Recommendation? Custom Wood scales for a Benchmade Bugout. Good idea?

[kayakermitch]

I want to make custom scales for a Benchmade Bugout.

Background: I'm a new dad and dont have a place to work with plastics/carbon fiber because of fumes and g10 shavings being bad and stuff and I like working with wood but this would be my first serious project.

Any recommendations on a good wood that would be strong and light for the thin bugout scales and that I could make look cool and unique? I'm a little surprised and overwhelmed with the sheer number of options that I have for wood scales. Or is wood bugout scales a bad idea.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[ScooterG]

Bocote!
http://www.exoticwood.com/Bocote.html

 

[Wowbagger]

I went with Ebony. This was my first Ebony knife period.
Up side is it doesn't need finish on it just run the wood bare.

The Bocote is really beautiful. The Ebony is plain and low key but feels nice in hand. The Bocote is wowwee zowwee if the Ebony is too boring for you.

I don't know what it would take to do this to a Bugout / Benchmade.
Here are a couple of quick looks at my Urban Trapper. This is my second Urban Trapper with custom scales.
and a >>>>Link to my Ebony Scales Thread.