I've been in a bit of a slump lately, and I took some time off from knives, as nothing was going right. I finally finished up the last of this set of three, so I thought I'd post them with a bit of "history"After my long and frustrating search for a carbon bladed 5OT, I finally found an early OTG with what I needed. I had some great looking super curly mango lined up for this, but it was not to be. Something must have gone horribly wrong in the stabilization, because when I was working with it (After I glued up the handles, of course) it just flaked apart, almost like a piece of fish would
I couldn't even pop it off the frame, I ended up having to grind it off. Anyways, I went with "plan B" which was some stab. Bocote I had. Handrubbed the blade to 600 grit as well.l I'm trying out some more complicated filework, what do you guys think?The second knife is another little 3OT. I had some small stag tapers that really would not have fit much else, and I had a frame, lockbar, and one of 2 needed springs lying around from another project. I got me a parts knife and built this little guy. First thing I did, of course, with some REALLY NICE looking handles, was tap one of pins to hard and crack the stag in an un-repairable manner
The only bit of stag I had left was pretty damn featureless. no cool texture or anything 
I decided to break up the vast expanse of white with my very first attempt at a shield inlay. It's the original Old Timer shield flipped around backwards 
In hindsight, I should have thinned it out even more, and just gone with the smooth interior antler, rather than leave the little bits of texture that there was. The last knife is a 104OT, stripped of it's linerlock, and converted to straight pins, instead of the swinden key. Not an easy undertaking, and my first try at doing such a thing. Also got some very tiny new filework and some stab. blackwood handles. Sometimes it's the really small knives I take the most pride in doing, there's not alot of room to really express yourself, so every little bit counts. I'm actually only one customized knife now from completing my display with all of my granddad's "EDC" knives (worn, patina'd, well loved and all mine) and my new/old stock customized version along side them.
Didn't mean to write a book, but anyways, thanks for looking as always
I used some afzelia today got the same results. the only good stabalized wood I've used so far came from alpha knife supply and I've used a set from K&G that was real nice.