Rod--

I think that if you order the Crow's Beak handle as an option--then the Duralumin butt cap is standard. If you want Brass instead of Duralumin--then you have to specify Brass and it counts as an option. Also, a wrist thong would be a chargeable option as well (I think somebody mentioned a WT previously.)

I'm sure Capt. Chris of someone will correct me if this is not right.

Larry

OK, Crew:
Last time...If you order a "CBB" (Crow's beak butt cap in brass) you get the #22 handle automatically...not the other way around. If you do not specifiy the metal and just order a crow's beak it will many times be made up in duralumin, even though the hilt is brass. Step-by-step, word-by-word ordering will get it done correctly.
Larry: I don't mind folks putting their idea up for discussion. That's why, if I can readily find a photo, I post up a visual of what we're discussing at the time.
Best, Capt. Chris
PS: Voting on an overall finished knife sometimes freezes folks out that don't attend class for a few days...If you know what I mean??...CCS

Judging from the pictures of the wood, I'm thinking brass would look great with it but does anybody happen to have pics of a ringed gidgee knife with brass (or NS for that matter) so we can see how it looks ???

Cap'n - That vault of yours seems to have everything else imaginable. Any chance something like that is hiding in there ?

Capt.

Thank you for setting me straight on the butt cap/22 handle. It is not the first time I have put the cart before the horse.

IF (there is that word again, to quote a famous RMK dealer), I had read the catalogue a bit closer, I would have seen the light.

Ed,
This is the best I can do. A Rick Bowles skinner out of my stash. It has a nickel silve single hilt, alumin and black spacers. A nickel silver butt plate and a ringed gidgee single finger grip handle.
Best, Capt. Chris

Sheesh Cap, you really need to get some nicer knives. These "best you can dos" are killin' me.

From the pics it's clear that ringed gidgee looks great with NS, which makes this a really tough choice.
I'm still leaning toward brass because I think it will blend well with all the colors in this wood.
When you add the fact that brass saves a chargeable option for later, I have to vote brass on this one.

If we got the Crow's Beak with duraluminum then the NS hilt would come off looking pretty good.

Pap

Pappy:
Yes: Nickel silver looks great with this wood. The problem is..."options"...and the count.
1) Ringed Gidgee
2) ACB (Aluminum crow's beak)
3) NS1 (Nickel silver single hilt)

That leaves 2 more, which is fine (wrist thong, etching, etc.) but the same order in brass would afford us one additional option. We certainly don't "need" it. It just depends upon which way this build goes. If we, for instance, did "not" vote for the crow's beak and #22 styled handle, more options could get used up on:

1) Finger grips
2) Compass
3) Wrist thong
4) Etching
5) Border patrol
6) Single finger grip
7) Commando shaped
8) "SPACERS"...We haven't even talked about spacers!!

Anyway: For "all-of-the-above" reasons I started doing builds, one item at a time. This crystal ball vision of how we should proceed always leads us down several paths. That is fine in the early "planning" stages of the build. I have not called for a vote on anything yet. All that is decided is a #5-8" and ringed gidgee wood. The rest is still up for grabs. Please, continue the ideas.
Best, Capt. Chris

Pap--

I often order NS hilts in order to get NS butt caps or plates so the two ends of the handle match in color. The NS has a yellowish color originally, and in my experience it tends to take on a bit more of a golden hue over time from oxidation.

The Duralumin tends to remain pretty much silver white although on older knives it can take on a grayish oxidized color (I guess that depends on what it is exposed to in the atmosphere.)

Just thinking out loud as the build progresses, and wondering what the group preferences might be re: how the two ends of the handle come together.

Larry

Of course...if there's "no end" on the wood the question answers itself. More food for thought. I hear ya' larry, about the silver "mix-matched". It is hard to argue with brass on that arguement. (Which is what I think you were "indirectly" sayin').
Best, Capt. Chris

PS: Although this "Stanaback Special"-4" has a nickel silver single hilt and aluminum & black spacers, I am posting it for the crew to see a natural end...and exactly what it looks like...CCS