leather slab handles?

[puddlepirate]

I'm looking for a handle material for my first knife. What is the opinion on leather, in lieu of wood or micarta? I appreciate any and all responses.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It can be hard to get attached well, but I have seen sole leather ( shoe bottoms) used for scales on a hunter.

 

[Frank Niro]

They can work on throwing knives. Frank

 

[Faron Moore]

Puddle, customers and friends for whom I've stabilized leather have used it successfully. The last knife with such a handle was 1/4"+ thick hippopotamus hide and the two before were armadillo on one and 10oz leather on the other. Good luck.

 

[puddlepirate]

Thanks for the advice, y'all!! I saw some leather that was made to be a floor tile. They said it was about like a shoe sole. Faron, where'd you get a hold of hippo hide?

 

[Faron Moore]

A customer of mine had an entire hide from a safari he had been on some time ago. If you're interested, I'll ask him if he has spares with which he might be willing to part.