For first one, use brass or bronze for bolster, nicely soft enough for easy fitting
Looks actually very very nice, i might stole the handle shape, only problem i see is that it will be hard to make a traditional style shieth for a handle like that (i mean those that i make for my puukkos)
If you have a oxy-ace torch at hand you might want to burn the tang hole. Drill a STRAIGHT hole completely though the wooden handle block and heat the tang to red-yellowish colour and stick through the hole. Though remember to do this before heat treating
Would also like to state that this was done by a hand file completely... My friend wanted his dremel back after i told him i was getting high carbon steel to make a knife... He said it would knacker the dremel xD. I did about an hour or less a week!
I'm fascinated by the handle, how exactly did you laminate the denim something you can up with after one too many beers or is it an established technique?