DoogMeister

Both colors can be orangey. Diluting 50-50with 91% Isopropyl alcohol can help. Also using antiquing compound (Feibing's paste) can tone down the color. Key is to practice on scrap. I find Feibing's Pro Golden Brown to have a pleasant warm color.

Try neutral shoe polish.

Looking nice! From one old Marine to another, who also makes knives, shoots, fishes, etc. I am watching this project. My wife was asking the other day what I'm going to do with all my knives. I give some away, did one as a donation for a 4-H silent auction fundraiser last year, and mostly just look at the rest. Your project may have given me something to do . . .

I make a few knives as well, also buying the blades. Gives me something to make a sheath for. My scales are from wood - ambrosia maple, curly maple, walnut, sassafrass, cherry, etc. From one Marine to another, bravo zulu.

very nice!

Wow.

stunning piece of work. Your step by step pics are greatly appreciated.

very nice work.

very nice! Do you have a pic of the back of the sheath?

I use a piece of old T-shirt to apply and buff the antique (Feibing's paste). I work it into carving with an old toothbrush. Much less getting too much of the antiquing compound into the cuts that way, then buff off. Feibing's Pro Resist, applies with a very damp piece of T-Shirt fabric.

nice!

Looks better than my early work. Practice smoothing out your beveling - such as around the dancer's head. Take smaller steps when moving the beveler and work at holding it absolutely vertical. You may want to obtain several bevelers in different sizes. Than has helped me, especially in tight corners. Also keep the beveling a more consistent depth. Compare the lower side of the dancer's arms with the top of her shoulders and around the back of her dress. You can re-case the leather and go over these areas, so nothing lost except for time spent, and you learn something while doing that. Practice on scraps. Above all, keep going and don't get discouraged.

Have used a small grinder to shorten the snap post when using lighter leather, such as 4-5 oz. Not the best solution for high-volume work, but it does produce a seated snap w/o the bend you have been experiencing.

very nice.

Very nice work. Like you, I am a retired Marine, and have taken to making knives the same way - buying the blades and adding scales and making sheaths. My wife keeps asking me what I'm going to do with them. Need to re-size some pics so I can upload.