Windy

I was referring to having the growth rings in that pattern. Everything else I've seen is along the grain, instead of across it - at least not SO across it. There is good reason you see most with the grain. The wood is less likely to split when you run the grain with the tang. Wood likes to split with the grain. The next time you see one of them Karate guys breaking a board , look close and you will see the grain runs with the way he is kicking or punching it. It is extremely hard to split even the soft woods across the grain. But most all wood will split with the grain with the slightest amount of pressure.Especially on something as narrow as knife handle. Of course if you have a full tang this is less likely to happen.

If you really want to teach them, I would probably just do what the guy you are helping wants to do with the wristbands and just stamping their names. Then I would talk to your mother the scout leader about doing a "hands on demo" at the next group meeting she controls.Then have her talk to the other scout leaders about you coming and giving demos at each small group meeting.This way you get a smaller group that is easier to control.Not to mention giving the individual attention to each scout. Trying to teach that many at one time is going to frustrate you to no end , unless of course kids have changed since I was a scout. WINDY

Really nice work , it appears somewhat holographic. I checked out your web site ,you are one talented person. WINDY

Looks can be decieving. The name being "Bridle Field Bag" implies Bridle leather to me.

Your work is superb. Too bad he did not want something cool on the hat like a skull and cross bones. WINDY

Dave, Why ride to Texas when you can ride to Tennessee where they do not have any state income tax either.There are quite a few states that do not tax income.If my memory serves me well Oregon and Mass do not tax income either. Tenessee is a great place to live , I am not just saying that cause my mother has 100 acres she would sell you either. WINDY

Tandy sells a kit which converts any screw back concho to a snap. WINDY

The belt was stitched on the reliable old Pearson No 6 then the buckle stitched on by hand. I've never liked using rapid rivets, guess they're ok in some applications. Cheers DJ Stitching the buckle on is like gluing the handle to an axe head. If the handle or the head get messed up you have to throw both away. You could use screws or snaps. Then if one changes their taste in buckles or messes the buckle up while working, say laying brick, they can change the buckle without tearing up the belt or calling someone who can restitch the new buckle on the belt. WINDY

My other hobbies are many.Building furniture and other wood stuff,playing with my plasma cutter making metal yard art, photography,gardening both flowers and vegetables,fishing for cat fish, shooting pool, customizing my old 75 Ford truck, pottery both hand building and throwing on the wheel,knot tying or braiding knots,rock collecting and least we forget people watching and going to art/craft shows. WINDY

I use a wood burner to sign my leather work. Just a cheap one I picked up years ago. WINDY

I like the cocobolo one , alas being a wood worker for forty years ,that and cocobolo is one of my favorite woods may make me a wee bit partial. One never knows I may have to make me one now. I have been tinkering with the idea for years. Sometimes I take a while to make up my mind on the design I want to use.

All this talk of making "bone " folders from cocobolo, some resin impregnated wood and plastic and deer antler. Shall we revisit the name "bone " folder. I am not real old , alas I figure this name came about ,hmmmm cause it was made from a bone. Now I do not know about y'all , but my hams come with a bone and some of my steaks come with a bone and least we forget ham hocks and ribs and pork chops. Of course I could be wrong. It may have just looked like a bone so they called it a bone folder.

How do you take them apart to sharpen them once they are dull? It looks like they are rivited together in the photo. WINDY