2018 BF Knife Poll 5.301 - Materials Battle Royale

[NJBillK]

Is elk essentially inert, or would we have to worry about warpage and swelling?

 

[Henry Beige]

I was in the Micarta camp, but after seeing the examples, i switched to elk. Knobbly, please.

 

[SV-97]

So if all the micarta people were to switch to ironwood please you guys sure dont want some gnarly, knobbly animal waste to win, do you?

 

[Spencergarden]

This process has been super great.
I voted for burlap, but switched to Ironwood to try to unseat the leader. Not really a fan of elk.

 

[black mamba]

Any natural material, due to its' porosity, can swell or shrink.

 

[redsparrow]

Try to remember and please don't forget;
A vote for Ironwood is a vote for "World Peace!"

 

[abbydaddy]

Looks like it's heating up again. The sight of the lovely knobbly elk we are set to receive has excited and swayed some, but now burlap looks to be a distant also ran and people are beginning to modify their votes. The process is intense.

Let's go elk!

 

[Lostball]

Try to remember and please don't forget;
A vote for Ironwood is a vote for "World Peace!"

And......A day without Ironwood is like a day without sunshine!!!!!

 

[mitch4ging]

Stop the madness, just say no to murdered trees! Do you want their sap on your hands?

 

[AlwaysTomboy]

Vote changed to ironwood. I know I'm in the minority, but nobbly popcorny antler is my least fav kind. Now hoping for nice, simple, smooth wood.

 

[afishhunter]

And......A day without Ironwood is like a day without sunshine!!!!!

Good thing I already have a knife or three with Ironwood covers.

 

[hhmoore]

Vote changed to ironwood. I know I'm in the minority, but nobbly popcorny antler is my least fav kind. Now hoping for nice, simple, smooth wood.

My preference is whiter, smoother elk. I might consider dark 'n' nobbly on a larger handle (then again, I might not); but it seems to me that the nobbly stuff would overpower such a small handle. If there's a likelihood of getting the wrong elk; I'll go with ironwood, as well.

 

[SV-97]

Stop the madness, just say no to murdered trees! Do you want their sap on your hands?

View attachment 913178

Actually I do, yes

 

[AlwaysTomboy]

My preference is whiter, smoother elk. I might consider dark 'n' nobbly on a larger handle (then again, I might not); but it seems to me that the nobbly stuff would overpower such a small handle. If there's a likelihood of getting the wrong elk; I'll go with ironwood, as well.

I fear the time to vote for ironwood is now. If elk wins, the next vote will be smooth vs nobbly, and from comments so far, it seems there's a preference for nobbly.

 

[afishhunter]

I fear the time to vote for ironwood is now. If elk wins, the next vote will be smooth vs nobbly, and from comments so far, it seems there's a preference for nobbly.

But ... But .. I already have three knives with Ironwood ... I don't have any with Elk (or Stag) so I'll keep my vote in for Elk.
Knobbly (like my knees) or smooth don't matter to me.

 

[AlwaysTomboy]

But ... But .. I already have three knives with Ironwood ... I don't have any with Elk (or Stag) so I'll keep my vote in for Elk.
Knobbly (like my knees) or smooth don't matter to me.

I was speaking out for the couple of folks who prefer smooth to knobbly elk. I have neither elk nor ironwood in my knife collection, and have a definite preference for smooth whatever the handle material.

 

[hhmoore]

I fear the time to vote for ironwood is now. If elk wins, the next vote will be smooth vs nobbly, and from comments so far, it seems there's a preference for nobbly

By the time there's a vote on the type of elk, the option of ironwood will be history... that's why I voted ironwood right after my last post.

 

[hhmoore]

By the time there's a vote on the type of elk, the option of ironwood will be history... that's why I voted ironwood right after my last post.

Admittedly, I think that ironwood on this knife will make it just that much more similar to the 2016 Forum knife...at least this one will be bolstered.

 

[r8shell]

I fear the time to vote for ironwood is now. If elk wins, the next vote will be smooth vs nobbly, and from comments so far, it seems there's a preference for nobbly.

I was speaking out for the couple of folks who prefer smooth to knobbly elk. I have neither elk nor ironwood in my knife collection, and have a definite preference for smooth whatever the handle material.

I've switched back and forth between ironwood and elk a bunch of times. Right now I'm on elk. I also prefer smooth handles, but it looks like if elk wins we will go with nobby. That's okay with me, I figure if I don't like it I can sand it down a little. As long as the antler isn't pithy, it's easier to smooth out something bumpy than to bump something smooth.

 

[AlwaysTomboy]

I've switched back and forth between ironwood and elk a bunch of times. Right now I'm on elk. I also prefer smooth handles, but it looks like if elk wins we will go with nobby. That's okay with me, I figure if I don't like it I can sand it down a little. As long as the antler isn't pithy, it's easier to smooth out something bumpy than to bump something smooth.

This is good to know and is something I've been wondering - if it's possible to sand or smooth after the fact. Thank you.