This is all good news, the fact that I can cold bend the handle until it work-hardens, then anneal at a temperature low enough so as not to (hopefully) affect the butterknife's hardness.

I'm sawing the handle down the middle for most of it's length, then bending the two halves symetrically apart, looping them back around close to the blade. The blade will be cut narrow, tapering from about 1/4" to 1/8" at the tip. Y'all know what a jaw harp, AKA jew's harp looks like, I assume.

Thanks guys. Will post a pic or two when I get something accomplished.