Here are some projects I have been working on. For a working blade in New Zealand conditions I prefer to use stainless steels. The handles tend to be of native or other hard woods and on occasion synthetic materials. More recently I have been using Damascus and experimenting with scrimshaw.
The fittings are of brass, stainless or nickel silver. All blades are professionally heat treated to obtain the maximum potential from the steel what ever the particular grade used maybe. Most knives come with a custom fit hand made leather sheath.