Knife handle materials

[coop1957]

Good wood


Stabilized buckeye burl

Stabilized spalted maple burl

Gaboon ebony

Bloodwood (photos are so inadequate for this one. It has chatoyance like I've never seen and I cannot get photos to show it)

Chatoyance
I had to look that one up. Learn something new every day.

 

[bodog]

For me my it is all about compromise.
I like wood and bone but often too slippery. Same with most carbon fiber. I've only have one linen micarta but it gets slippery. Titanium or any metal is OK if it has a texture to it like the Starbenza. For practicality and the least compromise G10 & FRN seem to work best. Just glad we have so many choices.

If the handles aren't done right they absolutely can be slippery. If the handles are done right you can retain a really good grip and that slippery-ness becomes an asset by reducing hot spots. I can work with any of the knives i just posted all day and not feel tired or develop blisters and have no worries of my hand slipping up onto the blade.

 

[Seriousbladeno1]

If the handles aren't done right they absolutely can be slippery. If the handles are done right you can retain a really good grip and that slippery-ness becomes an asset by reducing hot spots. I can work with any of the knives i just posted all day and not feel tired or develop blisters and have no worries of my hand slipping up onto the blade.

Bodog,the wood scales have beautiful rich colours,awesome looking! Third picture from top my favourite

 

[Mikael W]

I have no problem with that,why not?! I personally prefer natural materials,that gives knife beautiful esthetic look and touch of nature,rather than synthetics.Natural materials such as stag horn,buffalo horn,variety of woods,included exotic woods may not be able to compete with synthetic modern materials such as micarta,G10,kraton rubber,when it comes to toughness,durability and longevity,but for me,they give the steel "life" in certain way....and are reminder of old traditions and classic look.They give the knife real class also....

From my own experience I like Indian Rosewood, Stag & Buffalo horn,,,,rubbery Kraton is very practical but appears and gives knife "cheap, cold look" to me.

I have no experience with Micartas or G10 or other synthetics (but it would be interesting to read, where these materials originally comes from,who invented them and what exactly they are made of and how?) They supposed to be very long lasting and one of the toughest...

It would be interesting to know especially topic of woods used in knifemaking for handles.What sort of woods are considered as "ordinary" and what sort of woods are having top notch quality and are possibly most expensive ones and based on what factors ?I have my eye on so called Desert Ironwood, but never experienced this material on handle,maybe somebody can give a hint about this one?

I agree with You and I too prefer natural materials like stag, bone, wood, stacked leather and horn.
I have no problems with micarta, rubber or plastic on working knives, but for fancy knives I want fancy materials.

India Sambar Stag

Mother of Pearls, Desert Ironwood, Rosewood, Cocobolo, Stag, Stacked leather, Buffalo Horn, Ebony and Curly Birch Burl.

Stag, Cocobolo, Mahogany, Stabilized&dyed wood like Box Elder, Maple & Curly Birch + dyed red Bone.

Desert Ironwood is one of the densest & most stable of all woodspecies used for handles.


Regards
Mikael

 

[Seriousbladeno1]

I agree with You and I too prefer natural materials like stag, bone, wood, stacked leather and horn.
I have no problems with micarta, rubber or plastic on working knives, but for fancy knives I want fancy materials.

India Sambar Stag

Mother of Pearls, Desert Ironwood, Rosewood, Cocobolo, Stag, Stacked leather, Buffalo Horn, Ebony and Curly Birch Burl.

Stag, Cocobolo, Mahogany, Stabilized&dyed wood like Box Elder, Maple & Curly Birch + dyed red Bone.

Desert Ironwood is one of the densest & most stable of all woodspecies used for handles.


Regards
Mikael

Mikael - thank you for great input!

Yes,I also wouldn't mind a synthetic on purely "working user blade" but as for "The grail knife" per se,for me perfection is embodied in natural,classic handle material,coupled with leather classic sheath, the overall knife smells and breath by wilderness ,leather scent is something I love too...

When it comes to Desert Ironwood, I tought this will be called "Ironwood" for a good reason, it catches my eye with its unique appearance and it's rich,distinguished colours, some examples may even look like a synthetic mixture if polished well

 

[Mikael W]

When it comes to Desert Ironwood, I tought this will be called "Ironwood" for a good reason, it catches my eye with its unique appearance and it's rich,distinguished colours, some examples may even look like a synthetic mixture if polished well

Yes, DI is a truly great woodspecie!

Regards
Mikael

 

[betzner]

Natural materials preferred, even though many continue to be banned over time. Their beauty is difficult to duplicate, the beauty of nature. Oh, and someone mentioned chatoyancy with respect to woods. Being an effect of light, it sometimes though rarely can be seen in the blade metal - two examples of chatoyancy here, with some exceptionally forged Damascus.

 

[bodog]

Natural materials preferred, even though many continue to be banned over time. Their beauty is difficult to duplicate, the beauty of nature. Oh, and someone mentioned chatoyancy with respect to woods. Being an effect of light, it sometimes though rarely can be seen in the blade metal - two examples of chatoyancy here, with some exceptionally forged Damascus.

Those are truly works of art. Beautiful pieces.

 

[Seriousbladeno1]

Those are truly works of art. Beautiful pieces.

I agree! Breathtaking detailed work and materials! I don't dare to guess price on these....speechless.The scales on the one looks like evening sky on fire

 

[rcb2000]

I own blades with G10, micarta, Res-c, wood, and Spyderco FRN.
For a down and dirty getting up to your elbows in blood and mud,, Res-c.
For a good looking satin blade I use for outdoors, some rough canvas micarta.
Pretty pocket folder, wood.
Hard use folder, G10.

 

[Rapt_up]

Have had, or have knives with wood, horn, G10, Carbon fibre, Titanium, FRN, Aluminum, and micarta. Preferred handle material? Canvas Micarta... I mainly only have working knives.

Natural handles are nice looking, but not so durable typically as composites.

 

[IceCold]

Hi Guys and Gals

I dedicate this thread to discussion about variety of handle materials.

Who prefer what materials on their knives and for what reasons? Is it esthetic,compatibility or durability etc.?

What are the characteristics and pros and cons of variety of materials?

Synthetic vs Natural?

Share all opinions,photographs, knowledge please.

Thank You

Not sure what type of knife you are looking for the majority of this forum favors mid range folding knives, Byt some very high end Fixed blades I have held used StingRay Skin (kinda like leather from a StingRay and thats the grippiest material I have ever touched) And very durable some have held up since Feudal Japan on Japanese Katanas and Samurai swords.

 

[Seriousbladeno1]

Not sure what type of knife you are looking for the majority of this forum favors mid range folding knives, Byt some very high end Fixed blades I have held used StingRay Skin (kinda like leather from a StingRay and thats the grippiest material I have ever touched) And very durable some have held up since Feudal Japan on Japanese Katanas and Samurai swords.

My preference has always been given to large fixed blades,Bowies,Khukuries,ect....I also love and being fascinated by traditional Japanese swords,wakizashi,tanto (these however are completely out of my reach

 

[craytab]

Preferred handle material? Canvas Micarta... I mainly only have working knives.

Just realized in my first post I made a mistake. I prefer Canvas Micarta over all other micartas. You post reminded me. Esee does both and I vastly prefer Canvas. G10 TKC scales are better though....

 

[Easyrider]

I am a big fan of wood and micarta for handle material. It depends on the intended use.

I am into traditional lockback knives so both of those handle materials work quite well for me.

 

[kaizo]

Kirinite and paper micarta for me. I've made a few handles out of kirinite and they tool like wood and they are beautiful. They come in various colours of mock mother of pearl. I would definitely recommend them.

 

[Wilsonhome]

For me it depends a little on the knife. For some of my smaller knives I have come to really prefer canvas micarta, although I have a Toby's knife in mesquite that handles fantastically. I haven't really analyzed my choices but I think it mostly has to do with handle shape & size and probably perceived blade control. For mid and larger knives I have pretty much settled on a mixture of both woods and canvas micarta. For the woods, I like ironwood, bocote, mesquite and a few other hard woods.

 

[Phydeaux]

I really don't have a favorite. Most of my knives have wood, Micarta, CF or G10.

Wood is nice because of the natural variation in species and also the wood itself (growth conditions, part of the tree, and how it is sawn). I have some lignum vitae that was cut to expose the edge grain and not the face grain. When polished, it has a chatoyance much like tiger's eye gem stone.

Ric

 

[bodog]

Am I the only one who thinks this thread doesn't belong in M&T and should be squarely in general knife discussion? It's about knives and their handles, not about maintenance. Odd.

 

[Seriousbladeno1]

Am I the only one who thinks this thread doesn't belong in M&T and should be squarely in general knife discussion? It's about knives and their handles, not about maintenance. Odd.

I agree with you, that's why it was originally based in General (where maybe more guys would write their experiences and opinions) too...but I don't know,since I am no mod.... Some fantastic pictures and input has been posted here anyways through short period