Handle material

[Bawanna]

If I had to choose most durable between wood and horn, I'd probably choose wood. Both are very close.
Many like the feel and options wood presents. Many find horn too slippery, some find it a better grip.
At first I was a devout wood guy, I'm still a wood guy with only antler calling me more.
Lately I find the horn just as good. It's dense, it's the same completely through so you can reshape or whatever without hitting soft spots or marrow like antler.
I guess I'm not help at all, I like them both. Both will last a 100 years with minimal maintenance.
I 've heard it said they will fatigue and fall off before they wear out and just need replacement.

 

[davidf99]

I guess I'm back to my original question? Which material is the most durable, wood or horn? I'm asking because I'm new to the Khukri. I've got handmade knives that I got made for me 35-45 yrs ago. Varying from wood to antler. Many woods I have are desert ironwood and rosewood. And of course deer antler!

It's a reasonable question, but I don't think there's a definite answer. First, it depends on what kind of use the blade will get, and under what sort of weather conditions. In the case of wood it depends on the type of wood and how good a piece it is. In the case of horn (which I don't know as well as wood) it seems to depend on whether the horn was dried out properly and for a long enough time. These natural materials can develop cracks if they are dried out too quickly, but other than that they are strong and durable. Most cracks can be fixed with epoxy or superglue, as long as they are not deep enough to undermine the structural integrity of a handle. I agree with Bawanna that an authentic khukuri is best left with the natural materials and handle style for the given model, unless you expect to use it for extended periods under extreme conditions, and even then rehandling could make it worse if your skills are not up to the task. Even with the most durable artificial materials you have to shape and size the handle to make it comfortable, and that is not easy. However, it does make for a fun project if you do it with one of the less expensive HI blades, or with a blade that already has a ruined handle.

Most HI wood handles are satisal/satisaal, which is a type of Rosewood, very hard and strong. The scientific name is Dalbergia Latifolia. Here's some info about the wood from Wikipedia:

Dalbergia latifolia (synonym Dalbergia emarginata) is a premier timber species, also known as the Indian Rosewood. It is native to low-elevation tropical monsoon forests of south east India. Some common names in English include Rosewood, Bombay blackwood, Roseta rosewood, East Indian rosewood, Reddish-brown rosewood, Indian palisandre, and Java palisandre. Its Indian common names are beete, and satisal....

The tree produces a hard, durable, heavy wood that, when properly cured, is durable and resistant to rot and insects. It is grown as a plantation wood in both India and Java, often in dense, single species groves, to produce its highly desirable long straight bore. Wood from the tree is used in premium furniture making and cabinetry, in guitar bodies, as furniture, exotic veneer, carvings, boats, skis, and for reforestation....

There exists an international high demand and price for the wood due to its excellent qualities of having a long straight bore, its strength, and its high density....​

 

[Aleous]

Antler seems to be the most beautiful handle material for HI Khuk's, the kami's really work magic with it.

Kudos to Jamiel and Bawanna for helping Yangdu get some more much needed antler.

I love Khukuri traditional handle materials, especially buffalo horn and rosewood, they are really beautiful and functional but if I had to rehandle a khuk I would probably use a more modern material unless I thought it would ruin the overall look, feel, and function of the model.

As far as kydex sheaths go I probably would opt for one if I was trekking with a khuk but still keep the original leather b/c I just love the feel and smell of buffalo leather.

 

[Bawanna]

I love antler but I personally don't think it works on a large kukri. They work best smooth with the bell and the rings to maintain the grip. Antler would work ok on a Chiruwa style non traditional handle.
I love antler on all the smaller knives. I just got a little cleaver and my first thought was antler handle but the wood is so nice, been sanding on it a bit today, I'm leaving it. I forget now what the wood is, it's listed on the post, I wrote it down for future reference but don't have it with me.
I'd like to get some of it for some pistol handles. It's really nice.

 

[George Azar]

I'm down with that. I agree as well, which is why I'm reluctant to make a Kydex sheath. And even if I DO make a Kydex sheath I'll end up wrapping it in leather. haha
I'll probably do a leather/antler/or wood handle. The concept of G10 or Micarta didn't interest me enough BUT the idea of stackin on hidden tangs did. I will probably slice up several layers and make a bone/wood combo or something.
Or maybe just an all leather one. But I wonder how well all leather would do on the ocean for island hopping. Then again the steel will need care on the open ocean anyway.

Leather seeed to be a pretty common handle material back with some of the old knifemakers. Leather and antler combination. I have a hunting knife that was given to me as a Christmas present that is an all leather handle. It has held up well. I'm talking 1964! The leather was sealed with something I'm not sure of! But it makes for a beautiful handle. William "Bill" Scagel a well known knifemaker is known for making leather/antler handles.

http://www.scagelknives.com/

Google images with his name and knives he's made will come up. It's not that he made the best, just a very early knifemaker. Late 1800's into the 1900's. Point is I'm just giving images to see what they look like and that there are still knives with his leather/antler combo handles that have survived a century!

 

[George Azar]

I love antler but I personally don't think it works on a large kukri. They work best smooth with the bell and the rings to maintain the grip. Antler would work ok on a Chiruwa style non traditional handle.
I love antler on all the smaller knives. I just got a little cleaver and my first thought was antler handle but the wood is so nice, been sanding on it a bit today, I'm leaving it. I forget now what the wood is, it's listed on the post, I wrote it down for future reference but don't have it with me.
I'd like to get some of it for some pistol handles. It's really nice.

Simal wood, Bawanna

 

[George Azar]

It's a reasonable question, but I don't think there's a definite answer. First, it depends on what kind of use the blade will get, and under what sort of weather conditions. In the case of wood it depends on the type of wood and how good a piece it is. In the case of horn (which I don't know as well as wood) it seems to depend on whether the horn was dried out properly and for a long enough time. These natural materials can develop cracks if they are dried out too quickly, but other than that they are strong and durable. Most cracks can be fixed with epoxy or superglue, as long as they are not deep enough to undermine the structural integrity of a handle. I agree with Bawanna that an authentic khukuri is best left with the natural materials and handle style for the given model, unless you expect to use it for extended periods under extreme conditions, and even then rehandling could make it worse if your skills are not up to the task. Even with the most durable artificial materials you have to shape and size the handle to make it comfortable, and that is not easy. However, it does make for a fun project if you do it with one of the less expensive HI blades, or with a blade that already has a ruined handle.

Most HI wood handles are satisal/satisaal, which is a type of Rosewood, very hard and strong. The scientific name is Dalbergia Latifolia. Here's some info about the wood from Wikipedia:

Dalbergia latifolia (synonym Dalbergia emarginata) is a premier timber species, also known as the Indian Rosewood. It is native to low-elevation tropical monsoon forests of south east India. Some common names in English include Rosewood, Bombay blackwood, Roseta rosewood, East Indian rosewood, Reddish-brown rosewood, Indian palisandre, and Java palisandre. Its Indian common names are beete, and satisal....

The tree produces a hard, durable, heavy wood that, when properly cured, is durable and resistant to rot and insects. It is grown as a plantation wood in both India and Java, often in dense, single species groves, to produce its highly desirable long straight bore. Wood from the tree is used in premium furniture making and cabinetry, in guitar bodies, as furniture, exotic veneer, carvings, boats, skis, and for reforestation....

There exists an international high demand and price for the wood due to its excellent qualities of having a long straight bore, its strength, and its high density....​

Thank you

 

[Steve Tall]

Yangdu is currently seeking antler to send over to Nepal for the Kami's to use for handles. I'm sending her down some as I had a friend give me some just last week. I was in antler heaven but I'll share the majority of it with her.
With knife handles the material used isn't as important as the attachment. It's not like your gonna swap ends and beat on something with the handle. Also with Chiruwa handles in addition to being pinned they are also laha'd or epoxied so they are solid, unlike a gun grip that needs to be removeable.

If anybody has deer or elk antler Yangdu could put it to good use. She said it can be cut into 5 or 6" pieces. I figure I'll go about the 6 as much as I can to give the kami's a little leeway in making handles.

Antler handles are kind of tough, as the size and shape of the antler determines what it will fit. Most don't have very thick outside coating before you get to the marrow. A good knife handle won't show much of that inner stuff. It don't hurt anything, it just looks better if it's all the outside skin.
I just super glue coat any inner marrow that is exposed.
The trick is finding the right piece for the handle you want to hang it on.

Some examples of antler handles:

"21.5 inch 51 ounce Tin Chirra by Kumar. The handle is made of Oregon elk antler."
[from DOTD post]

M43 by Sher the Tiger Kami, 17.5inches and 27ounces with Antler grips.
[from Ben Sweet/ b.c.molin post]

[photo from Steve Ferguson post]

[photo from Svashtar post]

 

[George Azar]

Some examples of antler handles:

"21.5 inch 51 ounce Tin Chirra by Kumar. The handle is made of Oregon elk antler."
[from DOTD post]

M43 by Sher the Tiger Kami, 17.5inches and 27ounces with Antler grips.
[from Ben Sweet/ b.c.molin post]

[photo from Steve Ferguson post]

[photo from Svashtar post]

I have that same tin Chirra by Kumar with a wood handle. All the small tools are antler!

 

[Bawanna]

Are you certain those are antler and not bone? Some do appear to be antler but some look like bone to me.
Course I'll never disagree with the meister, I hate myself for even questioning it.

 

[Steve Tall]

Are you certain those are antler and not bone? Some do appear to be antler but some look like bone to me.
Course I'll never disagree with the meister, I hate myself for even questioning it.

They were said to be antler by the original posters, but I don't know for sure. I was thinking that the kamis must have ground/sanded down some big antler pieces to make them smooth.

Edited to add:

 

[George Azar]

I have that same tin Chirra by Kumar with a wood handle. All the small tools are antler!

 

[George Azar]

I have that same tin Chirra by Kumar with a wood handle. All the small tools are antler!

What handles are on "weapons" that are made......I know each knife I have is a weapon.....but the knives that are made to go into combat? And the knives that are made for the "locals", I guess that are called "villager" knives. What handles do they rely on Day in and day out??
Thank you
(I guess I'm trying to glean as much info as possible)

 

[Aleous]

Wonder if Yangdu has any other antler Khuk's in stock.

Also really easy to find cheap antler around just wish I knew what to look for that would make a good khuk handle material.

Wouldn't mind buying some and sending it to Yangdu, she always takes care of me.

 

[George Azar]

Wonder if Yangdu has any other antler Khuk's in stock.

Also really easy to find cheap antler around just wish I knew what to look for that would make a good khuk handle material.

Wouldn't mind buying some and sending it to Yangdu, she always takes care of me.

She might have more with antler. I asked her about that before and she said she only had smaller Khukri with antler because most deer had been killed in Nepal. Only small deer remained. She found one and remembered I asked about it. I think she told me 15" Ang Khola? Anyway we made a deal because I didn't want 12" ones. I've not been to the post office to pick it up yet.
This will be interesting.

 

[davidf99]

Here is a Tarwar by Bura Kami with a handle made from South Dakota Elk. It was listed as antler, but looks more like bone to me. Overall length is 29" and weight is 46 oz.

 

[Bawanna]

All the antler I have except a deer I shot when I was about 20 are sheds found by friends just out walking in the woods. Guess it's an elks renewable resource.
Many really taking looking for them seriously. The grail is to find a matched set.
Game guys say an elk will shed both sides within usually 10 to 15 minutes, but finding a pair is pretty hard.
Course you can practically step on a shed without seeing it too, they blend pretty well.
I agree David, looks like bone to me too.

 

[Aleous]

She might have more with antler. I asked her about that before and she said she only had smaller Khukri with antler because most deer had been killed in Nepal. Only small deer remained. She found one and remembered I asked about it. I think she told me 15" Ang Khola? Anyway we made a deal because I didn't want 12" ones. I've not been to the post office to pick it up yet.
This will be interesting.

Nice. I just picked up a Dui Chirra today at the post office.

I hope you will share pics and specs of your Ang Khola when ya get it in. I recently got a 15"Ang Khola but with satisal wood handle and it is awesome at 23 oz.

 

[Jamiel]

Oh man! those are some beautiful bone/antler scales. I'm definitely going that route for my Chiru AK.

 

[George Azar]

Nice. I just picked up a Dui Chirra today at the post office.

I hope you will share pics and specs of your Ang Khola when ya get it in. I recently got a 15"Ang Khola but with satisal wood handle and it is awesome at 23 oz.

I will share it. I've got 6 Chiruwa Ang Kholas and all are either wood and horn. Can't wait to see it. I should get it Tuesday and I'll try to post a photo that day.
Thanks