Abalone scales still popular or dated ?

I'm going to have to be careful, I just started and I feel I'm being sucked in by handle materials. It still has to be a knife I like/want but if I find a knife I like, AND it has a nice inlay, I'm a sucker! I can see myself owning several versions of the same knife just because I like an inlay. But I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for a nice Abalone knife! I also like mother of pearl. Keep posting more pics!

BTW, I thought this one was quite interesting, it's called Mokuti.Nl52vHv4htT3CXdtG0_5YGev3C-f7_g1vjYkjqjm2YU.jpg
 
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This one was ordered to spec, by the customer, to celebrate his achieving his Journeyman Commercial Diver status:

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Thanks, the pictures and the passion for Abalone was all I needed. I already have a knife in mind, now I just have to get it! Love the variety of colors, there must be so much more to it than I realize, layering, dying, coatings, just love the look! Keep the pics coming!!
 
In my experience, most abalone these days is a very thin slice or mosaic that's covered with some form of clear resin and laid down with something to help reflect the light behind it. Many translucent scales have had similar work. Tortoise, for example, looks best (again my opinion) with a gold backing. MOP is different, and can be found in thicker slabs. MOP is dangerous to work with as breathing the dust can cut your life short. Carved and checkered MOP is fantastic, but very scarce.
 
Depends ultimately. Depends on a number of factors. People still buy knives with stick tangs shoved in antler crowns. Find the right crowd and you'll find someone who will collect it.
Abalone and mother of pearl as well as pearl handles are fancy among sea going folk
Just depends, ways of life and culture plays a big role, for example the biggest concentration of traditional puuko knives are found in Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
If abalone speaks to you, get one
 
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