nateman_doo
It is a professional hobby of mine ;)
 
to be honest, If I were you, I would start with stock removal first.  Get your feet wet.  and see if you have enough interest to make one from start to finish.  It really is no easy task.  I would start with go getting a piece of flat stock from the hardware store and go through the motions.  Keep in mind that is is NOT knife quality steel.  It will never keep an edge.  
 
Once you like the shape, keep it as a template to make a few others out of true knife steel.  I would start with the high carbon steels like 1095/1084 since they are quite forgiving and make great blades.  Then move on to 5160 spring steel, and into the tool steels etc.

 
Thanks for the advice.  Sounds like I have a lot to learn.

dbl post

looks good.

I am not dead.  Been gone for about 3 weeks and have another week out in the boonies left and I will be back at it.
 
The good news, I brought a bunch of blades with me to knock out all the obnoxious rough sanding.  I will have some fighting knives, (with and without hamons) and choppers (with and without hamons) available for any type of handle.  I have stacks of stabilized burl handles as well.  Id like for folks to be able to pick out the handle they want rather then me choosing for them.  
 
In the meantime I took an extra pair of boot blowsers, and made something of a scout carry option with my first knife (from the original post)

 
In all honesty.... I absolutely love it.  It allows rapid retrieval and ready for action, it hides decent, & it doesnt interfere with any type of seated position.  Since I am not home I really can't improve upon it more then this, but I intend to further develop it.  The green dots are simply knots tied off in an elastic string.  Its all I had available to me.  Redneck engineering.
 

Quite a collection Nateman. Great organizer you made to keep it all together. I like the sheath you made as well. Yes, I like everything you make... :) On the sheath, I thought some type of retainer for end of handle might be good. Velcro could be used on the belt loop. Looks like you took your homework with you great idea! 

Done as much as I can here in the barracks.  Here is my high tech setup.  An Army Bunk, and a clamp.

 
Some close up shots of the damascus/san mai layers:




 
Some finish sanding up next and some etching.

I technically don't "need" any extra wood.  I am always on the lookout for unique pieces though.  I appreciate the thought and the kind words.  We could have made something out of that tree as a keepsake for your mom.  Even a kitchen knife with that tree as the handle.  CNC'ing wood is absolute CAKE compared to any type of metal :) 
 

Damn, that kitchen knife looks sexy and scary...
 
"This is a kitchen knife, No, This Is a Kitchen Knife!"

GhostImage
Amazing stuff. All of it. The knives, the handles, the shop, the skill. You are doing super-awesome work bro. I love it all. But the san mai "Kitchen Cleaver" is a total killer.
However that san mai blued knife is a work of art too. Beautiful work man.

Thanks!  my wife never uses the san mai blued knife either.  She really doesnt care for anything I do in the basement... unless its something she needs done.

THANKS!!  Just got home finally!!  Had a pile of stuff I ordered while I was away.  O1, D2, 5160 Spring steel, nickle, sheath materials, and a bunch of other stuff.  
 
I may drop that kitchen knife in acid tonight for a quick look to see how its looking.  
 
Let me know if/when you are ever up in Jersey.  State isn't that big.  Stop by.. I will have some on ice for ya.  Speaking of... Anyone know if Scarlett is alive?  He is due to come by and start working on his knife.

small batch pre-etched:

D2 is an air hardened steel,  It resists abrasion, which is why it holds its edge so well - yet makes it harder to sharpen.  i made a die out of D2 for my forge press. Nice stuff.
 
I am making a san-mai version of both the chopper, and fighting knife with a D2 core (edge) and O1 tool steel jacket.  I also happened to have some micarta around.  Personally, I prefer stabilized burl wood, but i guess it depends on the knife, and personal preference. 

A quick look at the nastiest knife I have ever made:






 
Was going for the mad max/apocalypse look.  
 
Hard to see, but there is a strip of pure nickel that separates the 2 separate steels.  upper half is an alloy steel (5160), and the tool steel cutting edge.  Same method with the spring wrapping around the tool steel core.
 
Thoughts on the handle?  Its stabilized charcoal spectraply 
 

Thanks!  and welcome to the forums!  
 
Still have a bit of work to do on it, in terms of the handle.  I have another billet of this ready to be worked into another one.

a 20 layer billet prior to being stacked: