Looking for handle material that won't shrink in the desert

B

bradley hooper

Joined
Sep 14, 2004
Messages
61
I am a novice knifemaker from Booneville MS. My brother is going to Iraq in January and I am sending a small Bowie with him. I have been talking with Bruce Evans and I need to come up with something that can be used fairly easily and that won't shrink in the harsh daily heat and frigid cold by night. Any suggestions?
 
I'm not a maker and am just throwing some ideas out.

Micarta (shouldn't shrink), Ironwood (maybe), or maybe diamondwood (laminate that Anza uses).

Good luck to you in your project and to your bro!
 
If it has to be a natural material(wood), then I would say Mesquite. It lives in areas that are freezing in winter, and scorching in summer, and oftentimes both in the same 24 hour period.

Ironwood won't grow above 2500' altitude, and prefers the same climate that citrus trees do.:eek:

If the material can be anything, I'd say Micarta also. It's pretty much impervious to anything.
 
Thanks guys, I'll through your ideas around and see what I can come up with. I'll post the finished product so you can see what I came up with! :)

Thanks again for all of your responses!
 
Carbon fiber would work well, too. What about stabilized woods? Aren't they as stable as plastics/laminates, or am I mistaken? Titanium (slap a big ol' brick of Ti on that sucker and shape it like any other handle! :D )
 
Personally I would go with Mesquite. The synthetic materials and stabilized woods would all work, but I prefer natural materials and use mostly desert hardwoods, horn and antler. Of the hardwoods, I think Mesquite is the most stable and one of the best looking.

I haven't had antler crack on me here in an arid climate. I do use elk and mule deer antler from the area.
 
If you go with Micarta just finish it to 220 grit. You may try 120 then get some buffing compound on blue jean material and go at it with that. Hopefully some of the other guys will chime in if what I told you isnt correct.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top