Handle material - what drives your choice?

As a knife maker, I love making a choice on each knife....I have customers that want only rubber on hard use knives....Picking out the handle is the fun part of knifemaking...............But for me, I love good stag.....carl
 
Like others, I choose the handle materials by the looks. But the feel is also important, because I like to use my slipjoints a little like worry beads. There's something relaxing and satisfying about holding a nice little knife... Closed, of course.

As far as materials go, I like almost anything. Somewhat strangely, though, I don't care much for Stag, except for Amber Stag, which I love.
 
I don´t really have a favorite choice, in general.

It all depends on the mood I´m in and what I want to carry now. I prefer natuarl materials - they seem to fit my personal preference more than synthetic stuff.

Bone, stag & wood are all great materials, as well as horn.

Being honest, I actually have just one knife with micarta scales and I like it somehow. But not as much as my bone, stag & wood scaled knives.
 
I am a collector,not a "user to cut guy",if I was that I would only have one knife. I have used the old Wards stockman I have for years now .I usually find a 3 blade I like and use it up or lose it. I have always been monogamous that way,I believe that is natural for me.I can see how the love of knives might lead a more practical minded person to carrying several knives for cutting and at different times.

I get what pleases my mind basically and whatever comes on a farmer jack.I like ivory,stag,old jigged bones,and I'm in love with this scratted look bone now.
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Mine

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Courtesy of Charlie Waynorth barlow aficionado
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I have a 'thing' for Sambar Stag, so in general it is my first pick. That said, I like bone and wood just fine, with horn being my least favorite.
 
For me it depends on the pattern and style of the knife. If it is a shadow style, I prefer micarta so I don't chip the edges. Other than that I like a wide variety of material from wood to bone to ivory! The blade and handle determine most of my choices, the shield decides a little too. I have a lot of variety in my collection
 
Unfortunately a wood finish self destructs in my pocket - a sad thing for someone with a carpenter family background, and otherwise a preference for all things wood!
Bone, modern materials (G10, delrin) are essential. No experience with horn, does is survive sweat?
 
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