Finished mosaic handle WIP pics w/sheath finally

Damn this is fun to watch. Thanks Mark.
 
This is the final dry fit, I'm pretty sure. This thing is starting to look like a knife. The handle has had two coats of tung oil and I wiped off the excess. You're supposed to just leave it alone to dry for 24 hours, but I just couldn't resist putting it together to check the fit.

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It all looks pretty good to me but the top of the handle looks a little humpy, I think a should smooth it out just a little.

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The handle width behind the guard is the same as the ricasso as in the ABS school of thought. The point of ballance is right behind the guard.

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The fit of the ricasso to the guard is tight. The corby rivet in the butt cap is temporary, it will be resessed in the final assembly and covered with a domed mosaic pin.

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The handle will get two more coats of tung oil. I was working on heat patinizing the fittings when I ran out of propane in the torch. Heat patinizing is an old world technique of using different kinds of oil (like tung oil or linseed oil) and heat to put a patina on nonferrous metals. The oil cooks onto the surface to preserve the finish. It has great effect on mokume, I am just getting the hang of it and will show you the results after I get more propane. I have experimented with tung oil, linseed oil, danish wood oil and neatsfoot oil so far and like the effect of the danish oil best. I will be starting the sheath tonight and should have the finished package in a day or two.
 
Thanks for sharing and taking me along Mark. Without this tutorial, I can honestly say I would have never figured out how that handle was made. Very nice, indeed.
 
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The blade is 6 1/2 inches long, 1 1/2 inches wide and 5/32 thick. The handle is 5 inches long. It balances well and weighs 9 1/2 oz. without the sheath. The sheath has sea snake skin, barrimundi skin and african porcupine quils, I hope you like it.
I can always find things I will do differently on the next one, but overall I am happy with the knife. I hope you all enjoyed the WIP, I am happy to answer any questions. Thanks for looking Mark
 
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Has a real regal look , kind of Egyptian like, very unique and creative, the sheath deserves a WIP also.

What a combo, Thanks for the WIP and sharing your work and talent.

Forgot to mention your photos:thumbup:
 
Unbelieveable Mark. It's beautiful. Have you ever put together a handle like this combining wood and ivory?

Kevin
 
Fantastic knife.
Ever since I saw the finished photo I make everyone who comes to my work area come into my office so I can show them what you made.
This has to be one of the coolest daggers I have ever seen.
Now.....how are you going to top this one?
 
kdcknives said:
Unbelieveable Mark. It's beautiful. Have you ever put together a handle like this combining wood and ivory?

Kevin
Click to expand...

Yes I have, but it is trickier because the dis-similar materials expand and shrink differently with fluctuating moisure and temperature throughout the life of the knife. In these situations I like to use more than one means of fastening, like dove-tailed inlays with glue as apposed to just glue. Undercuts and pins etc. Many materials do not adhere well together like ivory to ivory or ivory to steel, so a liner material between them of a material that adheres well to both of them (like paper or leather, not plastic) really helps.
 
My customer just came in to pick up this knife, I think he started to cry a little bit and gave me a big hug. I don't mind the hugs but I hate it when I make people cry :D. Thanks for all the nice comments everyone, I sure enjoyed making the knife and showing it to you. I should add that my customer is also a good friend.
 
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Mark you are a true Knife Artist and it was my pleasure to watch you build this knife. Congratulations on creating such a beautiful piece of art.
 
Mark - The WHOLE package!

Its not just that amazing blade, not just that over-the-top handle, and not just that inspiring sheath...... its all those combined. It all works perfectly as a complete themed work of art.

WOW!!

WOW!!

WOW!!

Thanks you for sharing your talents with us. That was truly fascinating.
 
FANTASTIC WIP Mark...Thanks!

I just happened to see it today so it was great to go from start to finish.

I have been admiring your work for a while on the Custom Knives forum, but viewing this gave me a WHOLE new viewpoint on how much work you put in on one of your mosaic creations.

Peter
 
your level of patience and skill with the bandsaw is leaps and bounds above mine.

you put the whole thing in a vacuum with the CA, so the whole block and the excess dries over time and you have to grind off a lot of excess, as in maybe inches of excess depending on the size of the container you put the block in to pour over the CA? (yes, that was a run on sentence...)
 
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