2025 Scholarship Auction Build

[civilsmoker]

So the auction is about 5 weeks out so I needed to get busy and finish the scabbard.....

Got a nice grainy piece of hickory and got it trimmed up and the brass pins set.... There is a gap because that is where the leather wrap will be....

Doing a color match of the true oil and handle....I actually searched through a bunch of my hickory stock to find a piece that would color match ...

side two color match.... This makes me happy and excited on how this scabbard is going to add to the whole package......

 

[civilsmoker]

Ok the auction is next week so we are down to the wire....

got the sheath epoxied, shaped, and finished....

Then the final task.....epoxy the retention strap and stitch the leather wrap. To epoxy the strap, I used the mill to make a channel and the a little bit of epoxy and then the wrap. I'm rather happy with the look and feel of this combo!

the "together shot"

The final step is to sharpen it, will do that over the weekend and the start showing it over next week for the live auction on Tuesday!

 

[JIMSMOKES]

Absolutely beautiful!

 

[Brokenhandle]

Ok the auction is next week so we are down to the wire....

got the sheath epoxied, shaped, and finished....
View attachment 726683

Then the final task.....expoxy the retention strap and stitch the leather wrap. To epoxy the strap, I used the mill to make a channel and the a little bit of epoxy and then the wrap. I'm rather happy with the look and feel of this combo!
View attachment 726685

the "together shot"
View attachment 726684

The final step is to sharpen it, will do that over the weekend and the start showing it over next week for the live auction on Tuesday!

Very nice!

Ryan

 

[JLinza]

Beautiful. Another great one in the books. Very nice work

 

[clifish]

Ok the auction is next week so we are down to the wire....

got the sheath epoxied, shaped, and finished....
View attachment 726683

Then the final task.....epoxy the retention strap and stitch the leather wrap. To epoxy the strap, I used the mill to make a channel and the a little bit of epoxy and then the wrap. I'm rather happy with the look and feel of this combo!
View attachment 726685

the "together shot"
View attachment 726684

The final step is to sharpen it, will do that over the weekend and the start showing it over next week for the live auction on Tuesday!

Is it a live audience auction or can be bid online? This might be your best one yet!

 

[civilsmoker]

Absolutely beautiful!

Many thanks Jim!

Very nice!

Ryan

Thanks Ryan! One of these days I will make one for me!

 

[civilsmoker]

Beautiful. Another great one in the books. Very nice work

Thanks JL! Check check goes the project….im always nervous till they cut paper cause you can always have a moment and well make a mess of it!

Is it a live audience auction or can be bid online? This might be your best one yet!

Much appreciated clifish! It is an in person auction with and auctioneer and all. One of the past high bidders isn’t going to be in attendance this year so some one may get a steal of a deal!

As a side note, this one from a Damascus side wasn’t and complicated as last years (the cu mai was /is “way” technical) but there are many many other technical aspects to this one and they all came together nicely!

 

[civilsmoker]

Just sharing that the auction went well and even though the past years high bidders weren't in attendance the final winning bid was $950, which pays for a full scholarship. There happened to be 2 other knifes up as well and they went for 550. Overall, this auction raised $37,500 in funds for the evening (setting a record).

Funny thing is the winning bidder got the bug and went over to a local knife shop (VERY HIGH END) and bought another blade..... https://nordicknives.com/ PS if you want to know what a 19.95K knife looks like there are two listed at that $$$..... I went in there and it humbled me as well as gave me inspiration. The last two bowie builds for the auction went for more than Jason Knight's bowie that is in the shop and that leaves me speechless.......

Here is the farewell shot....

 

[JckDanls 07]

That is so cool... everything about it... Good on you Brother...

 

[civilsmoker]

That is so cool... everything about it... Good on you Brother...

Thanks JckD, it is much appreciated!

 

[Fueling Around]

Nice job Courtney. Your group does an outstanding service to the school.

...
Overall, this auction raised $37,500 in funds for the evening (setting a record).

Funny thing is the winning bidder got the bug and went over to a local knife shop (VERY HIGH END) and bought another blade..... https://nordicknives.com/ PS if you want to know what a 19.95K knife looks like there are two listed at that $$$..... I went in there and it humbled me as well as gave me inspiration. The last two bowie builds for the auction went for more than Jason Knight's bowie that is in the shop and that leaves me speechless.......
...

They need to open a store in Naples Florida or Marco Island. People spend a lot of money on stuff around there.

 

[civilsmoker]

Nice job Courtney. Your group does an outstanding service to the school.

They need to open a store in Naples Florida or Marco Island. People spend a lot of money on stuff around there.

Thanks FA!

The fund has given out 192k in scholarships over the past 5 years. All to rural Highway District staff kids and grand kids. It’s a game changer for those kids and family’s!!!

Oh yea this knife store relocated from SF Cali 5 years ago. I think the fact that Chris Reeve Knives relocated here as well as Buck Knives all might have something to do with it….. I’m thinking we are becoming a knife area…… there was a guy in there signing loan papers from a bank to buy a knife….i didn’t even know that was a thing……

 

[clifish]

Thanks FA!

The fund has given out 192k in scholarships over the past 5 years. All to rural Highway District staff kids and grand kids. It’s a game changer for those kids and family’s!!!

Oh yea this knife store relocated from SF Cali 5 years ago. I think the fact that Chris Reeve Knives relocated here as well as Buck Knives all might have something to do with it….. I’m thinking we are becoming a knife area…… there was a guy in there signing loan papers from a bank to buy a knife….i didn’t even know that was a thing……

I am surprised a bank would do that...but, I guess if you have the credit they would almost anything?

 

[gmc2003]

Beautiful work for a great cause Cortney.

Point(s) for sure
Chris

 

[civilsmoker]

I am surprised a bank would do that...but, I guess if you have the credit they would almost anything?

Yea it was a surprise to me, but looking at the price point of some of them I get it......

Beautiful work for a great cause Cortney.

Point(s) for sure
Chris

Thanks Chris, its a great cause however, It also helps push me to come up with a "worthy" build so I think outside the box......

I am already planning for next year and have 2 ideas that I'm thinking about one is heavy on the welding side with a high-level count.....IE 250 layers with rain drops for the 1776-2026 anniversary......

The other idea (VERY AMBITIOUS) is a 25 layer (1 layer representative = 10 years of the 250)... It would have a 1084 Core then then a total of 24 other layers of alternating 1084 with copper, ie so it would have 13 distinct visible layers per side, ie 7 dark layers and 6 copper, ie representing the red/white strips of the flag....The guard and pommel would also have some special "flares" as well.......... Just need to get in the "believe" mind set for this one......

 

[civilsmoker]

This is an old thread but just thought I would share this final version of this brother of the scholarship build....

It's going to another good cause; I'm not at liberty to say what but.... but I think it turned out pretty cool, especially with the rustic leather sheath. I did add another 3/4 inch of Kevlar wrap to be past the pin location for strength, then the leather wrap is also blade pro epoxied on to fix it because this is going to be an "active working knife".

The sheath does have a nylon insert so the blade can be stored in the sheath without fear of corrosion.

Hope it brings joy in its new home!

 

[fumarone]

That is a quality piece. Your craftmanship is outstanding. I'm glad you post the knives. Do you put dykem on all your pieces before the final sanding? Again, great work.

 

[indaswamp]

Awesome work!

 

[civilsmoker]

That is a quality piece. Your craftmanship is outstanding. I'm glad you post the knives. Do you put dykem on all your pieces before the final sanding? Again, great work.

Thanks and cutlery just seems to go with bbq in my book. I dykem for grinding the bevels ie for marking a clean line to grind to. Since most of the knifes I make end up being a BBQ knife in the sense that the only time they come out of the safe.... the lines need to be spot on....LOL

The finished rustic one above is left rustic by design, even the final sanding as its intended to be a little rough and "used" like to fit the personality and style of the "owner"!