Coral handle, damass, copper bronze blade

[milesofalaska]

Another story knife. Red coral is hard to come by that I acquired 30 years ago. Hard to drill! How do I set a blade so it is not fragile ??? So set idea aside until I got inspired to custom cast a way to connect blade to coral. I made a blade first that needed a special handle of some kind. This is scrap Damascus custom forged by someone else who sells their scraps by the pound. I had previously been into copper and brass blades. Nice, but no good to cut with. How would I put steel on the edge of a copper knife? This is one way. How would you harden and temper such a blade?? I'm not giving that secret up. Curious if anyone comes up with how I did this. This could be a functional working knife. It's made to use. However thinking the one who ends up with this will see it as a ceremonial knife, maybe shaman knife or for reenactments or some special need. I'm playing around more with this concept, trying to have a more refined look. For now 'rustic,' has its purpose. Guard has a hand carved owl head. (for wisdom, silence , and the dark) . The other side has a mink. For water, a weasel. slippery in behavior, lover of fish and streams. Mink implies 'fur' animal skinning? And 'class' (mink clothing is for rulers and the wealthy) a knife of privilege. Hey! It's part of the story ok? (grin). Me, I got no class, I'm. a savage, and proud of it, so part of the story is the joke. Oz is a man of magic, but also a humbug. Behold, not ashamed of that. Also part of the story. We carry a knife. It's a tool. We can bluff with it, show it off, use it for what it is meant for, or tell bullshit stories as we show it off. The stand is fossil step bison ice and bone that I found myself. Ancient energy. The wood I cut and stabilized on one of my river trips. Well yoiu know I hate life on the river but it's part of my job... write it off the business. Someone has to do it. Fish, live off the land .... such a rough life. How far does this story go? How deep do you want it? Ihopes yoiu chuckle and say "Let me see that dang thing!" Obviously I came across some red coral..... I keep a straight face.