Holly, or White Wood ,Traditional Knives

KBA

KBA

Joined
Apr 27, 2014
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So I have been reading threads on holly and was curious if any of you guys have any traditional knives with this wood? A solid white wood, or close to it, would be interesting to see, imo. I thought about putting this in Will's white heat thread but wanted others to chime in. Maybe we can move it there if a few people post.

Here is one thread to get anyone who is interested started.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/799979-Whats-the-Whitest-White-wood-out-there

Any links would be appreciated.
 
I'll bet there aren't that many out there. If there's a sealer or finish that doesn't turn white wood yellow, I'd like to know what it is.
 
I remember years ago in my carpentry days, somebody made a sealer that was advertised as non-yellowing. I have no idea if it actually didn't turn yellow, though.
 
I found this post in the thread I linked interesting.

Larry D. Davis said:
American holly from Arkansas and Texas is the commercial wood cut and sold here. It's harvested in the winter cooler months and kiln dried immediately to preserve the white color. Air dried holly will generally stain to some shade of gray thru and thru. Natural holly will not change color other than normal photo-degradation one might expect with wood surfaces. Much holly is used for intarsia and guitar bindings and holds it's whiteness well.

Acrylic infused (stabilized) holly color is very much dependant on the processor you choose. Professional impregnation resins are expensive and we all re-use them so your holly might end up being processed with a batch of dark wood and/or processed with pre used resin that is darker due to extractives leaching into it. It can come back looking like dark amber maple instead of the antique ivory we want from it. When I process holly I use only new pristine resins on it to preserve the color and as the resin is re-used I process darker woods and on down the line to ebony and African blackwood and adding dark dyes. I just built a jigging tool and the jigged holly looks great IMO.

DISCLAIMER: I do not do any custom stabilizing, but only my own materials.
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I personally don't mind if it ages and turns, as long as it starts out ivory white. I have seen pics of other things with holly, just not many knives. I am on a custom knife maker's list and am really considering this wood. I think Im still a year out so we'll see.
 
clear paste wax like Renaissance or Butchers will seal Holly up real nice without yellowing. I usually heat some up for the first coat to get it into the wood a little then buff on a few more coats. Never used it on a knife, but have made some tools out of it.

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Shipwright - Those are gorgeous! Well done on the boat as well. Thank you for posting the info and pics. :thumbup:
 
Shipwright, thanks for the info, you do fantastic work, and now I need a holly-handled knife.
 
Shipwright should be able to elaborate, but I believe holly is the preferred laminating wood used on the wheels for sailboats. It provides the contrast.
 
Really nice work Shipwright, and very cool pics :thumbup:
 
That is some stunning woodwork! I never thought of holly as a handle material, even though it grows wild and in landscapes around here.
 
I have a nice white piece that I bought some time ago. It seems with handling it would darken? I always thought I would get it stabilized??? Any thoughts on where?
 
blades&grace said:
I have a nice white piece that I bought some time ago. It seems with handling it would darken? I always thought I would get it stabilized??? Any thoughts on where?
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This tread was posted earlier in the year. They recommend K and G (Im not sure who that is). I bet some of the guys who posted could help you out.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1260852-Best-stabilized-wood-source

We may have to move this thread over to the knife makers area if no one has any to post.
 
thanks everyone, i got quite a bit of material from a friend who cut down an unusually large holly tree. It is often used as accents in ships wheels, and also strips between teak planks for soles and decks on powerboats. It seemed very similar structure to Beech or Cherry, which made me think to would be good for planes as well, and they have held up well. They do darken with handling, but so does any light wood. I think a clear polyurethane would do a good job if you preferred a built-up finish.
 
I haven't seen it on knife covers, but there was a fellow making custom revolver grips for Ruger single actions using among other woods, American Holly. They look very sharp on a blued gun. Think is trade name was CaryC or something like that.
I think holly covers would look great on some GEC knives (hint, hint) particularly once some patina develops on the blade.
 
Shipwright,
Awesome ! Thanks for showing them. :thumbup:
I think American Holly would make a great knife handle.
Mark
 
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