Aluminum finger guards

[eladyar]

Anyone have an opinion about aluminum finger guards. I don't see them very often and I'm curious if aluminum is a good material for finger guards or pommels.

 

[Redmeadow Knives]

You'll find a lot of opinions about this, there are those that will say that aluminum has no place on a modern knife considering other available options. It's long been used for pommels, guards, and bolsters. It can't be soldered like other metals so it needs attached mechanically. I use it as a bolster material and am pleased with the results.
This thread might be better in Shoptalk, welcome to BF by the way.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It works fine. It used to be quite commonly used, and still is today--just to a lesser extent.

 

[leghog]

Many WW2 combat knives had both aluminum guards and pommels. Brass was a critical material, and steel controlled too. Those knives are not only tough back then, they're still doing the job several decades later.

Later war PAL RH-36

 

[Poez]

It is a good question. I have noticed that most classic knives with leather stack or antler handle seem to rather have a brass guard, even if combined with an aluminum pommel. I think that might be because a similar thickness/cost aluminum one would much easier bend or break, depending on the composition. I think that shouldn't be a problem if you simply use a thicker stock. And it shouldn't be too difficult to make it look nice too!

 

[Lieblad]

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