Aluminum vs. brass guard?

[Doc1911]

I searched the forum, but found only one thread with little information. Can you, who know knives better than I, tell me what advantages (besides cost of material) there might be in choosing aluminum over brass for a hand guard? I've seen some Randall-style knives online that look very well made that have aluminum hand guards, where previous versions & the original Randalls, had brass guards.

Thanks!
Tim

 

[Hickory n steel]

Brass is a little harder, but might not make much difference in a large Bowie with a big beefy guard. It's also heavier though , so it could have advantages and disadvantages balance and weight wise.
On small hunters thin aluminum guards bend easier ( even when not getting beat on )than brass while with thicker guards weight is probably the bigger issue.

So basically weight and style are the Main things, but depending on the knife strength can be a factor as well.

 

[Fanglekai]

Additionally, brass can tarnish. See old Buck 110s for examples. Aluminum won't tarnish.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Additionally, brass can tarnish. See old Buck 110s for examples. Aluminum won't tarnish.

Aluminum turn a dull gray, but while it doesn't develop the nice patina that brass does I would still say that it can tarnish.

 

[BladeScout]

Some claim that brass doesnt take kindly to certain fluids encountered, when a knife is actually for its purpose i.e. hunting for example.

I like brass for guards though and am not in a position to dispute the veracity of the above statement.