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As soon as I looked at this one Steve, I saw a knive very reminiscent of a sgian dubh style.
That led me instantly to visions of very elegant and fine celtic knotwork.
Yet, the mammoth is active enough that you don't want to compete with that pattern by filling up the steel bolsters with even more activity.
I would ask my engraver of choice to go with thin and elegant celtic that doesn't cover more than a third of the surface area of the steel on either end of the mammoth.
Regardless of how that artist interprets that request (linear down the middle of each panel or even corner to corner seems right to my eye) you will end up with what I think would be very proper visual balance.
Another option is to request that the background not be relieved and blackened. That would soften the blow to the eye if you wanted more figure without more 'Hey look at me!'.
I hope I wasn't to analytical.
That's a beautiful blade my friend! Good luck.
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