Ebony Skinner

hey folks ... just finished this one. Ebony handle ... cpm 154 cm tested 61 rc in satin finish. This was my first time using acraglass gel... absolutely love it. Please comment. Thanks for looking. I couldn’t be doing this without y'all’s help... thank you all for that.

Love it! Never worked with Ebony but it looks good on this one! The sheath is not over the top, to me that lends ti it's elegance instead of gaudiness!
There is only one thing that catches my eye. First of all I am not a fan of lanyards but many like them! I think on the next one if your are going to do a lanyard hole. I believe I would use it as the the third pin. Spacing of pins is something that easily catches the eye and the fact you lowered the pin at the heel off the knife to accommodate the lanyard hole bugs my eye!!

Not to say it is anything wrong but it messes with the symmetry! Another thing you might consider is get the third pin in line and leave a protrusion at the heel! Something like this, only at the top instead of the bottom! Or do a notch to accommodate the lanyard, similar to this.
Like I said this all could be a lot to do with preference! One thing my adopted mentor, ( I adopted him) told me when I was first getting into all this was pins are to be spaced/placed in such a manner so they have symmetry, end of sentence. So I figured he meant it!! LOL

Speaking of lanyards I have never used one! I have at times when cutting up a deer or skinning a particularly greasy animal such as a coon or opossum, well I have had to stop and wash up the handle of the knife I was using but, I don't think a lanyard would have truly helped that!
Now if some reason you are standing over water and working away, should the knife slip from your hand the lanyard would keep it from falling in the water and being lost. Although I can't think for the life of me why I wouldn't move the operation to the shore to begin with!!

Truly, I think you knocked this one out of the park, congrats!!!

Thanks, CC. After looking at the knife again, I see exactly what you mean. I use lanyards a lot, but only to hang my knife on a tree limb when I’m feel dressing an animal. It helps me not lose the darn thing. I really appreciate your honesty. That’s the only way I can get better. Using the lanyard hole as the third pin will also decrease my chances of cracking the scales... I do this on just about every knife I make. Thanks again! It makes me feel good to hear nice compliments from makers. Makes me keep going!

I like the wood on it! I' really starting to like wood better than the laminates! I still plan on using laminates for all my EDC concealment knifes due to the nature of the beast. Hunters on the other hand! Wood unless customer wants something else!

As C C has said there is a little crowded appearance to the butt end but other than that it is a very good piece of work and one you should be pleased with as much for what you will have learned from it.

Von Gruff said:

As C C has said there is a little crowded appearance to the butt end but other than that it is a very good piece of work and one you should be pleased with as much for what you will have learned from it.

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Yes! That is what really amazes me about this hobby. Every time I finish a knife or a sheath, I can’t wait to start a new one, because I’m excited to apply the skills I picked up. This is truly an incredible hobby!

Kevin, I think it looks good. The finish on the black wood looks to be excellent. I like to bevel the inside of my lanyard tubes, I think it gives them a more finished appearance and may even help chaffing the lanyard. The shape of the handle appears to be user friendly and sturdy in hand while in use.
I like to use lanyard tubes and lanyards on my knives. I never thought about hanging the knife as you mentioned so that adds another use in my book. I do it mostly for aesthetics but also to aid in pulling the knife from the sheath. I tend to make my sheaths high on the handle and tight, so the lanyard assists in drawing the knife from the sheath. Lately I have been using black micarta lanyard tubes. They seem to blend in more and don't distract from the pins.
Pin placement is in the eye of the beholder. I tend towards asymmetrical placement at times. If you look at some of the random pin placements on the fiddle back forge knives, they add interest and catch the eye quite well.
Lastly, I have only recently used the black African wood and it quickly became one of my favorites. It finishes really well. I take an old cloth with rouge and polish it like a shoe shiner while it's in the vise.

Hi Kevin,
I really like the overall design or shape of the knife. I find the shape of the handle very pleasing. Well done on a beautiful knife.

Thanks, guys, for the kind words. I just applied a coat of minwax wood wax to the handle, and it made it shine a bit. It brought out the grain and the different colors. I’m pretty satisfied with it. Hopefully I’ll skin a big buck with it this weekend.

Good luck!

Ok so I have this one totally finished. I put a finisher/conditioner on the leather and waxed the handle. The knife and sheath are totally 100% dry in the following pics. Thanks for looking and commenting. Kevin

Very nice great looking knife!

Rick Otts said:

Very nice great looking knife!

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Thanks, Rick!

Looks really good Kevin!

Thanks!!!