Bocote Hunting Knife
A Father's Day gift for my knife collecting dad
This was something I came up with that I wanted to make for my dad although I had never really seen anything similar to it (not that it hasn't been done--I just hadn't seen it). Not having anything as a guide, I had a vision for what I wanted but wasn't sure if I'd be able to match it. Luckily, the end product turned out even better than I had imagined. It was a fun opportunity to work with some exotic woods (bocote was a dream to work), and I had the pleasure of gifting it to a loved one.
What you will need
3/16" Bocote
Padauk
1/4" Walnut dowel
Maple
Coping or Scroll saw
Sandpaper
Wood glue
How to do this project
1
![the piece of bocote.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MSZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
I drew and cut out a template of the basic knife shape then traced it onto the piece of bocote.
2
![](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MiZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
I used a coping saw to cut out the template.
3
![](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
I used a card scraper and sandpaper to add a bevel and shape the blade.
4
![separate pieces and glued maple veneer to the inner surface of each piece to serve as the blade liner.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9NCZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
I glued up blocks of maple, bocote, and padauk which I then ripped into two separate pieces and glued maple veneer to the inner surface of each piece to serve as the blade liner.
5
![e using a coping saw.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9NSZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
I created a template specific to the handle then cut it out roughly to shape using a coping saw.
6
![en glued it all together.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9NiZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
Once the two handle pieces were cut out, I drilled holes for the dowels, then glued it all together.
7
![shape of the blade handle. From there, I finished off the shaping with a card scraper and strips of flexible sandpaper.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9NyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
I first used a flush trim router bit to trim the handle pieces to match the shape of the blade handle. From there, I finished off the shaping with a card scraper and strips of flexible sandpaper.
8
![](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9OCZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
I finished it with a few coats of tung oil.
9
![](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9OSZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
10
![](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-8056378-1529637615022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MTAmcmVuZGVyQ2xpcFNpemU9MQ==.jpg)
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