Tony;

Thanks. Have it. The issue is the Max tolerance. Didn't make any sense to me that too much would be an issue in a place filled with machines and in a place that uses Stag as handle material. Difficult to grow those horns to exact dimensions and they are ROUND like a 2 inch ROUND piece of AI.

That's why I love this forum. No need re-inventing the wheel. Just ask this group of people who have been down the path. VERY HELPFUL!!!!!

THANKS!!!!!

Masercraft Supply will cut Alternative Ivory to the dimensions you want.

They say it is soft and cuts easily and recommend a tile saw.
They say it will walk with a bandsaw if not careful. They also say
dropping it can easily damage it.

Thanks all.

The "AI" that I have in stock is round. It measures 1.355 inches by 5 inches. I use it for nedium size knife and have "not" had it rejected. I did not get it from Masecraft Supply, although I buy from them. Their sizes were just plain too much work for the very small amount of orders I receive for AI.
The shop will reject your handle material if it doesn't measure...period! Being 4 years behind has caused them to "just say no" to un-acceptable dimensions. Best to get it, cut it close to specs, siding slightly on the larger side, and send it in.
I have all but stopped taking customers handle material because it...many times...is asking me to "fudge" one way or the other. I'd rather use material that I have bought, ordered or cut to proper size...It's just plain easier.
With regards to stag (or any other natural material)...what you see is what you get. The shop does very...VERY little custom trimming on their stag. The reason they can do this (or not do this, depending on how you look at it) is the fact that the stag has been "sorted". There are bins / barrels with different diameter stag in each. They simply have to go to the correct bin to choose the handle prior to making the knife.
Hope this answer helps...even if it's not quite you wanted to hear. Buy the stuff larger and trim it. Thank God I have access to Gene Beal and his fine (but small) shop. Any problems that I have with size of materials...I pay the man for his time and get it done..."RIGHT"!!
Best, Capt. Chris

Captain:

Thanks!!!

On a knife with the brass or nickel silver butt plate I have seen some with a red spacer, some with a blue spacer. Do you get a choice of spacer color with the butt plate?
Oldguy

Is it possible to order a full tang knife like a #14with a butplate of butcap? Thanks for having this informative thread!

It is "not". The tang comes all the way to the end of the handle. In fact, in the case of a Buxton Fighter, it even extends "past" the back of the handle.
Hope this helps, even though it may not be what you wanted to hear.
Best, Capt. Chris

I'm currently specing a #14 full tang model...

1) is a #1 style brass hilt available at no cost?

2) is a lugged brass hilt available, if so what cost?

3) I am supplying my own cut to spec micarta what is the cost of doing this?

Thanks much!

Lugged hilt option: $55.00
CW (micarta) : All material subject to quote from the Randall shop. The minimum charge is $25 (for knives whose standard handle material is stag, micarta or wood)...up to $75.00, depending upon quite a few different things..."BUT"...(That word again)...No more than $75...
Hope this helps, Capt. Chris

Have a few more questions on Customer Supplied Wood.

I have an interest in Stabilized Spalted Chestnut (see attached photo) for a set of knives to be done in 2013.

1. Has anybody used this type of wood and are there issues?

2. Has anybody used: www.woodstabilizer.com for purchases? Any issues with them?

I assume people have purchased wood before only to find out when it gets to the shop that it has significant flaws in it.

I have the ability to do Computed Tomography and MRI on wood blocks. It looks like the baseball industry has been using CT to detect flaws in baseball bats for a few years.

3. Has anybody out there had experience with CT or MRI of their knife handle blocks to assess them for suitability (detect internal flaws that you cannot see until you cut into it)?

Thanks in advance.