Abalone Laminate or Mother of Pearl

[big70tom]

What do you guys think of these two materials for scales?

Opinions, experiences, all thoughts welcomed!!!!

 

[BARBARIAN-X]

The only experience I've had with Mother of Pearl was on a custom knife I had but the stuff kept cracking...looked nice though!

 

[DennisStrickland]

the new abalone laminates are very strong. they separate the abalone flakes & somehow reinsert them into a clear polymer. this type of shell aggregate is'nt prone to cracking. few things surpass real good pearl for beauty but it's for knives not used heavy duty. i've seen many knives over 100 years old but that simply means they were never dropped on concrete. one smack can mean a cracked pearl [not always but a high probability]dennis

 

[jnevill]

I have a few MOP knives, nothing is more beautiful that a William Henry Kestral in Mother of Pearl. Mine have held up well, but have been treated as gents knives, no prying, twisting or LOANING!

 

[big70tom]

b u m p

 

[somniloquist]

I have had a number of different examples of both. I would have to say that pearl, particularly black lip pearl is more aesthetically pleasing to me. I do agree that the abalone laminate/composite is probably stronger though. Natural abalone is not much to look at. I vote pearl.