Favorite Traditional Knife Handle Material?

[MattyLav]

What's your favorite? Why?

 

[Mack]

Ebony. For a long time I tried to avoid black handles because they are so good at hiding when I need them. Then I discovered ebony and I am addicted to it. The warmth, the solid feel and the way it wears and ages so beautifully is unmatched in my opinion.

 

[lambertiana]

Ebony. Looks great, wears well, and has the ultimate traditional look.

 

[supratentorial]

Hmmm... it's difficult to pick one and it depends a lot on the pattern but probably in this order... stag, when it's exceptional but otherwise bone, especially when it looks as good as Remington bone or Schrade Peach seed or Cattaraugus "Roger's Indian Trail"... and then ebony, on the right pattern.

 

[JAlexander]

Great stag, jigged bone, or ebony.

 

[richstag]

This weekend I had to accompany 5 lovely ladies to a wedding. I had to decide what knife to drop in the pocket of my suit. I chose Ivory. I do believe its my favorite.

 

[richstag]

I forgot to say why. Ivory has natural coloration and variations that I find very unique. As a fan of natural materials, the only runner up is ebony as far as untouched/unenhanced beauty. While ebony does have its own satin feel ivory takes it to another level. Lots of people say ivory is fragile, and I believe it can be. I wouldn't want to drop my knife on concrete that's for sure. With that said, I have a couple 1911's with both bark elephant ivory and mammoth ivory grips. Thousands of rounds and no problems yet. Anyhow, my ivory knife is a very special knife. I don't carry, use or handle it in the same fashion as my EDC carry knives. The real tipping point for me is how Ivory looks good in any light. Bone and stag can look a little odd in certain lights. Ivory, and ebony actually, always look good to me.

It may not be my favorite material for an EDC, but I hold Ivory very highly in my views. I'm not even a hunter either. So go figure.

Kevin

 

[DeadFall27]

I will have to put my vote on Ebony, hands down. It is a very peculiar material that is very classy, simplistic, subtle, charming....simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

 

[supratentorial]

Kevin, do you have photos of the knife with the ivory covers?

Here are a few examples of some of my favorites...

Stag

Roger's Indian Trail (middle)

Peach Seed

Remington

Ebony

 

[richstag]

Here you go Jake

The knives you posted are amazing and I can see why you picked them.

This Scagel was also a gift and no matter what I do I can't get a photo that comes close to what I see with the knife in hand. I even tried a scan.

Kevin

 

[supratentorial]

Thank you, Kevin. That's a beautiful knife (and music box)!

...If I knew the name for the jigged bone on the Morley that's on the far left of the group photo, I would pick that one also.

 

[meako]

Yes all of the above plus rams horn.

 

[Art_Vandeley]

Jigged bone, sawcut delrin and ivory.

Jigged bone because it looks very nice and has a lot of possibilities.
Delrin for your hard work inexpensive knives. Durable, cheap and lightweight.
Ivory on really old slippies. Very exotic material, and i find myself ever so ofter lusting for a 19th century ivory pen knife, or maybe even a congress pattern.

 

[Stich2442]

I like stag, bone ( smooth or jigged ) wood (walnut, juniper, ebony).

 

[zippofan]

I like a lot of handle materials but my overall favorite is jigged bone followed by woods like cocobolo, juniper, olive and ebony. Ivory is beautiful but I only have one, same with stag, pearl and abalone. I should probably get more

 

[MT Damascus]

Sambar stag and ivory (mammoth and elephant), they just feel and look great



Kris

 

[puukkoman]

Stag, bone, wood, I couldn't decide if my life depended on it.
Well...
If forced to choose, probably a nice dense, dark wood, like ebony or cocobolo. Classic/y.

 

[Humppa]

I prefer wood and bone - if jigged bone or any wood, both materials feel absolutelly great and natural in hand. Warm materials, and durable.

Stag is nice too - I the feel of the gnarly stag in the hand and the pocket.

Delrin is another great martial, I like the smoothness of is material. It feels a little like silk in hand. (it has a strange smell, but that´s going to go away in some time)

I don´t like materials like G10 and some types of micarta, they are just cold and I don´t feel anything when I use it

 

[Doug Add]

Older jigged bone seems to be my favorite, just by virtue of what predominates on the knives I have.

But it sure would be hard to not pick ebony.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Diamond and ruby encrusted pure gold of course! But of the actual handle materials I have, I would say nice stag, followed by a decent burl (like the Lloyd Rosewood I got from Doug), but it is a very hard choice. I love the individuality of mammoth ivory (have not tried out elephant because of import laws) and pearl, other wood choices, and a nice rams horn. If buying unseen I've found bone to be the most consistent in thickness and patterning, but to me Jigged bone is a fallback- not my first choice, but not something I will deny a knife because of. Celluloids and such I have not warmed up to at all, but don't mind micarta or g10, although I have a single slipjoint in G10, and none in micarta at this time.

Then again, it's hard to deny any of these materials (especially if a Wharncliffe is in involved)