Audra Draper, MS
7.  After grinding the knife to shape, it is differently
hardened. Only the blade is hardened, avoiding the
handle and other areas that will later be engraved.
8.  When the blade is brought to the proper
temperature, the cutting edge is quickly quenched
in heated oil. After the main heat is gone out of the
blade the entire knife is quenched in the oil.
9.  A piece of mammoth ivory is shaped to fit the
handle. Screws as well as curved bolsters hold the
handle in place. All of the finishing work on the
ivory is done at this time. The ivory can not be
sanded after the knife is etched.
 10.  With the ivory polished to final finish, the areas to
be engraved are painted off using several heavy
coats of fingernail polish, protecting them during
the etching process.
12.  Still engraving. Between the handle and screws,
the engraving time on this knife was well over 8
hours.
11.  After the knife has been etched, everything has to
protected during the engraving so that the finished
knife is not accidently scratched. Here the frame
surrounding the main engraving is being engraved.
13. Here is one of the screw heads after being
engraved, transforming a regular torx screw into a
delicate flower.
14.  The engraved areas on the bolsters and on the
screw heads were all gold plated to give them a
warmer look and to bring out the gold colors in the
ivory.
15.  “Gentle Jim”, 2005 – Full tang, integral, bold
pattern Damascus blade of 15n20 and 1084
steels. Engraved and gold plated bolsters and
screw heads.  Mammoth ivory scales. A custom
wood fitted sheath of bloodwood Elsie Westlake.
Photos from the book
Custom Knifemaking,
by
David Darom