Duralumin vs. Brass Butt Caps.

[sepcat]

This may be an old question but

Which is better, and why?

Personally I've held Randalls with both and I didn't notice any big deal to the knife's balance.. Maybe I don't fully understand the whole balance thing but anyhow, visually speaking, brass is the cat's ass, for me, especially when it complimented with brass 'n black spaces..

Cheers

 

[Greg Gutcher]

Personally I prefer the hilt and the butt cap to match. The brass set up, with the brass and black spacers, is a great looking piece. The only negative thing you can say is that they are a pain in the butt
to polish all the time.
When you have the brass hilt and Alum. butt cap, to me it looks like it was done from some spare parts that were left over. I like mine to match. I'm sure there are reasons for the different hilt and butts and most are probably related to weight and balance but I still like a matched set JMO.
Attached [hopefully] is one of my pieces. A mod 1-6 with a Spalted Alder SFG handle, SS blade, brass hilt and butt, brass and black spacers. It is in a beaver tail covered sheath. Don't ask, it's NFS. When made back in 1998 the RMK shop people told me that it was the most beautiful piece of wood that had ever came through the shop to that time. Greg

 

[sepcat]

That's a beautiful knife with a wicked piece of wood.

That's rather similar to what I have on order, except it's a #5-6 with a leather border patrol handle, brass all the way with black 'n brass, except I went a little nuts on the features and added a double hilt and a model 'C' sheath, no beaver.. Not long now, 8 months or so..

Cheers.