Hi Slag and Birksy,
Thanks for replying and Birksy can I ask what side of Ia your on? Really glad to see another Iowan here!
Slag, the steel is mystery steel. I am using a chainsaw bar which is acting like a high carbon steel during a spark test. I have made throwing knives since I was a kid a was taught how to pick out a bar with decent steel ages ago in Az. I would comfortably guess that this is right around 1075 as it is springy and is throwing off great spark. The scales are black walnut and cherry. Cut em on grandpas farm and used a sawzall and sander to shape em into what you see. Thank you very much for the compliment!