Quote Originally Posted by Cecil View Post
I guess a piece of Usik would be too light for a handle? Make a great coversation piece though. LOL
I suppose. I am used to seeing it spelled oosik, though I see both spellings are in current usage. They are quite expensive.

I am leaning more towards woods with really nice grain patterns like walnut burl or birdseye maple. Stuff anyone in the US could order off the internet as a piece of lumber from multiple vendors and end up with a nice looking home made/ handmade sgain. Without spending a prince's ransom.

We have some very talented crafts people and I mean them no disrespect. Now that I am able to make something presentable after four tries, I have much better appreciation of how much workmanship is involved in making something gorgeous.

If I have an opportunity to by a piece of an oosik big enough for a sgian handle I will consider it. I want to make a few knives this winter that could be had for under $100 each, and a couple under $50, plus straightforward not complex workshop time. I am not going to dig a sandpit and build a forge.