Russell Green River Buffalo Skinner Handle Scales

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afishhunter

afishhunter

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Thinking of getting the bare blade or a kit.

Which would make the "best looking" period correct (or nearly so) handle, that is NOT Birch or Beech (boring and "everybody and their brother, sister, cousin, aunt ... has one")?

Osage Orange

Walnut

Yellow Long Leaf Pine (a hardwood)

Buffalo Horn

Ivory Micarta

Ironwood

I'll use brass cutler rivets to attach the scales.
 
Osage IMO.
Like a good carbon blade, it ages very nicely, developing a darker 'patina' with use.
 
I agree with mykel, Osage is awesome in how it ages. Only downside is that it can be tough to shape because of how hard it is. But it is definitely worth the effort.
 
Here are two I did a while ago, one stag and the other 1/4 inch leather scales.

Have fun.

Best regards

Robin

 
Pipeman, what kind of leather is that? I had not thought of using leather. It looks very good. Copper cutler rivets on that one?
The stag is also good, but I don't have the tools or time to reshape the tang.
 
Hi Fishhunter
The scales were from an old unfinished piece of heavy harness leather that had been glued up but never sewn.
Two layers of 8 or 10 oz very firm belt leather will work. The copper rivets are burrs for harness joins, a tapered pin with a washer
that you peen, I used the same to join the universal sheath. Cutlers rivets will work just fine. I also epoxied the handle scale down.
If you have a Tandy near by they usually have scraps for sale or you can buy it from one of the big knife makers supply places by the sq ft.

Best regards

Robin
 
Both Osage and ironwood will be hard to shape but look good as they age. Walnut would probably be more to the period. buffalo might look good.

Dave
 
I used walnut on this one.With brass rod for pins and a homegrown recipe to age the blade a hundred years in 20 minutes.
 
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