Yvsa: Thanks for the tips, I was just thinking about using leather to cover the handle because the wooden handles of medieval European sword were often covered this way. I have done it two times for one of my swords, and the result was quite comfortable (although, a more skilled person would have certainly achieved a more esthetically pleasing result..
I used hot, molten beeswax to impregnate the leather after it has been sewn in place, which makes the leather a little harder, shrinks it a bit more and gives it a little more grip. (the wax of "modern", stearine/paraffine candles will not work). I am however not sure, if this will work with deerskin, too. I maybe will use the leather as a cover for the now cord-wrapped handle the cord-wrap might have the advantage of making the shape of the grip a little less weird in terms of cutting the leather to the right shape, and adding some cushioning.
Will Kwan: The files I used were actually two ceramic sticks of my Spyderco Sharpmaker (since I had no other means of sharpening available at that moment). I used the to burnish and hone the nicks away, changing the angle I was holding the file from time to time a little bit. So basically, I was producing a multi-bevelled edge that was (hopefully) close to the original convex grind. I noticed that I am not too good in explaining this procedure, but maybe you got the idea. To get is as convex as possible after this initial sharpening, I used fine-grit (600 or 800) sandpaper that is placed on a small strip of foam from a good-quality camping mat which in turn is glued to a wooden base to strop the blade. This foam is hard enough to provide the needed resistance, but is soft enough to indent a little under the knifes weight.
I have not abused other knifes before when chopping bones, since I normally use a small hatched, a saw or the spine of my hunting knife (which has a kind of an axe-grind) for this task. The WWII had a far more delicate grind than the hatchet, so maybe I should have expected a few nicks.
Laws regarding knifes in Germany are not as bad as they are for example in the UK. (Gun-laws are pretty rigorous, though) The only restrictions currently in place apply to automatic knifes, which are only allowed if their blade length is below 8cm (this might get changed in the near future to 6.5cm) and to sword-canes and similar stuff, which are illegal because it is not obvious that they are weapons. Carrying large knifes in public is legal as long as it does not take place during some kind of public event (or public function I am not sure about the correct English term) like concerts, fairs, festivals, etc. This means, if I want to take a sword with me when going to a renaissance fair, I need to get a permit first (this permit is only valid for the specified event), which is not too difficult. (ok, sometimes the guys at the county house dont react too enthusiastic to the fact that sometimes, those swords are sharp but hey, I need them for cutting demonstrations was normally enough to convince them).
However, knifes are not generally a part of the accepted dressing code here (the only knife I am currently carrying with me is a Spyderco folder), and I am not sure what would happen if I were carrying something like a 25 Sirupati with me in urbanized areas. Lots of questions, maybe from the police, too, would be the least that would happen, I guess. And I certainly would have problems to explain why I actually need this knife during shopping, or when going to my office. Folders are still pretty much accepted (especially if they look "traditional" - wooden or stag scales and such..), but the publics (read: city folks) attitude towards knifes, especially if they are looking intimidating is beginning to change knifes are seen more and more as something dangerous that is associated with criminals. I cant say that I either understand or like this trend.
--[------ anton
[This message has been edited by Anton Irmen (edited 04-02-2001).]
