Thanks for the kind comments!
Ray, after I inlayed the wire I stained the entire handle with Fieblings Dark brown leather dye, then used a rotery tool with a small ball cutter and textured until all the brown was gone, then applied several coats of Fieblings black dye with a small brush. No sandpaper or files, then I soaked the handle over night in Boiled Linseed oil by filling a small jar with oil. Takes several days for the linseed oil to dry, that's a pain.
Most people think I inlayed some other material into the handle.
Steve
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Potomac Forge
W.F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation