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When making a knife, it is important that the handle is symmetrical, both for functionality and aesthetics. This is especially important once the blade has been glued into the handle, because it can sometimes sit slightly crooked during the gluing process. Even small misalignments can make the handle look uneven and affect how the knife feels in the hand.

Therefore, it is important to have clear reference points, such as the centerline, while working. By constantly following the centerline, you can check and adjust the handle so the sides are filed evenly and the handle is shaped symmetrically around the blade. This way, both function and appearance are optimized, and small errors that could affect the balance or grip of the knife are avoided.

The centerline acts as a constant guide, ensuring precision and making it easier to judge proportions while working with the different surfaces and shapes of the handle.

For this, I have made two wooden plates – one for the top and one for the bottom of the handle.

I hold the blade securely on the wooden plate so it stays stable and precise. Then I can draw a line along the edge of the plate on the handle. I start on one side and continue on the other, creating two parallel lines that clearly mark the center of the handle. This provides a visual and practical starting point for filing.

The same method is used on the underside of the handle, where the lines also clearly indicate the centerline. If the lines become faint or disappear during further work, the process can easily be repeated. This ensures that the centerline is always visible and accurate, which is essential for making the handle symmetrical and perfectly aligned with the shape of the blade.

This method also makes it easier to assess how the handle will look during filing and provides a constant reference, helping to avoid small misalignments that can occur when working with rounded or tapered handles.