most tree saws have the teeth on the inside of the curve of the blade so if it was in that sheath you would have the dull top corner exposed by the hole cut out
i never wear gloves to grind with if the steel is to hot to hold with bare hands then cool it down. after heat treating you want to feel the steel so you don't build any heat at all.
at the pka show in Denver there was a maker that had bowie knives with brass splines with no visible junction lines. do not know how he did it .looked like it was 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch. cant remember his name.