Handle material question

[Seahawk]

I'm looking at getting a Marble knife and was wondering about the pro's and cons of the different handle material options leather, wood, and horn. Uses would be mostly general utility with some skinning.

 

[Normark]

Hey Seahawk...

I guess I would have to say my favorite with be in the Micarta area.
I like a harder handle material on most of my knives..

On the big choppers I do prefer something a little softer to take up a little bit of shock...

BTW.. E-mail me when you get a chance...

ttyle Eric...


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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!

 

[Hart]

If the only material available is natural, I suggest horn or bone. I don't like leather as it can absorb liquids & become slimy. Just M.H.O.

.

 

[Paul Davidson]

I love the look and feel of natural handle materials like horn, bone, and stag. They do have limitations such as shrinking, swelling, cracking etc. My experience is that stag is more stable than the other animal based natural materials (not including wood since there are major differences in different woods). The natural materials have a warmth and beauty that synthetics will never match though.

Now I want to know what Allen thinks about horn!

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Paul Davidson

Them:"What's that clipped to your pocket, a beeper?"
Me:"Uuh....yeah, something like that."

 

[Hoodoo]

I have two marbles with black micarta handles. If you contact them directly, you can get a wider selection of handles than through the dealers. But you will pay a higher price as well.

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Hoodoo

No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Lao Tsu

 

[Allen Blade]

Hello,

I agree on the SAMBAR STAG option,it is good because of its solid Structure throughout.

I have a dislike for North American Horned animals,such as Deer, Elk, moose, because of the PITHY CORE these horns have.

This leads to a variety of problems in the long run such as the shrinking Cracking and just general Degrading as mentioned above over time.

Certain hard woods are great if you get the proper kind. Cocobolo, ironwood,ebony,
roeswood,,ligmunvitae ect... ect..

But my Fav is the Micartas!!!


my .02

Allen Blade


P.S oh yea and i dont like Acid or Vegetable treated dead animal skin on my handles either(leather handles) although
i have made some. but not anymore!!!

[This message has been edited by Allen Blade (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

[Dr.Lathe]

Allen,
So that's what that's called inside the deer antlers.......a PITHY CORE!

I have only found one deer antler large enough for a handle and it did have a PITHY CORE! I prefer the Sambar Stag also for this reason. I have several deer racks on mounts that I could NEVER make a knife handle from

I had a teacher that told me to add at least one new word to my vocabulary every day, so for today I have my new word!
Just busting your chops ALLEN!
Neil

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