2018 BF Knife Poll 5.2: Animal Handle Materials

Choose your Animal Material Champion: 2 Votes Allowed

  • Buffalo - $$

    Votes: 25 8.0%

  • Elk - Grade A Natural Shed - $$

    Votes: 135 43.3%

  • Ram Horn - $$

    Votes: 128 41.0%

  • Jigged Bone - $$

    Votes: 112 35.9%

  • Giraffe Bone - $$

    Votes: 31 9.9%

  • Camel Bone - $$

    Votes: 17 5.4%

  • Stag - $$$

    Votes: 40 12.8%
  • Total voters
    312
  • Poll closed .
I seen some remarks in response to my comment on Elk so let me further clarify my view I don't think it is a bad material or bad looking, except the track pattern handle just looks cheap and gimmicky, but in comparison to the stag and ram examples it really isn't any type of stand out.
 
It's probably a little late in the game at this point, but from looking at the examples shown by various folks in this thread, I think I'm actually leaning towards Ram's Horn. I switched my (now only) vote to Ram's horn. :thumbsup:
 
I removed my Elk Vote, but left my Rams Horn vote in place.
Ram was my first choice for this category, anyway. If all the others who prefer Ram, but voted for both Ram and Elk were to change their vote to Ram only, Ram would win, and would have an excellent chance to come out in top in the final showdown.
 
I will gladly trade my handle vote for someone’s pull vote!:D

I switched my camel to rams but left my jigged.
I would prefer jogged over elk, but if by chance it comes down to jig vs rams I would eliminate my jigged vote.
I’m becoming less and less hopeful about a better than average jigging pattern and expecting something a bit more generic.
 
I always pass on giraffe. They are experiencing a large downturn in their population, so like elephant ivory I will not support what could be a poaching situation.

Camel, sure. They are still growing in population in some parts of the world.

For now I am still in the jigged bone column. The red jigged bone photos I saw I liked.

,,,Mike in Canada
 
With the three so close, I'm wondering what the spread would look like if we only had one vote? Best guess is that bone would drop way back. Can always look great, but also very mundane in my eyes. Both Elk and Ram have the have the advantage of being extremely unique from peice to peice. Jigged bone would be identical and have that "machine made" look. So if you voted bone, but it's just your second choice, now is the time to pull it. Vote unique! Vote unique. Vote unique. :D
 
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wintermute said:
Ram's horn looks nice, but I'm always concerned about shrinkage and associated cracking around pins.
Click to expand...
This is why GEC doesn't use it or buffalo anymore.

Don't get me wrong, it looks great most of the time, and I currently have a vote in on Ram, but it is a legitimate concern.

Sometimes the risk is worth the reward.
 
wintermute said:
Ram's horn looks nice, but I'm always concerned about shrinkage and associated cracking around pins.
Click to expand...
Sabercat said:
This is why GEC doesn't use it or buffalo anymore.

Don't get me wrong, it looks great most of the time, and I currently have a vote in on Ram, but it is a legitimate concern.

Sometimes the risk is worth the reward.
Click to expand...

Yet there are knives hundreds of years old with Rams Horn and Buffalo Horn covers that have not shrunk or cracked ...
 
Ram only needs SIX more votes for the lead!
If Ram is your first choice, drop your second choice (especially if it is Elk or Jigged Bone) to put RAMS HORN over the top! :)
 
Ram!!!

First time on a forum knife.

You voted 2 blades for uniqueness, why stop there?

It’s such a departure from Buck slip joints that folks won’t believe it’s a Buck.

I’m one in the camp that Ram horn might be the only material that will beat the wood options.

In the animal, vegetable, mineral showdown It’s going to be a choice between “things that have been done”, or “something unique versus something that’s been done”.

Ram for the win!
 
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