Flag colored knife handles?

[David Mary]

I've seen knives where the handle colors were selected to identify with a particular flag. Like a red, white and blue handle, for example. Or Canadian colours red and white, etc. I'm talking specifically about fixed blades, and not referring to handle scales with machined components and inserts, but just straight up layers of different colored materials cut and layered or assembled by hand in unique ways to represent a nation's flag.

How do you feel about knives like this, when is it just right, when is it too much, and pics of the ones you find the most beautiful and most ugly would also help. Thanks!

 

[lieferung]

The creations of Czech maker 'wajgy' come to mind. I believe he uses two colored stacked layers to represent a flag, the rest of the handle is a tasteful black. Personally I wouldn't want a flag knife, but if I did I would really enjoy the way he does it.

 

[mwhich50]

I like traditions in R/W/B. That's about it.

Until I saw this!

 

[CWL]

Reading this, I immediately thought about WW2 theater knives with handles made from cut plexiglass.

 

[GermanyChris]

It's to easy to over the tasteful line with stuff like that.

 

[Zulus]

 

[Danke42]

 

[abcdef]

Totally subjective.

 

[Horsewright]

More subtle:

 

[Wild Willie]

I definitely think you can go from being really nice to tacky in a big hurry, but that sentiment can be applied to a lot of motifs on a knife handle.

 

[Quiet]

When I was younger, I was a big fan, no matter how tacky they were. Nowadays, I'm much more reserved and probably wouldn't carry something like that. That said, a large CRK Seb in "Glorious" pattern is essentially the top of my grail list, such as it is. So, as you can see, subjective.

 

[Hurrul]

I do have one knife from a BF maker with a handle purposely built with the color elements of red/white/blue. It is a subtle announcement, yet still a singular and prominent feature of the handle (top knife below):

Friends/family have seen it and described the US flag colors....and some the French flag.

I admit that I am unfamiliar with most countries flag colors and patterns. I have a few Fiddleback Forge knives and the multitude of liner and handle scale combinations put out by that shop likely means, inadvertently, a number of countries color schemes are accounted are for.

 

[tltt]

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I like the flag designs on traditions, but usually hate it on tacticals. I'd definately try a few mock ups, and see what the feelings are. Like scrimshaw, filework, etc.... there's a narrow range between awesome and awful.

 

[David Mary]

There it is!

This too! Thank you gentlemen! This is very helpful.

 

[David Mary]

I gave it a shot once, a couple months ago, but the knife just sat on the exchange, so maybe it was lacking in the subtlety department? I am open to constructive feedback on this one, thanks:

 

[mabrowns]

I gave it a shot once, a couple months ago, but the knife just sat on the exchange, so maybe it was lacking in the subtlety department? I am open to constructive feedback on this one, thanks:

View attachment 1490394

I personally like it

 

[David Mary]

I have an idea. I'll try and get it done today, and post the results. Thanks everyone!

And thank you mabrowns.

 

[Wild Willie]

I gave it a shot once, a couple months ago, but the knife just sat on the exchange, so maybe it was lacking in the subtlety department? I am open to constructive feedback on this one, thanks:

View attachment 1490394

I was eyeballing it myself, but if I bought every knife I saw in the exchange that I had a passing fancy in I'd have a tough time payments on other stuff.

 

[David Mary]

I guess I have something new to offer. I feel these came out well for a first attempt. Now I have to decide what to use them on.



Because that's more subtle...

 

[David Mary]

I think I'm going to use the same blade design as the one above. Another question: Should I make the Kydex sheath
1) black?
2) blue?
3) red?
4) white?
5) red and blue?
6) red and white?
7 blue and white?