All About Pocket Knives

So I finally got back to the fishing knife project. I found some nice amber american standard bone slabs that I roughly fit to the handles; I noticed after I shaped these handles that one of the slabs has what I thought was a stress crack in it. But it appears that there's dye in it so I'm going to assume that it was there from the start (otherwise I'd have to admit that I somehow cracked a perfectly good bone handle!).
I worked on shaping the bolsters a bit trying to get rid of the harsh edges.This was a combination of file work and belt grinder work.
I'm still getting used to the new belt grinder. Sometimes I find myself working in grits that are to fine, other times too coarse. The belt grinder is definitely a learning process.(I had a chance to use a 9 micron polishing belt today, interesting stuff and definitely worth the learning curve required).
It went together without to much trouble. Here's the finished knife; (There's still some polishing compound in the joint between the bone scale and the bolster). I learned a few things while doing this project, but I'd definitely do another bolster/knife project. The end result is pretty satisfying;
Old knife; New Knife;

I've always heard that clothes make the man. (I think a clothes salesman thought that up) but scales certainly make the knife more desirable. If I walked past the before knife on a shelf, I wouldn't pay any notice but that after knife would catch my eye every time. "Good job' isn't an encouragement to say to you anymore but a statement of fact.

That came out pretty nice! I used to be a shell-handle snob, and would never mod them due to the extra work involved. But many of these, like the Imperials, have great blade steel. Some of my most memorable mods are shell handle mods!

glennbad wrote:That came out pretty nice! I used to be a shell-handle snob, and would never mod them due to the extra work involved. But many of these, like the Imperials, have great blade steel. Some of my most memorable mods are shell handle mods!

Thanks.
It’s definitely a lot of work. This one isn’t my best work but it was a good learning experience for me. There’s some things I’d do differently next time for sure.

doglegg wrote:I've always heard that clothes make the man. (I think a clothes salesman thought that up) but scales certainly make the knife more desirable. If I walked past the before knife on a shelf, I wouldn't pay any notice but that after knife would catch my eye every time. "Good job' isn't an encouragement to say to you anymore but a statement of fact.

Thank you!

Ready for the fishing trip!!!!! Looks nice!!!!!!!!

Doc B wrote:Ready for the fishing trip!!!!! Looks nice!!!!!!!!

Thanks Doc!
Theres a few issues with it but all in all it’s a good useable knife. Might be one for my tackle box.
Dale was right about the added weight though, adding 1/8” nickel silver bolsters definitely makes it a “hefty” knife.
I didn’t pay much for the original knife and other than time and some materials It didn’t cost me much to find out whether converting shell handle knives is worthwhile. I’d definitely do it again.