Ern Ator in Streaked Horn

[ScoutHikerDad]

Well, after posting about flattening that streaked horn a few weeks ago, I got sucked into the vortex of work/school, so didn't finish this one until Sunday. As I have on other recent rescales, I'll post some "lessons learned" that might help others who are also learning this rewarding hobby.

Scales: I actually managed to get the scales shaped and thicknessed just about right this time, profiling and sanding up through the grits on the belts and finishing on a loose cotton wheel using Fabuluster. Though I ran into some delamination with the differently-streaked layers, I managed to polish all of it out to a beautiful luster that really makes all the colors pop!

And though it looks like a bit of delamination on the rear of the pivot end in my crappy iphone pics, it must be a shadow from a sub-layer, as it doesn't show up on the actual scale. The only issue is that the wedge ended up a little farther from the blade than I would have liked. I'm thinking it's because I traced the outline of the original scales out with a fat sharpie, and maybe cut a little too long?

Blade: Inspired by all the hand-sanding excellence seen on here lately, and concerned about rounding the beautiful profile of the Ator's classic hump-backed shoulder-less profile, I painstakingly hand-sanded up through the grits with wet-dry lubed with WD-40 to 3000. I managed to get most of the low-grit scratches and general tarnish out of the blade, but I was concerned about getting too deep on the hollow-ground blade face, so left some very light "character" marks. And though I had bought and experimented with some crocus cloth, I blinked at the last minute and just lightly buffed it out on a Fabuluster wheel. I just don't have the confidence in my sanding yet to get that beautiful satin glow achieved by the likes of Glenn, Garrison and others-yet. Maybe next time...



Pinning and Wedge: I pinned it up with double-stacked brass and NiAg pins, and was pleased with the way I was able to get a nice round "mushroom" domed almost completely over the smaller brass collar. It seems tighter, more secure and aesthetically pleasing. Also, the NiAg pin stock I got from Magggard's razors seems softer, as I inadvertently bent my first couple of attempts in the pin-vise, but they seemed easier to peen once I learned to tap them a little softer. They're also just a might cock-eyed on the wedge end, though other than that aforementioned distance from the blade, I finally nailed a true flat brass wedge (with no gaps!) that gave the final nice "bow" for strength and rigidity. Still, it closes mostly centered and tight.


All in all, I'm pleased with this one. I really took my time to get the fit and finish much better on this one than my past efforts. I'll be giving it to my knife-maker son for Christmas, as he admires my hump-backed Frederick Reynolds so much. So I'll have to get another Ator blade and some more streaked horn to make one for myself!

Now I just have to find some time to hone it up and test-shave before hiding it for Santa!

Thanks for looking-Aaron/SHD