Lacewood trio almost ready.

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

A long time ago it seems, there was a poster in the WSS forum who was showing a couple of models of Nessmuks. A long time fan of the blade type, I was very interested in the spotted handle material that he used. As a university student trained in entomology it didn't hurt that his avatar was a spider (not an insect and not the direct range of an entomologist I know, but pretty close). I found out that the wood was called lacewood, and really began to like the pattern in it. A lucky chance brought an EDC model into my hands to try out the makers work, but alas, only in Goncalo Alves over Osage (only... ).

Fast forward a couple of years, and one of these Nessmuks became available for purchase, and soon it was on its way as a birthday present for me, courtesy of my wife (with me actually purchasing it, but being reimbursed). Yay! Headed out with me on a unsuccessful hunting trip that year, as part of a Nessmuk "quartet"- my personal necker, a case Damascus stockman, the Nessmuk and a double bit hatchet.

Fast forward almost a year. This now very well established maker has decided to stop taking orders and follow his muse, a great idea for not getting burnt out. Understanding the logic behind this step, I send a quick message to see if any of his scalpel like neckers will be offered up for sale with lacewood, as my birthday was approaching, and I would like to keep my eyes open to try and snag it first. This nice gentleman says he has a batch ready and I'll have my name put on one! I was very happy (understatement). I put forward the payment and lo and behold this little guy appears at my door, with a complimentary sheath to boot!!!

Well, the big chopper design isn't made with wood handles, and despite loving the design it's just too expensive for this stage of my life so how can I complete the trio??? With a blank purchased off of the forum, that's how!! Probably close to a year later, after moving into a house with a garage that I can work in- no more dusty basement- and my first project is nearly compleated! No sheath yet, and don't laugh too hard at the contours as it is my first really contoured handle that I am somewhat happy with, but at long last, without further ado, I present to you


My Fiddleback Lacewood Trio:

Hope my prose wasn't too painful to read, and my handle isn't too horrid to look at, but I'm pretty happy so far, plus now I have red, blue and green liners to make it a colorful lacewood trio.

Any and all opinions are welcome (I'm a big boy)!!

Thanks Andy- you were the first maker that I had multiple knives from!

 

[schmittie]

I'm with you, Andy's knives are the only maker I have more than one of. His are definitely worth waiting for!!

I like your trio, the machete will hold a special value considering your efforts put into it. Well done!

 

[TPVT]

very nice kris. i love that nessmuk. i have looked at lacewood before, and i can't decide how much i like it. i don't suppose you'd help me out and post a closeup or two of the handle....so i can see the patterning a bit better? and congrats on completing your "grail."

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I'll take some close ups tonight if I can and try to remember to get them up. With lacewood it seems to depend on how tight the pattern is prior to shaping in terms of how I like it. I love that it kind of has a hidden chattoyance to it that isn't readily apparent until looked at properly or freshly oiled! I still have a couple of coats of Tung oil and a buffing with Ren wax to go, but even my wife likes the looks and shape of the handle so far, and she is a tough critic of mine so I'm taking it as a good sign.

I now have multiples from 3 makers, one FB only (Andy), one slipjoint only (John Lloyd), and one FB/clip folder (Alan Davis), but Andy will always be first!

Thanks for the responces.

 

[TPVT]

Great...now, i'm gonna have to lookup "chattoyance".

i should be receiving my first FB within a week (a hiking buddy). can't wait.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Chattoyance: that really cool freaking effect where the wood looks different in different lights and at different angles. I think it is because the light reflects differently to different fibers. It gives wood that glow that I love so much.

For show purposes I put a light coat of mineral oil on just before taking the pictures.

Hope these help. Can kind of see the liners too: green/machete, blue/Nessmuk, red/BLJ

 

[TPVT]

very nice kris....thanks.

 

[Havokk]

Great story and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Lacewood looks very nice. The mineral oil seems to have darkened it a lot. What other things can you put on that wood? Beeswax?

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I've done a couple of coats of Tung oil on the machete, and after 1-2 more will be buffing using renaissance wax and a strip of denim/jeans. The Tung oil has done most of the shade change- the piece at the bottom is what the machete handle was cut from. The other 2 pieces are stabilized, so perhaps the stabilization had a color change effect as well, I am not sure.

I'm sure that many other finishes will work as well- Tung is just what I use and have on hand. I've used knives with Tru oil finish as well and it has held up nicely.