Mismatched scales

[Guy Thomas]

I've just been given some walnut boards that were cut from the crotch of a huge tree and they have great figure and really close grain, however a few of the boards (the nicest ones) are too thin to split into scales.
I'd still like to use them for knife handles but I'd have to cut them out separately and the grain patterns won't match from one side of the knife to the other. Would scales that don't match be considered much of a detraction on a knife?
-Guy Thomas

 

[Bruce Evans]

Just match the grain as close as possiable,or you could find the sister board to that piece and your grain will match..None matching grain doesnt look bad on a skinner or work knife,but I wouldnt do it on a presentation piece...Bruce

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Bruce Evans Handcrafted Knives

The soul of the Knife begins in the Fire!!!!!
Member of,AKTI#A000223 and The American Bladesmith Society

 

[tom mayo]

dont do it...it will look horrible...send it all to me to dispose of......

 

[Guy Thomas]

Bruce, I have already matched a few adjoining boards. I wish I'd had thought about that when they were being given to me, but I was distracted at the time with some nice but plain walnut timbers I was getting. The timber chunks were from a walnut tree that grew next to the cabin where my Mom was raised and I wanted some for sentimental reasons and to make the handles for a kitchen knife for her.
Tom, nice try, that might work on Jerry

but not me! Maybe we could trade, some of that Koa maybe?-Guy Thomas