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Jigged Bone vs Stacked Leather, which is more durable?
- Thread starter Mr.Moose
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2001
- Messages
- 26,713
Jigged bone will crack over a long time without expending minor care. (A nice soak in mineral or baby oil a couple of times a year does the trick for me. I try to accomplish the tasks between Spring and Summer and Fall and Winter)
That being said I carry a jigged bone equal end that was made before 1915 now and then. The bone looks and ages great with that minor care and there is not an evident crack.
Stacked leather will provide for a better initial grip (when new), but is more subject to different problems. I have heard of folks who have had nasty troubles with some type of insect or critter that pretty much destroyed them and some chemicals.
If I was trying to choose between the two, the environment that I would be using the knife in most of the time would come into play.
If I was in a damp or chemical environment most of the time, I would choose the bone over the leather (big time). If the environment was more arid, I would choose the leather over the bone (giving the leather a slight edge for gripiness) and make sure to seal it with type of wax or even polish to keep those leather consuming critters out.
Just my thoughts, I am sure there will be others.
That being said I carry a jigged bone equal end that was made before 1915 now and then. The bone looks and ages great with that minor care and there is not an evident crack.
Stacked leather will provide for a better initial grip (when new), but is more subject to different problems. I have heard of folks who have had nasty troubles with some type of insect or critter that pretty much destroyed them and some chemicals.
If I was trying to choose between the two, the environment that I would be using the knife in most of the time would come into play.
If I was in a damp or chemical environment most of the time, I would choose the bone over the leather (big time). If the environment was more arid, I would choose the leather over the bone (giving the leather a slight edge for gripiness) and make sure to seal it with type of wax or even polish to keep those leather consuming critters out.
Just my thoughts, I am sure there will be others.
I'd go with bone, unless it falls on to a hard surface, you don't really see that many bad problems.
The biggest problem with leather is shrinkage. The leather shrinks and the guards and butt-caps loosen, sometimes requiring you to fit a extra washer or two to the handle
. Also, as Gus mentioned, animals love to chew unattended leather handles, and can destroy them sometimes in a matter of minutes.
The biggest problem with leather is shrinkage. The leather shrinks and the guards and butt-caps loosen, sometimes requiring you to fit a extra washer or two to the handle
. Also, as Gus mentioned, animals love to chew unattended leather handles, and can destroy them sometimes in a matter of minutes.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2004
- Messages
- 3,318
I agree with Bob about the shrinkage.
Never knew that about the bone though Bastid - thanks for the tip... (I guess that makes 102 uses for baby oil
)
Never knew that about the bone though Bastid - thanks for the tip... (I guess that makes 102 uses for baby oil
)
- Joined
- Oct 4, 1998
- Messages
- 4,131
Bob brings up a great point that I forgot(in Bastid's post 
)..
I have had more than a few leather handles shrink.
If bone is cured correctly and cared for minimally, it is much more stable over time. (and even if the leather stays stable, bone will age much better than leather.)
)..I have had more than a few leather handles shrink.
If bone is cured correctly and cared for minimally, it is much more stable over time. (and even if the leather stays stable, bone will age much better than leather.)
In my experience, the oil off of your hands is enough to keep a leather handle from shrinking, assuming that you use/handle the knife regularly.
How the leather is tanned seems to affect how well it lasts. My Grand Father's leather handled fixed blade from Sheffield (1930s) is still in good condition.
Here in Australia I'd rather have the leather: 40ºC days, and very high levels of UV, make bone fragile.
How the leather is tanned seems to affect how well it lasts. My Grand Father's leather handled fixed blade from Sheffield (1930s) is still in good condition.
Here in Australia I'd rather have the leather: 40ºC days, and very high levels of UV, make bone fragile.