Bone Knife - Curing the Bone

[YosemiteSam]

I'm thinking about trying to make a bone knife from the metatarsal of my buck.  This would be mostly decorative & just for fun.  Possibly a gift for the guy who showed me his hunting spot this year.  Never tried this kind of thing before but am concerned about checks while drying.  Any tips for drying the bone out for use as a knife? 

[tippit]

Not sure I understand.  Bone handle or the blade made from bone?

[YosemiteSam]

Both.  The knife idea I'm thinking of would use a single piece of bone for the handle and the blade, if that's possible.  I may also try to make a few bone arrow points for some primitive arrows.  I also have a smaller fixed-blade knife that I'd like to put a handle on.  Whatever the case, checking needs to be avoided.

[tippit]

It' pretty easy to make a bone handled knife by inserting the tang into the bone marrow cavity.  As far as an all bone knife blade and handle, I would probably rough grind a shape to eliminated drying stress.  Then let it dry slowly before finishing...but I've never done an all bone blade.  Made some bone arrow heads...tippit

[Bladepeek]

I think the problem you will run into is that the blade center will be in the center of the bone which is hollow. You could do it with a really large bone by using only the outer portion, but with something the size of a deer bone?