I've started my next sgian, which will be a birthday present for a good mate. As Red is a W.O.2 in the Royal Tank Regiment, I've decided to fit acrylic bolsters in the regimental colours of brown, red & green (mud, blood, & the green fields beyond), and attempt to route a regimental collar dog into the hilt.

In the true spirit of interservice rivalry, I'm making the hilt & sheath from mango wood. Apart from being a beautiful timber, there's an old navy joke referring to soldiers as "mangos", based on "green on the outside, yellow on the inside, & too many of them have an undesirable effect on the body's functioning". (cleaned up a tad for posting) Red'll appreciate the joke.

Timber has been sawn & split, & I'll start the blade this morning. Pics as I progress.