Help with an Eagle Scout Design

Brian Avila

Brian Avila

Joined
Jan 2, 2011
Messages
1,286
I was hoping you guys could throw some good ideas at me for an Eagle Scout knife. I just found out that my cousin has join the ranks of us Eagle Scouts and it is important that he get something for his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Because I am new at this and I don't really know what could be done for an Eagle Scout knife, I figure I would ask for your help and see if we can come up with something good. I would get a maker do something for me but I figure I would practice and give him something that I have made.

If I could make a pocket knife I would go that direction but I don't' think I could do that so lets head for a full tang knife.

Thanks!

-Brian-
 
Tell him good job. Eagle scout here. Are you going to make the knife from scratch of looking to mod something.
 
I am glad to see there are other eagle scouts here. I feel that it is important to have some type of eagle theme to the knife because when I got my Eagle I was given an eagle figurine that means alot to me.

I was thinking about a knife from scratch. I thought about getting an etch but I don't believe that will last as long as the knife. I don't' know enough about handling to come up with something good to do with a handle.

Because of my skill level I might not be able to make something worth while but I wont know, so I figured I would ask you guys.
 
You could always incorporate the eagle theme into leather work on the sheath. Maybe a replica Eagle claw on a lanyard.
 
You can buy a nice knife blank already done and make a handle and embed a eagle claw or head silver charm in the handle. That way he gets a nice knife and you get to get creative with the handle
 
Don't see why you couldnt get a real deep etch that would last the life of the knife. Could probably even have the badge emblem, on the blade near the guard portion.
 
I would make it out of L6 saw blade. I would make it in the pattern of the old school fixed blade official boy scout knife. The boy scout symbol on one side eagle on the other . Eagle on the leather sheath.
 
What does the old school boy scout knife look like? I like the idea of doing something with the handle. Lots of good ideas!!!

But the old school look is an excellent idea too..... Post a pic of the old knife.
 
What a FUN project Weatherman!

It seems the Eagle scout theme is just one of probably at least three main facets to your question. You've brought up a second one, your skill set and capacities. A third (or actually the first) would be the use for the knife. Unless it will primarily be ceremonial and symbolic, it will be a knife to be used. So your quest probably boils down to three questions.


  1. What style knife (use) will be most appropriate for the recipient?
  2. What can I realistically make with my skill set and resources?
  3. What design elements will most say this is an Eagle Scout knife?

You've already started refining answering the second one, in that you've decided a fixed blade project will be more manageable than a folder. I bet you'll find there are many aspects to this question that will most influence your design decisions and the final creation.

From my view point, the first question is of usage and thus the most pivotal. What does your cousin like to do? What style knife will he most enjoy using? Some of the possibilities might be: camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, butchering, whittling, carving, leather crafting, etc. Once you know what the knife will be used for you'll be better able to decide on blade size, weight, design, profile, edge geometry, etc, as well as handle size and shape and sheath aspects.

The Eagle scout theme will weave its way throughout all your efforts, but will conform, be influenced and come to fruition via the first two aspects. In addition to the already mentioned eagle head and body profiles, feathers and claws; you might want to be mindful of the flor-de-lis symbol the Scouts use as well as the colors they use and their slogans and mottoes. I believe the Eagle Scout badge might be a good reference for your explorations.

Also, perhaps your cousin has some affiliations with certain materials that could come into play: handle material from a family member's old deer rack, or old gun stock, or a walnut tree that was struck by lightening, or an old jeep truck spring, etc...

It is especially difficult to make suggestions without out knowing how the knife will be used, what style it will be. Do you already have ideas in that area???

How fun! All the best, Phil
 
My son is a Life Scout and I assist the Troop as an Asst. Scoutmaster and hoping he gets started on his Eagle project by the end of the year. As far as a knife goes I know Schrade made some pretty nice recent Scout series folding knives, may give them a consideration if you want something unique otherwise you may have to google some of the models Camillus made a few years back, very nice as well but I'm liking the idea of a small full tang fixed blade as well but its too bad that the organization tends to frown on fixed blades so a smaller one may be more tasteful like something in the EESE 3 range.
 
I know he likes to Hike, camp and hunt. So it will be along the lines of a camp knife. Probably 9" long in length with a 4" blade. Just over an 1" wide for the blade. I can pretty much get everything done but the HT by myself so I will send that out.

Having said that, I will probably do something to the handle to make it special....
 
scout1sg said:
My son is a Life Scout and I assist the Troop as an Asst. Scoutmaster and hoping he gets started on his Eagle project by the end of the year. As far as a knife goes I know Schrade made some pretty nice recent Scout series folding knives, may give them a consideration if you want something unique otherwise you may have to google some of the models Camillus made a few years back, very nice as well but I'm liking the idea of a small full tang fixed blade as well but its too bad that the organization tends to frown on fixed blades so a smaller one may be more tasteful like something in the EESE 3 range.
Click to expand...

Its funny you brought up the fixed blades being frowned upon. I actually asked someone from the national office and they said that it is the units and the district areas that started that.
 
Maddogg774 said:
http://www.leescutlery.com/weboyscfiblk.html
The us version. There is a old uk version I'm still trying to find.
Click to expand...

The linked knife is by far the most common BSA fixed-blade. There were others by Marbles, Remington, Union (Ka-Bar), PAL, Cardinal, Camillus, and by Western, the maker of the linked knife. Mint models are pricy since Scouts tended to use knives (sometimes HARD). Average used examples are quite reasonable.
 
scout1sg said:
My son is a Life Scout and I assist the Troop as an Asst. Scoutmaster and hoping he gets started on his Eagle project by the end of the year. As far as a knife goes I know Schrade made some pretty nice recent Scout series folding knives, may give them a consideration if you want something unique otherwise you may have to google some of the models Camillus made a few years back, very nice as well but I'm liking the idea of a small full tang fixed blade as well but its too bad that the organization tends to frown on fixed blades so a smaller one may be more tasteful like something in the EESE 3 range.
Click to expand...


If by "the organization, you mean the BSA, you are misinformed. BSA actively discourages (but does not prohibit) "large sheath knives" as difficult for youth to use and "unnecessary."

Inconsistently, two BSA official publications picture and advocate use of full-sized khukuris and bolos in wilderness settings.

In 2011, BSA reaffirmed their commitment to teaching Scouts the safe use of "all legally possessed woods tools."

Many councils, with the arbitrary irrationality and ignorance common to most banners, do prohibit "all fixed-blade" or "all sheath" knives at their council camps, typically while selling 8" "kitchen knives" in their camp stores and using fixed-blades in their fishing and wood carving merit badge programs. Also, they see no problem with Troops in camp using full-sized Chef's knives for cooking (and full-sized axes). Apparently, it's a cultural thing -- the very idea of a sheath knife -- that is the problem, not the actual use. 4" Tanto-pointed, assisted opening "black" knives? NO PROBLEM After all, it folds. 0___0

Anything can go on in a Troop, one way or the other. Some prohibit all knives (but allow them for cooking, wood-carving, or dressing fish) and others hand out 18" machetes.
 
I make about 3-5 Eagle Scout knives a year. Fixed blade knives are a poor choice. Folders are far better.
I modify the DDR3-BL kit from Knifekits, and do one or more of the following things to customize it:

Engrave the Scout's name and Eagle Scout date on the blade.
Use Ivory for the handle, and scrimshaw an eagle head in it.
Make White Micarta scales, and have the Eagle Scout emblem and/or other info laser etched into the scales.
Inlay an eagle head into the scales.
Provide a leather sheath , or a presentation box.

Depending on the degree of customization desired, and your skills, you can get a damascus blade for the kit, add a spine, and file work the frame,spine,blade, pivots, and button. Using the gold plated screws for final assembly adds a lot to the looks.
Give the recipient a MaxxDriver with the finished knife ($7) to disassemble and maintain the knife.
http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=49_123&products_id=1558

For about $200 total cost, and 40 hours time, you can give him an heirloom quality gift he will treasure the rest of his life.

As to why use the DDR3-BL frame -
It is one of the most law friendly knife out there. It locks open, and CLOSED. It requires depressing the button to open it, and needs both hands. It is as small child proof as a folder can get. The blade is robust and well shaped for field use. You can customize it so many ways that the sky is the limit. Only moderate skill level is needed to complete a really nice gift. The cost to you can range from $50 for the basic kit to $200-500, depending on the degree of customization, and materials chosen for blade and handle.
Not an option for a Scout gift, but they convert to auto easily.
http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=1_13&products_id=20
http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=1_13

Final note:
I have in the past offered to have any new Eagle Scout come over to my forge, with a parent, and forge his own fixed blade knife. Of the three boys who accepted the offer, I think it was more exciting for them than the Court of Honor was.

Stacy E.Apelt - Eagle Scout 1962
 
Stacy, I didn't know you were a fellow Eagle scout! Awesome! I will take a looke at that kit very closely. I agree with the pocket knife idea but I didn't think I could do one. This might change it.
 
Eagle Scout here as well, 1995.

First of all, you need to decide if the knife you are wanting to make for him will be a presentation grade knife that will sit in a display along side the display box for the Eagle medal or, a knife that will see use in a camp or covered in blood dressing a kill.

This choice will dictate what materials to use and how fancy you make it.

If he is still active in Scouting and hunts, as you mentioned, I think he would enjoy a nice user knife vs. a fancy knife that will sit in a display.

As to the fixed vs. folder question this is my opinion on it- If the current council and troop he resides in (and plans on staying active with) allows a fixed blade, by all means that is what you should go for. I look at it like this, becoming an Eagle Scout is a MAJOR step along the lines of maturity, centering on aspects of dependability, honesty, respect and devotion. I would want him to wear his new knife openly and proudly, showing that with the transition to Eagle Scout he has been given a wonderful gift and, most importantly, he is trusted enough to make proper use of the gift. I think that a folder, while still a very nice gift, will get "hidden away" to blend in. Personally, I don't like to blend in. A young man just turning Eagle and getting a super nice fixed blade knife as a gift, will want to display his gift.

Now, all that aside (btw, I had a really hard time trying to convey what I was really trying to say there without seeming like I was promoting him waving a fixed blade knife around like a madman for all to see, lol).

Design: I think a decent size hunter style would fit the bill, not too big and not too small. If you are comfortable with building the blade yourself, by all means go for that. However, if you don't think you are up to the task, there is no shame in finding a very nice blade blank and doing your customizing from there.

Couple of blade designs that I like and have made knives from:
BL408_550b.jpg

BL483_550.jpg


Handle: This is where the fun begins. I can't view the picture of the eagle mosaic pin, so I can't comment on them. You could go with some nice stabilized wood. Or, make up a laminate using a piece of OD green micarta on the bottom and a piece of tan on top...signifying the BSA uniform.

Embellishments: You can try your hand at some custom filework (on blade blanks, you will need diamond files). Add some jimping to the spine. If the blade is carbon steel, do a patterned patina on the blade. For a lanyard, some red, white and blue paracord would make a fitting lanyard...maybe add to it if you could find a bead that fits the design.

Getting to the sheath: This is a whole other canvas to be used for this piece and TONS of ideas are available.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top