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.