Does wood scales last longer than bone or stag scales?

[kidwholaughs]

Hey guys,

I really have a thing for exotic wood scales, favorite being Gabon ebony. The warmth and smoothness of wood along with it's beauty really does it for me. A while back, Waynorth showed a pic of a jack knife from the 1800 with immaculate scales. This got me thinking, does certain wood scales last longer than bone or stag, when no bugs are involved? I do feel that wood seems to deteriorate more slowly than bone or stag.

God Bless

 

[Blues]

Judging by how many knives (and other artifacts) have survived from past centuries I wouldn't worry too much about any of the choices outlasting the original purchaser (given a modicum of care).

(I think the paleontologists will tell you that bone lasts a good long time. As does wood, petrified and otherwise.)

 

[kidwholaughs]

I wouldn't worry too much about any of the choices outlasting the original purchaser (given a modicum of care).

Well, that's for sure. I always had a notion that bone and stag could "dry out" and become brittle. Since wood is ready dry, there is little chance of been brittle, may with the exception of cocobolo.

God Bless

 

[navihawk]

Is cocobola brittle? I have a few ebony's and with pocket carry they can get marks in them from coins and such, but they are smooth and seem stable. Some of the newer woods are stabilized with resin. My cocobola looks stabilized. you can see the poors are filled in with clear.

 

[lambertiana]

I collect antique slipjoints, and the wood handles seem to be no worse for the wear than the bone handles. I see just as many cracks in bone as I do in wood.