Handle Choices

Z

Z Bacon

Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
106
I have a blade in progress that still needs to be heat treated. Until I get it heat treated at a friends shop, I've been considering handle designs and I'm stumped. I have decided on Snakewood for the handle, but I feel that it needs something more. It will be a mirror polished blade with a unique etch along the spine. I'm trying to decide what material might look good as a transition between the blade and the Snakewood. I've considered Stainless Steel, Nickel Silver, Brass, Copper, multiple colors of G-10 and Onyx/Gold Gemstone Composites, but I don't know which to choose, if I should use something different entirely or if I should use just the Snakewood. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 
It would be helpful to actually SEE the blade or at least have some sort of idea of the shape and size. Is it a stick tang or full tang?

IMHO I would use brass rather than a "white" metal for the hardware to compliment the color of the snake wood. It's hard to say more without knowing more about the blade.
 
How about bronze? However, good quality snakewood (I assume you mean the real Suriname snakewood - lots of woods across the world are called snakewood that look nothing like it) has a lot going on in the figure and can be polished like glass -- it shouldn't need much punching up to look good - you can easily make the handle look tacky and cluttered with materials with too much going on as a bolster.
 
Z Bacon said:
Interesting idea. Do you know where I could purchase some bronze?
Click to expand...

You're in Seattle, so you should have some boat building/marine supply/ship chandlers stores close by - they're likely to have some bronze bar or sheet stock.
 
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Your link doesn't work. It's an abbreviated link (it has "..." in it). Picture is not viewable.
 
Link still not working.

On a highly figured handle without a guard, there is no need for whistles and bells. A bolster is fine if it compliments the blade as well as the handle. A simple 1/8" thick mokume bolster/guard and butt cap work well with snakewood. Bronze works ,too. I would think stainless may be too harsh a contrast, but without a photo, I am just guessing.
 
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Hmm, interesting blade shape. For something like that I would lean towards the industrial side of things. Maybe bluedor patina'd mild steel bolster with a dark red thin spacer. Wrought Iron would look good as well as bronze I think. A dark bolster I think looks better on a mirror blade. As always there are exceptions.


-Xander
 
First thing that comes to my mind when I look at your blade is: A blackwood handle!
 
Wow! That wasn't what I was expecting at all! Pretty cool.

The handle shape reminds me of a Colt Peace Maker pistol handle and a "white" metal engraved and antiqued bolster.

Or, a black micarta bolster with a thin white or ivory spacer between bolster and handle.

- Paul Meske
 
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