on the bench

oldanvilyoungsmith

oldanvilyoungsmith

Joined
Feb 7, 2011
Messages
427
On the bench, rough forged, and ready for grinding.

Small japanese style razor.
and
a recurve fighter

What kind of wood should be used for the recurve's handle? Thoughts?


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Got to work on them some tonight after work. The fighter is partially ground, and a change of plans has been made. I am not leaving it rough ground, and I plan to give it a hamon, and I'm thinking some kind of sleek black handle material.

Pictures tomorrow
 
Here's the recurve thus far, and yes, it is coated in green spray paint. When I'm grinding bevels I like to spray the blade with paint, let it dry, then grind, then I can see right where I'm hitting it, and where I'm not.


With it you can see a sketch I did of it, with an idea for a hamon. I want some kind of hamon running down the blade like a flame. And I'm thinking buffalo horn handle scales, and thin copper liners, and possibly some mosaic pins my brother got me for my birthday. Thoughts? Any worries or tips when working buffalo horn? And where would you get buffalo horn? I see that Jant'z has it, but I want to check other places.

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Bone or antler would be killer on that killer
 
If you want horn, I have a piece and no particular use for it. I believe I paid $10 for it. Since I don't do scales I'd be willing to let it go for what I paid (plus shipping).
 
Tryppyr, what size is the horn? If it's large enough then I might be interested.
Also, what colors does it have? I don't mind some light streaking, but I'm wanting mainly black.


As for the knife, I have found out on another forum, that contrary to my prior thoughts, Aldo's 1084 isn't good for hamons, so I won't be claying it up at all. Thus I learn....
 
Well I like the copper liners idea. Of course I'm using therm on a batch of drop point hunters I'm starting soon....
Nice looking knife. Try the Hamon. I've seen more than one person get em on Aldos 1084. I'm on my phone , or I'd do a search and find some links. I like dark wood like cocobolo, or walnut the way it highlights the copper liners.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Desert Ironwood ( always a good choice)
African Blackwood ( dark with a bit of subtle swirl grain, much more stable than ebony)
Dark Buckeye Burl ( superb figure and 3-D look, my favorite wood.)
Black dyed Box Elder Burl. ( A good looking wood, and reasonably priced)
Highly figured Walnut ( crotch, flame, or Claro)
Ringed Gidgee ( This would be stunning on that knife)

The buckeye and box elder burls should be stabilized wood, the others are used natural.

If you nail the hamon, I would go with flame pattern walnut.
 
oldanvilyoungsmith said:
Tryppyr, what size is the horn? If it's large enough then I might be interested.
Also, what colors does it have? I don't mind some light streaking, but I'm wanting mainly black.
Click to expand...

The water buffalo horn is a little over 14 inches long, and as for color, it is hard to say as I haven't done anything with it other than remove it from the trophy mount it was on. I'm told it will polish out to black.

I also have a bison horn I picked up at the same price that's about 8 inches long, much more solid (i.e. suitable for a block handle, but for the curve) and VERY black, through and through.
 
I would also consider African Blackwood, Bog Oak or vinegarooned Oak (but use liners if you're going to have a mirror polish on the spine) Buffalo horn is "shiney pretty" but can be slippery with a high polish. Flame maple could be a good choice if you nail the Hamon. 1084 is a water hardening steel and you would have to source a pretty fast quenching oil to oil harden it. There was some issues with manganese content (and hardening issues) in 1095 but 1084 should be good for a hamon.
 
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