The most obvious piece of advice is practice your carving elsewhere, before you start working on your stock! But it's so obvious, I'm assuming you've already thought of that. Anyway, if you're that bloody handy at making stuff, why ain't you makin' yer own sword, 'stead o' hasslin' me... ;)

If ever I get my backside over there, I'm coming to Idaho to admire, you have been warned... ;)