches out and take it up to the finish you want.

 

[Frank Niro]

Try a say 1/2" smooth cut round file. Try it first on a piece of scrap. It can be a great way to shape handles and bolsters before going to sand paper. Frank

 

[Bfusmc03117]

Thanks guys I'm going to try put the file to fix the scales then might try sand blasting the blade with some fine sand then go back and blast with baking soda on the blade. Thanks so much for the suggestions. Is the sand blasting a good idea at this point?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

This is a good example of why you need to work out these things on paper before getting 90% done in steel


The harpoon tip seems horribly out of place on this knife. The knife would surely look and work better without it.
The crook in the handle is odd, and should be shaped more in a curve. The whole handle is off angle to the blade.
The front of the handle scales must be fully finished before the handle is put on...or you will mar up the blade badly, as you now know.
The "hunchback" handle front is very odd. The handle should go evenly into the blade. The spine normally continues along its curve into the handle smoothly.