He works for the Pueblo managing projects that clean up old
Department of Defense bombing sites, and other waste and debris – the Native
American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program. The Pueblo of Laguna has a few that were used
in world war two with ship targets and big bullseyes and that sort of
thing. Most of the debris is inert (like
the fin), but some is explosive and needs special handling.
Anyway, I promised I would make him a letter opener out of
it. After a year or two, and after some
thought, and after making some other letter openers, I decided to cut it in two
and to make two openers. Then my Dremel
tool burned out. Eventually I bought a
new one and finished the openers.
Nothing too fancy – one is ebony, the other is Bocote. The aluminum is
pretty shiny, not quite as drab as 50 years-worth of oxidation makes things,
but I’m sure it will calm down after a while.
I’ve also, again finally, started working on a folding knife
project. Some time ago I bought a number
of knife kits. I like the Bighorn, and
have made two of them, but decided I should try something else and picked up
the “rancher” a little three bladed slip joint folder. If you are familiar with Case knives, you’ve
probably seen something like this.
Once upon a time I intended the kit for an employee of mine,
but didn’t get around to it before he left.
Now I am thinking about making it for another one, hopefully it doesn’t
take me that long. One problem that I
have, is that I have no idea what the wood is that I’ve chosen for the
handle. It could be desert ironwood, but
I’m really not sure. Whatever it is, it
polishes up very nicely and has good shimmer (chatoyance is you prefer). We’ll see how it turns out.
I wish they would make kits
with higher quality blades though – not that I have had problems with mine, but
something a little more exotic would be nice.
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