Thanks for the comments. It cut ok after sanding the coating off the outside but I did sharpen a lot. I have several of these to do today, I took the next one apart and annealed it much easier to cut.
Leland
The dark gray was polished off before any lay out or cutting. I cut a bison on the scale today it cut much nicer with a lot less sharpening. That being said I am not sure if the annealing or the fact with the scale off the knife I could hold it better with less vibration either way it worked.
Leland
Karl, I do not harden after engraving. I don't see the need for a knife scale to be that hard. When I do reharden parts after engraving I do it in a pack to keep air off the parts no oxidation forms that way
Thanks,Leland
Curious as to what kind of pack you found works best? Know in tool steel there is a liquid anti scale dip. Don't know if it would protect engraving. Thanks