Fiddleback wood handles

clich

clich

Joined
Apr 19, 2011
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So some of you guys know I got my first fiddleback with wood handles as of late, a Palmer with orange Osage handles. So I was wondering, since its my first USER custom knife with wood handles, if they will stain if used for field dressing. This little guy would be perfect for the small whitetail we got in pa but I don't want the handles to be stained when it comes in contact with blood. So on to my question, how are the handles sealed and will /can they be stained by blood? Figured I'd ask before I go out and ruin this discontinued beauty. Ive carried it everyday since I got it and there is slight darkening at the pommel from my greasy dirty hands so I worry dark venison blood will create bad stains. Thanks guys
 
Sink it in Mineral Oil routinely is the recommended maintenance. Any darkening from use would suit me, but a quick soak in mineral oil before a hunt might help prevent it.
 
This is why I like burlap micarta for my heavy use knives. I don't know about Osage but even mineral oil over time will darken wood some. And enough will make it a bit slippery when it gets wet. Osage seems pretty dense so as ling as you clean it right after use it might be OK.

I'm sure Andy can give us his experience and tips... ;)
 
Stratmeister said:
This is why I like burlap micarta for my heavy use knives. I don't know about Osage but even mineral oil over time will darken wood some. And enough will make it a bit slippery when it gets wet. Osage seems pretty dense so as ling as you clean it right after use it might be OK.

I'm sure Andy can give us his experience and tips... ;)
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I know I prefer micarta to everything else, but with a Palmer I'd take what I could get. Hell I'd take it handleless that's how bad I wanted it. Its such a bright clean wood that I'd hate to darken it at all really. Micarta is number 1 in my book tho.
 
The wood may stain. The poores are sealed, but the fibers will still absorb things. Just clean it afterward. I wouldn't go soaking it in hot water. Just clean and dry it. The Osage is going to age into a beautiful nutty brown color. Use it! Its a tool!
 
Yea use the hell out of it, and then enjoy the patina that devolops, that is now your knife. Im taking my brand new Snubby into the woods this weekend and I hope I get to get some deer blood on it. Im just going to take a rag with me and wipe it down when Im done. I dont know if you have ever seen Osage after it has aged but I think it turns prettier with time and use. I cant wait to see pics of it in a year! If you carry it everyday, it will be really nice then Im sure.
Mircarta and G-10 is nice but I just dont get the feel I like with it. I like naturals Wood with a micarta or G-10 liner to help keep it from seperating but since I live in the south I dont think it will since that is where it was made. But it always could, if it does Ill throw some CA in it and sand it and keep on truckin'.
 
The beauty of osage is it ages gracefully to a nice rootbeer brown, but does not loose it's inherent chatoyance. It is photo-sensitive, that is, sunlight (UV) rays cause the darkening. Of course hand oils will as well, but not the same way.
Enjoy it's aging patina, it's natural.
I'm always suspect of someone who carries a knife with no wear or patina. I only use "plastics" or "plasticized" materials if a customer is insistant. I think a knife is a package deal and the handle and blade should age and wear out at the same pace......what good is a plastic (synthetic) handle if the blade is gone? And yes, if they are used they ought to wear - or you'll never have to buy another knife.......now what fun is that?!?!? Who doesn't want to buy another new knife?
 
Meant to add that osage and several other native tree speices' woods are tremendous handle material. If treated with a bit of respect, most outlast their metal counter parts anyway. Case in point - museums are full of old war weapons, trapper and indian knives, and other edged tools (cutlery) with handles intact that have way surpassed the life of the metal.
ps - Andy has a good eye for wood.
 
crex said:
ps - Andy has a good eye for wood.
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Crex said Andy has an eye for wood, he he ehehe . lol. :)
Just messing around yes Andy tends to use the best natural materials, and put combos together that others are scared to or just dont think about. Most of his stuff he was doing in late 09 and early 10 with the constrating colors, absolutely loved that stuff. Then he started putting bolsters on his stuff and that to me became a Fiddleback knife. But like all good things it came to an end, now it seems he is enjoying using the mircartas and g-10s. Most like this stuff but to me I think that a knife is suppose to wear. I mean if a handle does wear out or whatever, it aint like Andy cant rehandle one. Anyway clich I think you will love it more in a year from now. I have not seen pics of one that has been edc'd for an entire year make sure to update us.
 
crex said:
ps - Andy has a good eye for wood.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm just trying to learn as much from you as I can. Aquafortis, for example. I've used that a few times now on curly woods. Never knew about Black Locust either. One thing I'm not good at is picking out trees in the woods. I can do a few, but not many. My grandad could walk through the woods and tell you all of them.
 
It's all in the upbringing. I "lived" in the woods every spare moment I had. Dad always made every effort to keep us in or near woods/farm everywhere we lived (career Naval Aviator). A heritage thing, him being 1/2 NA.
Started indoctrinating my grandson this past weekend up in Hanging Dog. He's going to learn woodlore pretty quick, couldn't get enough. Already has his internal compass clicking in and starting to identify trees correctly (already knows blacklocust and several others). I'm going to have a hard time waiting for his next school break.
Had some very interesting discussions on why and when to kill wild game, cut trees, what "weeds" are, etc. We even talked with the turkeys, owls and crows. Great 4 days in the woods!
Gave him three books to study - trees, reptiles, insects - daughter says he won't put them down. The boy reads whenever he's not outside.
 
Now that sounds fun. My girls and I are building a secret hideout in the woods right now. No chance of getting a boy, but the girls like the woods so maybe I'll be fine.
 
Nothing wrong with girls (not too difficult until their teens). Teach 'em right and teach 'em early.
Learned a lot of my woodlore from my GrandMuddy (Dad's mom). We used to spend whole weekends in the woods, just the two of us. My older brother and sister were scared to death of her (taught injun style with a stick). I learned to be a "rock or tree" when around her. Still can sneak around pretty good with a little practice, just ask Capn Randy. She taught me from the time I was 5, not be scared in the woods, how to set my "mental compass" so I wouldn't get lost, all kinds of things. She was a true treasure in my early life.
 
That sounds wonderful. Neato.
 
I don't know how Andy finishes his wood (fnarr,fnarr) but after soaking in boiled linseed oil for a few days and then letting dry, I usually finish by rubbing in a 50:50 mix of Carnauba wax and beeswax. I rub it on quite thick and then rub in with a cloth. This cloth is quite waxy now from all the handles, but the idea is to warm the wax through friction and make sure it's evenly spread all over. I then buff up the handle with a soft polishing cloth. I like this wax mix because it's very hard wearing (due to the carnauba) buffs up quickly with a cloth and the wax is extraordinarily grippy. Most polishes look great but leave the handles a bit slippery.
 
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