Handle materials

ISKski · Dec 9, 2011

Okay guys, so I made the jump, and I placed the order for my first slip joint, its a barehead jack pattern, with a clip blade (CPM 154cm) - and I have a few months before it will be ready, so I am mulling over all the possible handle variations I can think of - I'd appreciate it if you guys could help out with ANY sugggestion you might have PICTURES INCLUDED - heres the thing, I am down with anything except jigged bone and stag - not that I don't like 'em, just not for this knife - I am leaning towards wood, (over culpeppers amber smooth bone which i do like so its inthe realm of possibilites) so if you guys could post pics suggestions / what you guys like that would be great! I wanted to go with cocobolo but it just so happens the maker is allergic to the wood when working with it!

Thanks in advance everyone!

ISK

Railsplitter · Dec 9, 2011

Ebony wood is very durable and usually looks very nice too. Sometimes there can be streaks of brown in the wood and sometimes it is jet black. I largely prefer the jet black stuff.

I like the looks of Desert Ironwood too but I don't have any knives with that material.

Stelth · Dec 9, 2011

I love wood like this zebrawood:

or this Brazilian cherry:

G10 and micarta also look great. Sadly I have no traditionals in either material

TheSharpStuff · Dec 9, 2011

I am also a fan of the ebony handles, goes good with almost any knife IMO.
I also like what Buck does: a jigged buffalo handle

dannyp · Dec 9, 2011

I've always liked the look of curly koa. Here's one made by Brent Cramer. Unfortunately I don't have a knife scaled in it................yet.

Crotch walnut looks great too, but I don't recall seeing it on a slip joint.

supratentorial · Dec 10, 2011

I'd go with Gaboon Ebony.

Here are some ebony Case knives... not sure on the type of ebony. The stockman on the far left has some brown streaks (like Rick mentioned).

Here's a photo of a GEC #33 next to some blocks of rough cut ebony.

A Schrade with a bare head

There's no doubt that ebony is very durable stuff... there's not much left on this knife except for the ebony handle.

lambertiana · Dec 10, 2011

For slipjoints, I really like gaboon ebony. It is durable, looks good, and is very traditional. Here are a couple examples:

Although many are allergic to cocobolo, it doesn't bother me. But the one time I have done anything with gaboon ebony, I had a pretty bad reaction, big welts and all.

LX_Emergency · Dec 10, 2011

Many are allergic to cocobolo....but only to cocobolo dust. The wood in itself isn't a problem for anyone. Same with ebony and many other woods.

Personally if I were to have a slipjoint made I'd get some nice stabilised burl wood on it. Has all the beautifull qualities of real wood without having any of the downsides like sensitivity to water, shrinking/expanding etc. These can be found in natural colours but also with dye added. Both look stunning.

ISKski · Dec 10, 2011

I had forgotten to say this as well, because I had mentioned ebony to him also, he said he doesn't usually get any because its a hit or miss material sometimes it comes in and its very soft and porous - though ebony is kind of like a black suit, or a black car, it just always works.. ironwood is always nice looking and i may have to default to it if i can't come up with anything else im set on, he'd prefer if i didn't supply the material so.. (def preferring stabilized) something like this would be amazing

Nixelplix · Dec 10, 2011

You mentioned ironwood. I have to say I've always thought it was great- very beautiful and durable, with more character than ebony.

Will Power · Dec 10, 2011

Yes, stabilized woods like Maple burl offer a lot of possibilities. Look at Bark River's handle choices for ideas.Not much seen on slipjoints though

Snakewood can give an astonishing effect but I'm none oo sure of its longevity.

Zebra wood can look very attractive but I hear it smells disgusting when working it.....

Another avenue worth investigating is micarta, you can have it jigged to great effect and some of the polished ones:reds, ivories, toffees can look superb.

markv · Dec 10, 2011

Zebra wood looks real good on a knife.

i've not had a bad experience with Zebra
Bocote too.
Queen uses some real nice curly Zebra

Cocobolo is tough wood and has natural oil like Bocote

Osage Orange is an option, if you can snag some root burl you really have something rare
buzz

Seals · Dec 10, 2011

Ive never seen a knife that looked bad with good stag,but ok,how about elephant ivory?

2Dead · Dec 10, 2011

Bocote

Desert Ironwood

Ebony either black or with brown mixed in looks good

quattromori · Dec 10, 2011

Too bad he declined ebony...it has always been my favourite too.
Speaking of wooden handles, I recently bought an Opinel #6 in rosewood, and I find it really nice.

Fausto

Zuchus · Dec 10, 2011

I'm a big fan of figured maple. I have this custom by Jeff Hall with spalted maple that is very nice:

Bill Akers has made and sold a few fixed blades with what he calls "ink-line" maple, which is very dramatic -
you can see one here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/902666-Backwoods-quot-REVERSED-quot-W-quot-WOODS-KNIFE-quot-Damascus

While neither of these knives are traditional slipjoints I think this type of wood would look great on a barehead jack!

ISKski · Dec 10, 2011

^spalted sugar maple is really beautiful, you should look it up

Seals · Dec 10, 2011

I use a lot of Box Elder.

Campbellclanman · Dec 10, 2011

Don..did you scale the Elephant Ivory?...if so, you did a wonderful job my friend

Seals · Dec 10, 2011

Campbellclanman said:
Don..did you scale the Elephant Ivory?...if so, you did a wonderful job my friend

Yes,thank you sir! It was a very nice set.