Quote Originally Posted by O'Neille View Post
Don't be afraid to pick up one with lots of bug holes and exterior dry rot. They have about an inch of sapwood around an extremely hard core. A 5 inch branch will yield about 4 scales 2 to 3 inches wide.
I mess around with wood a little (mostly on a lathe) and have some very nice pieces of ironwood, and mesquite, and rosewood, etc., etc.. I think I could do this.

Can you give me some dimensions? ie....how long is the blade? How long is the "tang?" How long is the finished handle? How wide is the finished handle? How large a hole did you drill for the tang?

Beautiful work BTW and so simple...but then simplicity is almost the definition of "elegance" isn't it?