Handle stock for a beginning knife maker

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vkurien

Joined
Apr 12, 2015
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First of all, sincere apologies since this question likely gets asked a lot. I am beginning knife maker and have ground a few blades. I've been told that one should spend at least much time on the handle as the blade itself, which makes a lot of sense. Since I do expect to screw up and learn from my mistakes the first few times, I was wondering if people had recommendations on what sources for reasonably inexpensive handle stock might be.

Also, if there are other knife makers who are in the Redmond/Seattle area, I'd love to get together, buy you beer(s) and pick your brain.
thanks
verghese kurien
 
Send me an email if you want. I have some pretty decent woods for handles, both stabilized and not, at really affordable prices.

jdoyleknives AT gmail DOT com
 
There are many woods to use, and also black linen, paper or burlap micarta are all great options.

You should work with micarta as soon as possible to learn about working with synthetics.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
vkurien said:
Also, if there are other knife makers who are in the Redmond/Seattle area, I'd love to get together, buy you beer(s) and pick your brain.
thanks
verghese kurien
Click to expand...
Was a knife show in Seattle this past weekend. Did ya go? See related thread...
 
vkurien said:
First of all, sincere apologies since this question likely gets asked a lot. I am beginning knife maker and have ground a few blades. I've been told that one should spend at least much time on the handle as the blade itself, which makes a lot of sense. Since I do expect to screw up and learn from my mistakes the first few times, I was wondering if people had recommendations on what sources for reasonably inexpensive handle stock might be.
Click to expand...

I would definitely start out on wood as it's easier to work and more forgiving than some handle materials.
As far as spending at least as much time on the handle as the blade, I've found that most knifemakers master creating blades far sooner than handles.
Some never seem to get it down.
 
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