Do You Love or Hate Osage Handles???

[Brian Andrews]

I have to admit, I did not like the look of Osage as a handle material for the longest time. It just looked like uninteresting, pale yellow to me, without much going on.

I decided to make a couple knives with, and finish it the way I like. And then, once I saw what it looked like when it became aged, I have been hooked on it.

I am going to show a bunch of pictures of my new (for my own use) Patch Knife, with an osage handle. But, more importantly than that, I would love to hear of any experiences you have good or bad with Osage as a handle material.

First the new patch knife.

I had to do a forced patina on the blade, because I think it suits the look of Osage rather well.

I mentioned that Osage looks better "aged" in my opinion. So, here it is next to one of my older users. Notice how the sheath has kept the upper part of the handle from seeing as much UV light, and hence "age."

Hopefully the new knife will age that well.

Here are the rest of pics of it.

I am going to attach a couple pics, mainly for HD : )

V

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I have a small Bark River nessmuk in osage that I use in the kitchen, and it has held up really nicely in the constant warm soapy water.

 

[Brian Andrews]

So far, I have noticed Osage to be super stable. Has that been the case with your kitchen knife? The constant hot, soapy water, and drying out seems to be tough on wood expanding and contracting, so that should tell a lot.

 

[grunt soldier]

i like them personally but have heard of them splitting on some bigger choppers but have never personally seen it.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

So far, I have noticed Osage to be super stable. Has that been the case with your kitchen knife? The constant hot, soapy water, and drying out seems to be tough on wood expanding and contracting, so that should tell a lot.

It has gotten a lot of use and my habit is to rinse at least between foods, cutting up vegetables mostly and and washing with soap after meat. No sign of damage to the wood. It's a small knife so the wood isn't thick but it has held up nicely.

 

[Mike157]

I haven't had the opportunity to hold or use an Osage handled knife yet, but from some of the Maker's photos I've seen here, including yours, I think that I would like them quite a bit. Very nice design on your Patch Knife by the way. Mike

 

[sicily02]

I like it, Brian, I like how it ages too. I think it makes a great knife handle.

Bryan

 

[Thomas Linton]

i like them personally but have heard of them splitting on some bigger choppers but have never personally seen it.

There was an old boy who made bows with OO. He swore the secret was to harvest it in the dead of Winter. Said less sap made it more stable.

Some expressed doubt, but they were uninterested in letting me see the bows they made of wood harvested in the Summer.

There should be a lot of experience out there.

 

[TheGame]

I don't really like the way it looks. No doubt that is is a great wood to use, from what I have seen though. They seem to be a good stable wood, just don't like the color so much.

 

[lambertiana]

I like osage, if you get a good piece of it the grain is nice and striking the way it shows in the right lighting.

 

[Mannlicher]

I had one custom with an Osage Orange handle. I can't remember anything pro or con about it. 'Unremarkable' would be my choice of words here.

 

[dipbait]

I always wanted an Osage handle. The wood is like iron. A hundred years ago they used it for fence post , and some of them are still standing. Id like to have one made out of an old fence post.

 

[Hawkeye5]

I like the way they turned out. Thanks the aged look is cool.

But, I like wood.
Thanks for Posting.

Jeff

 

[Bruce Culberson]

Well I've only used it on 3 knives so far and I like it. I'll have to get back to you on how it holds up over time.....

 

[forcedestrike]

I like the stuff, feels stable and doesn't fluctuate in the great north with heat/cold changes.

 

[koyote]

I've had a VERY occasional problem with shrinkage, but it's preventable by knowing where the blade is going and doing the right oils and waxes.

I love the way it ages and it definitely adds a personalized touch to the knife.

I also like, sometimes to flame mark it, which ages really well.

Plain, simple, but great stuff

 

[Varg Lobos]

I love Osage. I have it in 5 knives from Bark River and one in a custom from Bryan Breeden. Darkens up real nice with age.

Osage and Olivewood are my two favorite woods for knife handles.

 

[racegunner]

Hey Brian,
Never did like the look of OO. I think plywood is prettier But I've always been intrigued by it for it's toughness. It is the best material for traditional bows and I've heard difficult to work with (for bow making). There are other "utility" woods that I'm curious how it would compare...like ash or hickory. Those seem to be best suited for ax handles. I haven't seen any hickory knife handles that I remember. Must be a good reason. For beauty I like the looks of desert iron wood or cocobolo.

Your patch knife is really nice! The OO looks good on that with the blackened blade. I think it's growing on me
-Brian (not you)

 

[chopchop]

I'm a big fan of osage handles. The trees are native to my area and like others have said, there are 100+ year old fenceposts still standing out here. Plus, I like the subtle orange and the way the wood changes with time as I do.

I have a small JK Handmade knives Mentor's scandi and a Koster bushcraft custom handled by Dennis Jensen. I'll have to take some recent pic's of my knives.

I was actually really bummed that I missed out on that osage handled knife that you (Brian) put up on the exchange a few months back.

 

[hollowdweller]

Thanks for thinking of me BGA!

Count me as an osage lover. My wife and I are both Forestry Majors and I sort of liked the tree and the big useless fruit and the thorns before I had ever heard of it as a knife or axe handle.

I sort of agree that freshly ground it's not as interesting as when it gets older. I think in the knife you have pictured that the finish on the blade really accents the wood color.


Freshly bought

I got this reeves in 2005 and it's gotten much prettier with age.

This one is starting to darken