Osage Orange Skinner...gotta love the yellow!

[GrizzlyBear]

This is the finished piece that replaces the one with the burned pin from the other thread.

Blade: Bullnose Skinner from TKS
Handle: Customer supplied Osage Orange cut in 1997
Pins/Tube: Nickel Silver
Lanyard: Chris Reeves style paracord hangman's noose
Sheath: 8/9oz veg tanned

I have to say, after working with Osage Orange on 2 knives now, I really, really like how it finishes. Sanding to 800 made the wood like glass, don't think I've experienced anything like it that was unstabilized. This handle was sanded to 600, then wetsanded from 800-2000. After that, it got a quick wipe with Helmsman Spar Urethane as a light sunblock. Then buffed with ultrafine steel wool and a couple light wipes of Tru Oil. Carnuba wax and a hand polish finishes it out.

This wood has all sorts of character that kept coming out as it was shaped. First a small worm hole, which I left, then some black spots that looked like the beginnings of some spalting. The yellow color is amazing in the sunlight with loads of chatoyence...only wish my camera could capture it proper.

I think the customer is going to really like this piece and it goes well with the black sheath. Plus, I gained quite a bit of usable Osage!

Enjoy!

 

[David Stifle]

Very nice, Griz, and nice leather work too. That's a knife a guy could take into the woods and do well with.

Dave

 

[GrizzlyBear]

Thanks David! I wasn't sure about the blade design seeing it on the website. However, after getting it and putting a good handle on it, I have to say I really like how it feels. It's fairly well balanced, it's not overly big, and that sweep on the belly just feels right.