Opinions on gauche materials

I

itrade

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Jul 3, 2002
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What handle materials do you think are overused or out of style or just plain tacky?


I was going to buy some water buffalo horn jigged like impala. However, I just found the stuff sold in the Atlanta Knife catalog. Listed with all sorts of, less than premium stuff. It might be OK to use, but it got me thinking. I mean for high-end, custom knives there must be certain things to avoid.

My list is:

* Dymond Wood (I still don't mind the stuff, but not on high-end).
* Mircata
* Imastag


My "Might be gauche soon" list is:

* Mosaic pins
* Purple Dyed, Stabilized wood

Steve
 
Dymand wood no way on any knife.
Don't tell RWL about the Micarta. I think it looks great on high end or users (most colors). I'm not familiar with the stag product. Natural purple is okay, as are mosaic pins, although "less is more" sometimes.
 
Anything with a perfect fit and finish sucks! That's right...sucks.The unfinished, primative ,tribal look is all the rage and far more appealing. Anyhoo, That's my story and .Oh and anything tactical sucks too.:D

Mark
 
hehehe

yeah it's a light hearted topic.

RLinger, mosaic's are cool. Folks love 'em. I like 'em too. (Hope you like the ones I sent you.) I wonder tho' if they will become passe (sp?).

I've seen some of dyed woods. Can't say I like the stuff. Folks get real excited, but looks fake to me.

Nobody said anything about water buffalo. Seems like all the knife places carry it, but I've never seen anyone use it.

Steve

PS, I used to dislike the whole bone/ivory thing. But it's growing on me. I'm shopping for some right now. Also looking at getting some oosic for steak knifes. Makes for interesting converstion during dinner parties.

"So you made these? Wow. Say what's this part?"

"Funny you should ask...."
 
There are those of us who strive for a perfect fit and finish. If you think it is tacky you have the right to your opinion. Do not knock another's work because he or she took the time and trouble to make something as close to perfect as they possible could. They do it for the art of it and the pride in doing something right.
 
This is a cool subject Steve..

Buffalo horn has been used for years and holds it's own on the market.I wouldn't want to use the stuff being made into imitation Impala or something like that,But hand carved horn has been used for allot of the old English Bowies..

There is a list of high end and value holding material that I heard once and still go by:

Stag
Ivory
Bone
Pearl (including all natural kinds of pearls)
Horn
Ebony (even though it is a wood)


The list for what won't hold it's value (from what I have heard)
The way I heard it is this stuff is like buying a car,it is worth less as soon as it leaves the show room floor:

All woods
anything synthetic
anything carved from one material to look like another (such as buffalo made to look like Impala,when you could have used Impala in the first place,or bone carved to look like Stag sure they look cool but are not the true material and thus worth less}

These are just the rules of thumb I go by and doesn't mean I don't use them myself on certain kinds of knives or if the customer just really wants it used.

Mark,The primitive look can still have a perfect fit and finish if you want it to have one (just ask the A.B.S.Master Smiths when they are judging you for your stamp;) )Primitive should look rough but not be rough if you know what I mean,Heck I love the Primitive look as well as the classic show stopping pieces..

Just my 2 cents worth .
Bruce
 
I agree with most of what Bruce said with the exception of wood. Just from watching the guys I watch, wood handles are coming around. Massey, Fisk, Primos, Bradshaw, Williams, Fitch, Crowell, (you get the idea) all use wood to varying degrees. While it may not add value as much as stag and such, I do not believe it hurts. Of course, the guys I mentioned here could use chicken bones as handles and they would sell. Good thread, Brett

Wood is GOOD
 
I'm not a fan of the reproduction Old West Bowies made with mosaic pins and oosic, or Sea Cow bone handles and other things that were not available to the knifemaker over a hundred years ago. I've seen water buffalo handles on some Daniel Winkler knives and it looks nice with the lighter streaks going through it.

United Cutlery and Fury ruined lamianted wood for everyone I think. The black stuff still looks okay though, but for high end, probably not.

Looking through my last 3 years worth of knife books, 99% of the knives featured have mosaic pins, I think it's getting overdone. I mean when you have tactical Tantos and survival knives with mosaic pins it's time to slow down a little.
 
Ever hear of sarcasm bud? In case you couldn't figure it out . My sarcasm was meant to show that I have great respect for good fit and finish.

Mark

Nice looking folder on your website.The link doesn't work because of an errant space in the address and no .com at the end. Maybe a little fit and finish work on that would let us see more of your work. Oh and welcome by the way.
 
I've always despised that laminated "colorwood" or whatever it's officially called. Red, green, blue, yellow, and purple are all fine colors but they should not be the same piece of wood. :D

I'm not a big fan of stag handles either. Every stag handled knife I've picked up has been very uncomfortable for me.
 
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