Knife Handles

I have a number knife blanks that I would like to use poly-clay to make handles
and bases to hold them in a kind of statue.

Any suggestions of how to do this? Or do I just experiment until I find a
workable method?

I plan to use wire inside the hilt and base to give the clay more support during
the firing. Does it matter what kind of wire used? I was planning to use steel
but could use brass or aluminum.