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Handle choice question

D

Darteres

Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
380
From a strictly practical point of view, would you buy a chopper with stag slab handles? I've really got my eye on a Bark River Hudson Bay camp knife with stag handles, but am worried about the grooves in the handle. The stag handles certainly look classy and give it that "old time" look.

751658547_oq4jw-O.jpg


Most of the time that I do any serious chopping, I would have gloves on. I could certainly talk myself either way. My other option would be one of the micarta handles or possibly one of the burl patterns.

What do you think?
 
If I were getting a knife for pretty, sure. If I were getting a knife to use, no way.

Perhaps I'm just odd, but I like the synthetics for actual outdoors use. There are some knives with gorgeous wood handles that I'd love to have — to look at. Wouldn't carry them though. But that's just me.

ETA: By synthetics, I'm talking about micarta, G10, or Becker's Grivory.
 
I like the looks of that Hudson Bay! Stag is pretty strong, it was used heavily "back in the day" by plenty of outdoorsmen, long before G10 and micarta existed. Not to mention, the scales on that knife would be covered by Bark River's warranty if they decided to go south on you.

That said, I'm with Dawsonbob- in that I prefer synthetics on my big outdoors knives.
 
I'm more concerned about handling comfort when chopping than I am about something happening to the scales. I'm pretty careful with my tools, even my choppers.
 
Real stag or "stag bone?" Stag bone IIRC is water buffalo or bovine shin bone.

I would take real stag any day and the bone seems tough, but I have never used it to chop.

The way it works for me is sort of like a 1911 grip; the sides of the handle don't have much to do with the holding of it, it is the front and back (or top and bottom on a knife?) that have the most working contact with the hand.

If all I was going to do was chop all day I might go for micarta, but for less vigorous use it probably wouldn't matter. For me, YMMV.
 
Darteres said:
I'm more concerned about handling comfort when chopping than I am about something happening to the scales. I'm pretty careful with my tools, even my choppers.
Click to expand...

Oh, I wasn't even thinking from that end. :o I would say- be prepared for "hot spots". I've found that the smoother a handle is, the more comfortable it is in the long term. The smoother the better, as far as I'm concerned, when it comes to choppers.
 
Just to throw you a curve, check out Matt's Hudson Bay knife over at ML Knives :eek: Gotta love the choices we have available now!!

DennisFosterHudsonbayhandledivory1.jpg


Mastadon ivory. I will carry this but won't be chopping with it unless life depends on it. I know the blade will handle it, but don't want to bust the slabs.

Still, one of these days I would like to pick up a Barkie Hudson also.

Doc
 
DocGP said:
Just to throw you a curve, check out Matt's Hudson Bay knife over at ML Knives :eek: Gotta love the choices we have available now!!

DennisFosterHudsonbayhandledivory1.jpg


Mastadon ivory. I will carry this but won't be chopping with it unless life depends on it. I know the blade will handle it, but don't want to bust the slabs.

Still, one of these days I would like to pick up a Barkie Hudson also.

Doc
Click to expand...

Not sure about the Mastadon ivory slabs but Matts knives are as tough as they come and I'd put them up against a Barkie any day of the week !

That ones a beauty Doc !;):thumbup:
 
Hell no, if you want a good chopper and heavy duty fixed blade get something with G10 or micarta handles.
 
DocGP said:
Just to throw you a curve, check out Matt's Hudson Bay knife over at ML Knives :eek: Gotta love the choices we have available now!!

DennisFosterHudsonbayhandledivory1.jpg


Mastadon ivory. I will carry this but won't be chopping with it unless life depends on it. I know the blade will handle it, but don't want to bust the slabs.

Still, one of these days I would like to pick up a Barkie Hudson also.

Doc
Click to expand...

That right there's purdy, that is. Right fine lookin' knife.

The Mastodon ivory and the protruding pins would knock it out of consideration for me, though. I could see that handle tearing up my hands in short order. Does it come with micarta, too?
 
I had the same concern as you when I bought a Puma Super Set. I have used this set since 1985, and the slabs on the big, bolo blade are fine. But they are super thick. I assume they are Sambar. On all of my other big blades, except for my Fallkniven Tor, the handles are micarta.
 
The only fault I see with knife makers is many.... .or all ??? don't know how to ' checker" wood or other materials.
You guys understand " checkering" on pistol grips and forends on firearms.
Go to Brownells dot com and learn how to checker for a grip.
It would kick knives 'up a notch'
 
Toucan Oasis said:
The only fault I see with knife makers is many.... .or all ??? don't know how to ' checker" wood or other materials.
You guys understand " checkering" on pistol grips and forends on firearms.
Go to Brownells dot com and learn how to checker for a grip.
It would kick knives 'up a notch'
Click to expand...

Some knife makers know how to checker wood just fine. Some of the fancy bowies you see in the custom forum have beautifully checkered hilts. The problem is, the function of a knife handle is very different from a pistol grip. With a pistol, generally speaking, you want the grip to "lock in" to your hand, and not move around. With a knife, the opposite is usually true. Especially with choppers. Sharp checkering, like on a 1911 frontstrap, would tear your hands to shreds in short order. Even milder checkering, like you see on revolver grips for example, would likely cause chafing. It would look cool though.
 
Toucan Oasis said:
The only fault I see with knife makers is many.... .or all ??? don't know how to ' checker" wood or other materials.
You guys understand " checkering" on pistol grips and forends on firearms.
Go to Brownells dot com and learn how to checker for a grip.
It would kick knives 'up a notch'
Click to expand...

The very last thing — other than 60 grit sandpaper — that I would want on a chopper would be checkering. It may look cool on a safe queen, but in actual use it would tear your hand up very quickly.
 
dawsonbob said:
That right there's purdy, that is. Right fine lookin' knife.

The Mastodon ivory and the protruding pins would knock it out of consideration for me, though. I could see that handle tearing up my hands in short order. Does it come with micarta, too?
Click to expand...

Sure does, any kinda wood, Micarta, you name it Matt will put it on !!!;):thumbup:
 
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