Fox Cutlery in Gaboon Ebony
As I posted in the ebony thread, I was finishing up this ebay blade, and got it done today. Before:http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps7m7bb6jv.jpg
Ouch-This happened as I was laying it out for a photo straight out of the shipping box. Good excuse for a rescale!
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/x...psvf1hkpdt.jpg
The blade was in great shape save for some tarnish on the tang, water-spotting on the blade face, and some scratching around the bevel.
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/x...psowydkhq1.jpg
Because the blade was hollow-ground, I just un-pinned it, and went to work with Mother's and rags. In a fit of genius (or insanity), I got the bright idea to apply Mother's to a 4-inch cotton wheel on my buffer. Though it was a bit messy, it took off most of the pitting. Then I brightened it up with the Fabuluster wheels, though I left some character marks and water-staining on that hollow-ground blade.
I cut and shaped the scales from Gaboon Ebony, shaped them on the belts, and hand-sanded to 3000. Though it's hard to see it in my lousy iphone pics, I was going for beveled edges on the wood, which sort of worked. I finished them out with Fabuluster on a cotton wheel, waxed them with carnauba wax (what I had on hand-I need to get some Renaissance Wax!), then a final buff on a loose cotton wheel. Though it's hard to tell, they took a beautiful high polish, and even have that "wet" look up close.
They're a little thick, and not 100% even, but I am getting a little better at this with each razor. The aluminum wedge could have been thinner and more tapered front to back. I'm going to REALLY study some of the tutorials by Outback, Ice-Dog, Splashone and Karlej before I do my next one, as the wedge and final alignment and pinning has been the make or break step for me on some past efforts. Though this one is not aligned perfectly and I don't have that "tension bow" like I should, they still close centered and tight, so I'll take it on this one. At least there are no big gaps this time between wood and wedge!
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps1mwbkych.jpg
She pinned up easily and tightly with NiAg pins and brass washers. On that part at least I feel pretty confident. Though I beat them up a little in the process, they polished up nicely.
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/x...psm1znvmfv.jpg
And finally, my truck dashboard had to serve as my redneck "lightbox" until I find or make another one. After I hone it, this one will be put away as a possible Christmas gift for my 22-year old son (who just got his 1st engineering job!). I love the blade design with the thumb notch, so may have to get another one for myself! Thanks for looking! Aaron