About twenty years back, I was at the Lee Valley Store and happened to see a knife blade. I took it home, made a handle for it out of a piece of Zebra wood.
The thumb guard or hilt, I made by cutting the handle off of a very heavy old soup spoon.
I like to add a personal touch to things that I make. Usually something that has a meaning to me.
I used a very fine rotary bit and carved the above pattern almost 1/4inch deep.
The pattern you will notice resembles hills and valleys. The dots run almost halfway between the top and the bottom of those hills and valleys.
The meaning of the pattern, as told to me by my Mohawk Grandfather, to the best of my recollection went something as follows.
Life is always full of ups and downs Billy. Good times and bad times, hard times and easy time, happy times and sad times. Always try to keep your path like the little dot, which is you, it is much easier when you can see in both directions.
The pattern I filled with Bismuth, because of its very low melting temperature and its high resistance to tarnishing.
The sheath I made from an old weight lifters belt.
Decorated with small brass nails.
So now I have a knife, that every time I wear it or just look at it. Will and always will, remind me of my Grandfather.
If you have read this far, I thank you and Aways Walk Tall.