handle material?

[beaver#1]

i got some macthed scales that are 3/8 each from texas knife supllies and the saw marks are still in them i will have to sand off more material than i would want.  where do you guys get your macthed scales for making mortis tang tayle knives and how was the quaility? thanks
Dustin Parker

[Lin Rhea]

Dustin,
       I usually buy what I can see, so I get a lot from the shows. That way I can check it out first. I try to buy from reputable sellers such as Arizona Desert Ironwood, but it may boil down to having a different supplier for each type of material. Its inconvenient, but you will get better examples in each species in most cases.
       You can look on some of the auction sites, but dont buy without photos. Lin

[beaver#1]

thanks lin . i had never bought from that place before and would not have if i would not have had a gift certificate.  there is good grain in the peices but like a said they are going to be closer to 1/4 inch by the time i get the saw line out. good thing i didnt get any high dollar stuff to try this method.  i have never heard of arizona ironwoodd i will check them out when i get bettter at the wood work thing.

[OconeeDan]

Do you have access to a bandsaw?  If so, you may do better buying blocks and cutting them yourself.  Dan

[beaver#1]

i do have a ban saw and im sure i could do better than these where. i have seen some peices that do not have any saw marks in it at all.  im not knocking texas knife supply,  just their provider of wood.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I get all of mine from my favorite local bowyer.  I trade him knives for his cut offs.  I get them by the large box and he gets to fill up his knife collection.

Top end wood for some effort and time on my part.

[OconeeDan]

Dustin, if you have a bandsaw, you will be usually be better off buying an oversize block and cutting it down yourself.  You can also cut in the best way to take advantage of the grain.
Dan