2024 Scholarship Auction Build

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Set the guard…. Snug as a bug in a rug!
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This build is going to have a hidden threaded through tang….. so drill, tap, and mill the pommel…ps I use a shop vac wand to keep the milling area clean and tidy while it’s chomping!
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All done….. love the mini mill!!!
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Next up is to add the threaded stud and fit the handle…… it’s starting to get exciting!!!
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Bingo slotted the tang, fit the stud, and a few quick lines with the welder and the stud is fixed! A hack here is if you make the slot a bit small then you grind the treads just enough that you can tap it in place it holds it in position nicely for the weld……it’s a PIA if it doesn’t weld up in the right direction.
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I forgot to snap a pic of drilling the handle…..I used the mini mill and go slow as this iron wood is tough stuff! Fitting the handle so the pommel snugs up just right is an act of patience but once it’s just right it got some West Systems g-flex and then tightened it down!
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Note there is a hack on the guard and pommel fit up. If you save some sawdust from the handle you can mix it with the epoxy into a paste and you can then work it into the joint on both fit up sides and it will fill any micro gaps that may happen. Next since this handle has a hole clear through I tape the pommel side so you don’t get a epoxy water fall out the end. You do the same if it’s a pinned handle…….
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Very pleased with this block it’s going to be a looker once it gets polished up……. Going to let it sit a week just to make sure the epoxy is fully set (and got some other tasks to do) then on to final shaping!
 
Didn’t rough handle shaping between crawfishing…..
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A little burl pocket opened up on this side so need to inject it with some clear epoxy to fill the void….. the dangers of working with burls……. It’s small enough I think it will disappear…..
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The burl is going to be pretty though!
 
Been following along without commenting . Always awesome work .

A little burl pocket opened up on this side so need to inject it with some clear epoxy to fill the void….. the dangers of working with burls……. It’s small enough I think it will disappear…..
Lol . Funny thing is people like that . I'm doing a cherry farm / harvest table . Running the top through the overhead sander I ran into a rotten spot . Probably from a fence staple . More people rub that spot and say " I like the detail " Lol .
 
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Been following along without commenting . Always awesome work .


Lol . Funny thing is people like that . I'm doing a cherry farm / harvest table . Running the top through the overhead sander I ran into a rotten spot . Probably from a fence staple . More people rub that spot and say " I like the detail " Lol .
Thanks and yea it’s funny how what would be a bad thing becomes the focal point….ie spalted wood is very highly desired and it’s just a block of moldy wood……
 
That was a very good day! Finished up the grinder work so all that’s left is hand sanding the handle and guard……..oh man I REALLY like how this one is developing!!!
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You can see the little “burl hole” but I filled it with some clear supper glue as it was a little porous…..two coats with a grind between and by by…..
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Going to hand sand this handle to 2000 grit….its going to glow once it goes under the buffer wheel!!!
 
Well the knife proper is complete...... I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out. It should raise some nice funds for the scholarships!
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The ironwood burl came out really nice!
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The flip side!
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the "point" perspective!
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Next up is the sheath, which will be out of ironwood and it will have an elk hide band, ie some of the hide the knife is sitting on. It is a remainder hide piece of the 6x6 bull I harvested about 24 hears ago in the Gospel Hump Wilderness, Idaho.

The bull.....
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Beautiful work Civil. Someone's gonna be one happy camper.

Point for sure
Chris
 
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Wow, that is absolutely gorgeous. Nice work & for a good cause. 👍
Thanks JL! A student that got a scholarship from last year is actually in my son's program with him...It's a small world!
Beautiful work Civil. Someone's gonna be one happy camper.

Point for sure
Chris
Many thanks Chris and I hope so! The auction is a month out so I get to have it sit on my desk for a bit..... plus I need to finish the sheath......
Civil , that's a work of art . Mad skills bud .
Thanks Chop! The wife and kids are like DAD WHY ARE YOU GIVING THAT AWAY....... I'm like....I'll make another :-)
Simply stunning piece of art...
Much appreciated GS
 
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Ok so I’ve been working on the sheath and as I was working the ironwood the grain and color that came out is stunning so I think I’m going to pivot and not cover it with the hide band and will finish it to a high polish and do a pinned leather lace retention strap with a leather post instead……..if you look close on the top you can see the slotted hole w/pin for the lace….

It’s all epoxied (west systems) up now awaiting curing and final shaping…….
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That is really amazing. Beautiful in so many ways!! I love how you're incorporating the copper into the sheath as well. It will complement the ironwood perfectly. If I owned that, I don't know if I could ever bring myself to use it.
 
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