Let's talk about wood handled traditional folders!

[The Fort]

Up until recently, I've been skeptical about the durability of wooden scales on traditional folders. This skepticism was not based on anything other than my own perceptions. Can you all share your experiences, whether good or bad, about the durability of wooden scales compared to other natural materials like bone and stag. Is there any special care that needs to be taken with wood? Any problems with splitting, chipping, etc.? I really like the looks of them and just need some reassurance that I can throw them in my pocket and use them with no worries. Thanks in advance!

 

[glsj1011]

I've been carrying this one just about everyday for the past year and a half. It's been dropped and used in some less than ideal conditions. It has patina and character marks from use, but it's still going strong. I don't see me wearing this one out anytime soon. Aside from an occasional wipe down with mineral oil, I don't really do anything special to the ebony. GEC 92 talon in ebony

 

[philllll]

I think you're more likely to have chipping issues with bone than wood.

 

[BearBug]

I used to think of wood as ordinary and boring. Lately I have come to really enjoy the character of the grain. I also like the smoothness. Smooth bone only wins in my book because I like the heft. Wood is light weight, warm, and smooth. I have dropped knives with wood covers that have dented some, I think it was the perfect storm of the right angle on a jagged rock at the wrong time. It also appears to darken with use. I'm not sure if it's waxed at the factory or buffed but it seems to take on oils so I don't think they have a urethane coating. I don't like how new tools have urethane on them instead of linseed oil. I enjoy bone but I feel it's brittle. I use stag a lot, and dropped it some. So far very durable. After all bucks duel with these adornments, yes they do break in the field on deer, but I'd have to think that antler is under more stress during a brawl than being dropped from 4-5 feet in our hands. I have seen people use an iron to raise the grain on wood to removed dents from gunstocks, this could probably be applied to knife covers if wanted.

I admit I don't carry this one a lot but it's my go to knife in the house for crafting snacks for the kids.

 

[philllll]

It also appears to darken with use.

A lot of woods will darken with age. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the wood reacting with the air and UV light. The Osage on your madison is a good example, it starts out bright yellow-orange but will darken to a more brownish-orange over time.

 

[Rockon75]

I have this exact knife and carried it for almost 6 months. The handle is fine. The worst abuse it took, was I dropped it from 4 feet off the ground onto asphalt. It hit on the butt end of the bare end (where a bolster would be). Two imprints from the rocks within the asphalt dented the wood a little. I took it in and rubbed that area on newspaper o top of the kitchen counter to smooth it a bit. It's fine. I have no doubt that bone would have chipped.

I've been carrying this one just about everyday for the past year and a half. It's been dropped and used in some less than ideal conditions. It has patina and character marks from use, but it's still going strong. I don't see me wearing this one out anytime soon. Aside from an occasional wipe down with mineral oil, I don't really do anything special to the ebony. GEC 92 talon in ebony

 

[BearBug]

Phil, UV light makes sense. Reckon, I dropped my Yankee jack on a rock and it landed right at a pin insertion site by the pen blade. I agree that this area is probably under stress with the pin as it is. I think if this were bone it would have definitely chipped as well. Having trouble getting a pic to show the dent.

 

[Will Power]

Wood lasts a long while. Ebony and Blackwood are extremely durable and have been used on pocket-knives for 150 years, some of which are still about. So too is Coco. Of course it depends on the wood being properly seasoned and prepared. Here in Finland, a lot of old puukko still retain their birch or birchbark handles and they have seen a lot of outdoor use in adverse(very...) climate.

Wood doesn't like excessive soaking (what natural material does??) nor very dry conditions (ditto stag, bone, ivory and especially horn). A wipe down and the odd wiping with wax or oils -lately I've found the trendy Coconut Oil gives a great sheen! all helps. Leaving knives in the window in summer or in a car in sunlight is not to be recommended, rather obvious why! Otherwise it cracks a lot less than bone especially around slab pins. The only really bad experience I had was with Bocote on a Bark River. Within a year it began to shrink horribly and curl, as I live outside the US I decided the warranty was not going to deal with this (experience from another of their knives..) so I got it rehandled. I advise the OP to pick out a couple of knives he fancies the look of and he will be surprised at the durability of wood, plenty of ships were made of it!

QUEEN CUTLERY TEARDROP LINERLOCK IN ZEBRAWOOD/ D2 STEEL

Thanks, Will

 

[Wowbagger]

I got your wood handled folder right here !



Ha, ha
I am mostly kidding but still had that one in the cut and paste from my last post. don’t knock it ‘till you tried it though.

Bear brand makes a really nice medium stockman with 1095 blades in walnut that I can recommend. They “cheated” though and stabilized the handles with pressurized epoxy or some such. Come to think of it the little Buck in the first photo is stabilized walnut and is thirty years old or so. No probs. Do you mean that kind of wood or do you mean just regular wood like in a cabinet that can breath and take on and release moisture and atmosphere ?

If the latter then I offer up for your consideration what I call my sandwich goop spreader. Just plane wood handles I may have attempted to but a little bee’s wax on it but unless the handle and the wax are heated or the wax diluted with paint thinner that is kind of a feeble attempt at a protective coating.
Anyway
the handles on this knife (not a folder) have been in daily use, abuse and hand washing for thirty years and there are no cracks or problems, not even any looseness. Yah . . . astounds me too. They really knew how to select the wood and make the handles back then. It was probably all of $1.59 at King Sooper’s back then.
and
the maker/people making them have more than likely forgot how to do this good a job
so
the modern $5.99 equivalent will probably fall apart in a couple of years.

 

[Wowbagger]

QUEEN CUTLERY TEARDROP LINERLOCK IN ZEBRAWOOD/ D2 STEEL

Oh my gosh that is such a COOL knife. I am learning to appreciate the old tear drop shape.
Good stuff !

Ebony and black horn are right up there on the list of handle/knives to get soon.

PS: my little Buck above is Rose wood. Now THAT is some tough stuff too as far as not chipping.

 

[afishhunter]

Wood, if properly seasoned (dried) will last as long, if not longer, as any other natural material.

 

[USMCPOP]

Most wood is a little softer, so you will see everyday pocket wear. Bone and horn may be harder, but might chip or break. Or split. My mantra is " Wood is good". And it grows on trees so it's easy to replace.

 

[knarfeng]

If the latter then I offer up for your consideration what I call my sandwich goop spreader. Just plane wood handles I may have attempted to but a little bee’s wax on it but unless the handle and the wax are heated or the wax diluted with paint thinner that is kind of a feeble attempt at a protective coating.
Anyway
the handles on this knife (not a folder) have been in daily use, abuse and hand washing for thirty years and there are no cracks or problems, not even any looseness. Yah . . . astounds me too.

Actually, that's an excellent illustration of the durability of wood handles. I have a 40 year old Forschner (Victorinox) chef's knife with rosewood handle. Said handle has soaked in water, washed with detergent, dinged against other objects. Never given any protective treatments such as oil. Yet the handle is still very nice to the hand.

 

[Ernie1980]

I have several knives from the turn of the century with ebony or mystery wood handles that are in terrific shape! Most of my vintage bone knives have far more wear and damage than the wood ones. Stag seems to hold up very well too, maybe even better than wood.
I prefer wood over any other cover material because of the character of the grain and the feel of it.

 

[supratentorial]

From a manufacturing standpoint it is much easier/cheaper to use wood than jigged bone or stag. And Queen used a lot of wood covers before they closed (and later reopened). Wood handle knives have lower values compared to stag or bone in Levine's Guide to Knives & Their Values. Historically, I think that holds true. That may be changing... somewhat. With increasing interest in knives as pocket jewelry, there's been renewed and increasing interest in more decorative woods....particularly woods with a lot of character (chatoyance, burl, etc).

Different species of wood have different properties. Probably the main problem with wood covers is warping from repeated contact with water during use or cleaning. The color of some species will change over time with use. Some of the more ornate woods need to be stabilized with acrylic and their properties are more like plastic than woods. Some of the old ebony handle knives have survived 100 years or more without cracks or chips.

 

[supratentorial]

Something else came to mind... In addition to benefits of wood covers as an attractive and durable material, it may also have some health benefits. BRL has previously posted a study about the anti-microbial properties of wood which may also be of interest to folks considering wood as a handle material. According to a study that he quoted, dry wood had some anti-microbial properties. But most wood handles are treated, not dry, and the anti-microbial properties are diminished by oil and/wax. So a dry handle or cutting block is healthier. An oiled/waxed handle or cutting board is prettier.

 

[Biggie_Robs]

Many woods are certainly durable, but almost all will darken with age--particularly the more colorful woods. In time they almost all turn brown, some to dark brown bordering on black.

 

[supratentorial]

 

[Modoc ED]

Wood does darken when carried and used in certain environments.

GEC #73 with Osage Orange Wood covers.

New, cleaned, and ready to go.

Same knife after being carried and used quite a bit - covers are darkening nicely.

Same knife with the pile side cover cracked and stabilized with super glue. It happens sometimes.

Now here's a GEC #72 with a ebony covers and a crack at the thong hole.

Despite the above two examples wood covers are durable and long lasting. The two knives above will be around for years to come.

 

[Cory Hess]

This little knife was carried in my pocket every day for over 7 years. This was before I knew anything about knives. It was carried in the same pocket as my keys and Zippos. There is a little dent here and there, but for the most part the color is the only way you'd know that the wood isn't brand new.