alternatives to wooden handles?

shootist16

shootist16

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Loved you guys at the Blade show. The throwing demo was especially interesting.

Has there been any thought on using materials other than wood for handles?

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Dennis Bible

....Almost here, The Leading Edge....
http://www.theleadingedgeonline.com
 
Yes sir, there has. I'll defer to Andy for further info.

Thanks.

Out.
 
I'd definately like to see one with G10 handles...

Kevin

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
Owner, BladeForums.com
 
G-10 or Carbon Fiber would be cool, but how on earth would you seat it in the eye? The Vietnam Hawk has a step in the eye that the wood expands into, but G-10 and CF won't do that. And on the RR hawks, when you compression fit a G-10 or CF handle into the eye with a 1 degree draft angle, you will run into the same problems, since these materials don't have the resilience or "sponge factor" of wood. Even though you would end up with a near-indestructable haft, the head-to-haft juncture would be less reliable at best, and most likely prone to failure on impact. What good is a bombproof handle if the head won't stay on it? You're better off with wood--unless of course, you injection molded a handle into the eye, like the Gerber camp axe line.

Of course, these are the ramblings of an armchair idiot, but if it provokes a thoughtful, knowledgeable response, it's served its purpose.

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Molon Labe

[This message has been edited by X-Head (edited 06-14-2001).]
 
What about a handle made out of Titanium or Aluminum? Sure, it'd be pretty expensive but how many other people would have a 'hawk as cool?
wink.gif




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Brian_T
brianthornburg@home.com
 
One thing worth considering is vibration damping. A solid metal handle likely would rattle your wrist pretty good unless you had some sort of isolation system between it and the head . . . maybe a hard rubber ring?

I don't know squat about the damping characteristics of carbon-fiber impregnated materials or G-10.
 
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