Just adding another idea or two.

How about a brass hilt and a brass crow's beak? Along with the customer supplied wood that would be two options gone.

Spacers, all black. If you look in the Bad and Ugly Lounge under "Chief's Great Red Bean Mystery", on the last page, there is a picture of Graham Roger's Model 19 with all black spacers. IMO, with a wooden handle, that does not look too bad. AND all black spacers does not use a option.

Capt. I only have a couple of 8" 5's, but I think a butt cap helps to keep the knife from being blade end heavy. With your experience and ability to grab almost any RMK example, please correct my if I am wrong. I do like the look of your Special with a natural end though.

Not saying this is what I am stuck on, just throwing ideas into the pot.

I agree about a butt cap "offsetting" the weight of a long blade, which an 8" Camp & Trail certainly qualifies for. I am not that sure it is a huge balancing factor in duralumin, crow's beak or not. This Ringed Gidgee is quite dense and much heavier than many I have used.
As far as the Stanaback Special...it would be too "butt heavy" with a big brass butt cap. I simple posted it as an example of a natural-ended wooden handle. Also: Brass & black spacers, along with a matching hilt and crow's beak butt cap would all look quite good with this wood. Thanks for your opinion Rod. They are all quite valid.
Best, Capt. Chris

Rod--

You are pointing the way I am thinking--but I understand that by taking the build from the pointy end to the blunt end that we keep ideas afloat until everyone can participate.

In this build, it looks as if we could have a sufficient number of options to make it into a very nice package--we already have the blade steel selected and the thumb notches come at the expense of no other option! I think we should have sufficient options to dress it up with a spacer combination that would count as a chargeable option.

Larry

I favor brass for this build, for one reason only. Unlike my 19-5 in the Red Bean thread which vibrant red orange in color, I think this wood will turn out more brown like desert iron wood and I think brass will set it off nicely with brass and black spacers. Check out Peter Kaufmans 19-5" in the "Knife of the week M19" thread, you'll see what I mean.

There is one item I would like dicussed, it may not be available, it may never have been available, it might have been a user modification, but I've seen RMK with this configuration and it makes them look very unique.

Double hilt with reduced top hilt.
Making it a camp knife/pig sticker. It would certainly be a unique knife

Is it do-able Capt.?

We would still have 2 options left - finger grips and butt cap,
crows beak and thong hole or crows beak and name etching.

Capt,

I agree with Graham. Brass would look good with the ironwood over time. Additionally, using brass will not use up an option.

Thanks.

Good morning, Crew!
After surviving 2 days at Disney and a 3 day stint at the Orlando gun and knife show (rain-soaked on Sunday afternoon) I thought it was time for a...."ROLL CALL".... on this build. Are you ready?
We already know we are building a Model #5-8", thumb notches, carbon steel blade with custom Ringed Gidgee wood handle. How about we decide on the "hardware"? Let's vote for one of the following, along with your reason "why"...

A) All brass hardware
B) Nickel silver hilt and alum. spacers
C) Brass hilt "only"
D) Nickel silver hilt "only"

The "ONLY" votes would mean we will discuss the spacers at a later time. Let's hear from you!! Thanks for your participation!
Best, Capt. Chris

A) All brass hardware!
Why?
Brass will look great with this wood and we save an option at the same time!
Win-Win!

Tony

I will also vote for
A) All brass hardware

We can have handle shaping for an option as well as custom spacers or a collar and wrist thong.
Peter

My vote is for "B"

Dan Snyder
RKS #5537
SHAG #010

A. Brass would work nicely.