CS 1095 Mini Knives

Throughout 2019, I used leftover 1095 scraps to make four different mini knives with the same basic outline. Each knife used different scales and hardware. Some included recesses and others jimping. I spend a lot of time sanding a polishing these and making the handles just as I wanted. 

The first knife used poplar for the handle. This is not a wood I would recommend. It is not very hard and stains easily. 

The second uses black and white paper micarta I made one morning with leftover fiberglass resin. I think it turned out ... umm ... interesting? 

The third knife uses a pair of scales cast in Alumilite and a blend of two types of eyeshadow from the local dollar store. 

The fourth knife also features a handle made from Alumilite cast scales, this time using purple and copper mica powder. 

Note that each knife uses 1095 steel, which is notoriously troublesome. It is a finicky steel that does not perform as well as 1080 in an uncontrolled heat treatment.  I had the very small size working to my advantage in that I could at least heat them more evenly and the chances of warping and cracking were minimal. Looking back, 1080 would have been the better option.  

Overall these knives were a lot of fun to build.