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I am building a retirement gift for my son. He has served in both the Police Department, and the FIre Department in his career. Building a thin blue/thin red line handle for a Mule he can use as a boat knife. The standard scale size of 5 inches by 1 1/2 inches will not provide the sort of handle I want. Mind started grinding at 3 am and it hit me to split the wood since I will be putting the straight pieces together with the lines, blue on one side of the knife and red on the other. Here are pictures of the handle shape I want along with how I am able to get two scales from the 1 1/2 inch width. One scale is in a light line on the wood the other is a darker line on the wood.

First processing step rough cut out. I want to document this along the way in case it may help others. The tools I use will be shown. I travel full time so compact and light are essential.

So, I take it the 1.5" wide is not quite large enough for your scale pattern? Nice creative solution to that problem! You are also getting some exquisite book-matched grain patterns in there as well. Are the red/blue lines going in as liners under the wood, or across the middle of the divide between each handle? Can't wait to see the finished results!

bobartig wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2023 12:51 pm

So, I take it the 1.5" wide is not quite large enough for your scale pattern? Nice creative solution to that problem! You are also getting some exquisite book-matched grain patterns in there as well. Are the red/blue lines going in as liners under the wood, or across the middle of the divide between each handle? Can't wait to see the finished results!

The lines will be front to back on the middle of the handle as well as a spacer on the back of the wood. I use the G10 spacers to provide a non split layer. So the color will be a long Tee shape.

A plan so cunning you could stick a tail on it and call it a fox! I’m looking forward to seeing how this pans out. Good luck to you sir.

And the knife is complete. Spalted Tamarind, I had to split the original cut scales to be sure of having dark lines in the wood. Upon close inspection using the scales whole would not have worked as well. The dark lines wander all over so choosing patterns where the final shape would have character was necessary. Red and blue lines are g10. Finish is burnished carnauba wax.

Very nice work!!!

Extremely WELL DONE "TTFulltimer"

Tell the retired son "well done good and faithful servant."

Been there done that...

Looks great.

He was up working on his boat and his new business. I presented him with the knife. He loves it.