customised my pocket knife

[stuckinthemud]

I spent some time recently making a new handle for my Opinel folding pocket knife.  Ilex and buffalo-horn with an engraved pattern. Total length is 10cm. 

Edited November 17, 2017 by stuckinthemud

[surveyor]

Very nice! Love it.  Did you try India ink on the scrolling?    The white is Bone and the solid black is?

I once made a non folding knife out of an old mill bastard file, using the tang end to fasten layers of 

leather with a brass butt and brass hilt for the handle end.  That knife had a marvelous edge.

Edited November 17, 2017 by surveyor
spelling

[stuckinthemud]

The black is buffalo horn and the white is holly; the scroll-work I scratched in and inked with a 'sticky' ink fine roller-ball pen.  I scraped off the ink on the surface of the wood so only the etched-in pattern is left to give a nice sharp edge that won't rub off with use.  I needed to avoid a runny-ink as it would spread along the wood-grain.  finish is danish-oil

[mickdundee]

Nice work. I love opinel knives but I’ve never considered making my own handle

[stuckinthemud]

I love the blades on opinels but I found the handle on mine (number 6) was too short. Wasn't too difficult to take the knife apart and put back together;  made a fun little weekend project.

[sloth]

I have a fondness for their blades too. I've got one of the carbon steel ones that takes such a wicked edge, it's almost a shame to dull it! Although I do get to sharpen it again though, which is quite therapeutic...

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, stuckinthemud said:

I love the blades on opinels but I found the handle on mine (number 6) was too short. Wasn't too difficult to take the knife apart and put back together;  made a fun little weekend project.

I like Opinels, having had several in the last 40 years, but I cannot understand how I can get a better edge  (good enough to dry shave my arm) on my german hatchet than I can on the opinel.

[stuckinthemud]

No idea!  Mine (its a carbon one) seems to take an acceptable edge.

Edited November 23, 2017 by stuckinthemud

[Rough Hewn]

Modern opinels are stainless steel.
The old ones rust but easier to sharpen.

[openspaceman]

47 minutes ago, stuckinthemud said:

No idea!  Mine (its a carbon one) seems to take an acceptable edge.

Mine's not stainless and over 10 years old. The edge is acceptable but not as sharp as I can get on the hatchet.