Knife number 4

Back in the workshop I picked up a blade that I had started working on some time ago but then put aside because I was not happy with the way it was going.  I decided to finish it, but deliberately use it as a learning experience to try some new things.

Here is the finished knife.  It is from 304 stainless steel. The blade is 115mm long x 35mm wide x 3mm thick.  Handle is 110mm long including the guard x 20mm thick.  The guard is brass and the handle is Cedar wood, once again polished with beeswax to bring out the natural sheen and the beauty of the wood.  The Cedar is a lighter weight than other woods I have used before so overall the knife feels "blade-heavy", even more so since it does not have a pummel at the back to provide any counter-balance.

The knife is made with a hidden tang but this time I was able to drill the slot into the wood with my new extra-length drill bits.  They are 200mm long and range from 2mm to 7mm in diameter.  Just what I needed for this application but I can see I must be very careful to avoid bending them in use.

So this one is more of a working knife that I plan to use, rather than a trophy for display, but it's been fun to make nevertheless.  Enjoy the photos!