My Latest Knife And Sheath W/ Gift Box!

[The Grizzly]

Hello folks!

This is my latest order I just finished up last night. It's a gift for a friend's dad and she requested one of my display/gift boxes to go along with it.

The knife is 440C, hollow ground stainless; a blank I picked up from Jantz Knifemaking. Stainless steel pins and thong tube. The handle scales are exhibition curly maple also from Jantz...I was a little leary on buying wood that I haven't seen first hand, but they did not disappoint and I highly recommend them for their pricing, quality and fast shipping!

The scales were finished and sanded to 1000g, then several coats of stain was applied. The stain was a mixed and tested combination of Fiebing's Pro Oil Light Brown and Mahogany. Beautiful stain that made the grain jump out! The handle was finished with a couple coats of spar urethane, then wet sanded 800-1000 and a final rub down with 3 coats of Tru Oil buffing with ultra fine steel wool between coats. There are a couple flaws, but it is a learning process for me still. Lanyard is 1/8" latigo lace, also dyed to match and a wooden bead dyed, rubbed back with sand paper and urethaned.

The sheath is 8/9oz veg tanned, hand stitched, and dyed using the same stain mix for the handle. Sheath was then finished with a mixture of beeswax, paraffin and neats foot oil melted in a double boiler and applied liberally with a brush to a very warm sheath just out of the toaster oven. The residue was then worked into the sheath with a blow dryer. It took alot of guts to try the hot wax method, but I absolutely LOVE it. The sheath turns water like a ducks back, yet still feels great and not waxy at all. The final luster was achieved with a couple coats of neutral shoe polish buffed with a micro fiber towel.

The box is also stained using the same mixture, thinned out. I wood burned my logo into the center and put a coat of urethane over it to prevent the stain from coloring it. Then stained and urethaned the whole box. It is lined with decorative beige felt.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures, my fiance's camera doesn't like me and tends to make colors appear odd sometimes. I really need a better camera and a light box! Enjoy and any comments or critiques are most welcome!

[Timd]

Very nice work

[dragonspit]

Flaws? what flaws? that is a thing of beauty. nice, very very nice.

[Trapsdog]

Nice work Grizz, I'm sure your friends dad will cherish the knife and sheath.

[The Grizzly]

Thank you all for the kind replies!

dragonspit- yep, there are flaws lol. unfortunately we, as makers and craftsmen, see EVERY little thing wrong with our pieces. most people won't ever notice them, but they look as huge as mountains in our eyes

[Viking]

Great work...I would be proud to own that rig! Attention to every little detail in the write-up is great.

[mugwump]

very cool job. i especially love the wood for the handle, and the use of a frame to add depth for the knife in the sheath. take care.

eric