This one really took me by surprise.
I saw this piece of Oak on Chuck Bybee's place and grabbed it - and I am glad I did!
Every step of the way in all directions around this handle the material continually changes to something else.
It's Oak.
Just oak.
But it is one of the nicest pieces of handle material I've put on a knife bar none.
The San Mai is 1095 and 420, and the take-down guard is hot-blued mild steel - from the junk yard.  :eek:
I've also tossed in a picture of the blade before I etched it to illustrate how the San Mai jacket - when you nail the heat just right    - acts a bit like clay to influence some hamon activity.
Hope you enjoy this:

You can't use oak on a custom knife.     What's the matter with you?    Everybody knows that.     :D   looks awesome.  I actually have three red oak burl caps about 2' diameter by 6-8" thick that I salvaged and can't wait to try on a knife.  They've been drying going on two years now.  Should be close to dry.  I can tell there are lots of voids, but I should be able to get a couple of usable pieces out of them.  I hope I find a piece half as nice as that.  And as always, your San Mai is amazing.  One of the reasons I want to make the jump from stock removal to forging is so I can learn to make San Mai.

I didn't mention that is stabilized. I would have the same done to yours.
This stuff is nearly translucent.
It is VERY!! cool.

It sure is pretty, Very nice, Karl

I did a double take on this knife Karl. It's really special. I love the wood, but the whole knife is great.

Classic Andersen forge hunter, very nice Karl!

I am humbled by your kind words.    

Very nice Karl. The oak has so much going on without taking the spotlight off that fantastic steel. The blued guard pulls the two features together just right. Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy seeing a new Anderson Forge creation.

Chris

Very Nice Karl. That thing looks great.
I just used some white oak in a bow for the first time, coupled with black glass. It really looked nice. That piece you have is about as good as wood gets in my opinion, and you used it to perfection. My wife and daughter even said "WOW-That is COOL!"
I been back about 6 times so far.

Nice knife Karl, and that Oak is just awesome.
Cheers Dan

Another very Saweeet, (think i said that right)    piece of work.        

Wow Karl! You just keep out doing yourself-and pretty much everyone else for that matter! The pictures don't do YOU any justice. There is an immense amount of work and talent invested before the pictures are taken. You make it look easy to create a functional work of art such as this knife. Well, it's not easy!   Great job as usual! Thanks for sharing your talent with us. Mike

Oak like that is hard to find. When I built my house in 91 we had to take down a red oak the was 24" DBH. at the first limp we came across some wood like that. I traded it to a local knife maker. He did a lot of rendezvous. The boys would not believe him it was oak. But they bought it up like it was going out of style. I never did get one of his knives with that oak on it.

Stunning

What's the big deal? It's just an old piece of oak with a blade stuck in it -- and my saliva dripping from it!    :eek:

Allan

Great looking knife!

best one yet, and I think I say that on each new hunter you make Karl!