Knife Handles

[finkm1]

I am building a neck knife, I bought a blade and a cocobolo handle from Helle knives. Does anyone have any tips on working out the slot in the handle for the blade. I work in a machine shop and can drill a couple of small deep holes but our smallest round file is still a little too big. Any tips on where to buy real small files to work the slot out would be helpful  Thanks!!

[Ragnarok Forge]

You are on the right track for getting the handle fitted.  Look at craft stores for thin / fine files.  Home Depot or Lowes will at times have mini file sets that come with multiple files in a little kit.

[Track]

If you intend to get serious about knife making, I'd get a tool called a handle broach. You drill a hole in the handle and then use this tool to scrape out the hole to the size you need. I find the 1/8" one is the one I use most. It has saved me hours when making handles. You can buy one from Riverside Machine Shop in DeQueen Arkansas. Here's their tel number 870-642-7643