Scale choice in a working knife - natural materials only

S

Sid Post

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Oct 14, 1998
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In a working slip joint, let's say something in a trapper or similar pattern that won't be babied, what scale material would you choose and why? I'm looking to the EU or now UK options to bound things a little geographically.

A lot of people like Stag but, don't new stag options suffer some inferiority over the previous generations of Sambar Stag from India? How does domestic European stag hold up in hard use? Then there are various horn options with Buffalo seemingly most plentiful and available. Finally, we have the woods with what I believe translates to Rosewood with Olive having a big presence as well.

So, loose in a pocket with change and car keys, used in an outdoor setting where it may be dirty or oily or, similar real-world 'working' conditions, which scale material holds up best while still providing good grip when covered in whatever your 'work' involves?

Lastly is cost, as sometimes I see the same knife on multiple vendors sights where Rosewood may be cheapest or most expensive. Same with Stag with some options being a good bit cheaper than wood on some web-sales sights. Exotic or Semi-exotic woods like Snakewood I can see being more spendy but, Rosewood? And, Olivewood; does it come in different grades explaining the price disparities frame the same maker and same knife model on different websites? Or, is this really just marketing from different vendors to move slow moving product and cycle inventory?

TIA,
Sid
 
I agree with hornet guy on the ebony or Africa Blackwood. Always seems to hold up well! And just looks classy. I don’t think you mentioned bone? Is that not an option on the knives your looking at or not a preference of yours? I think bone holds up quite well! Depending on the jigging it can be quite grippy!
KMKs9Qg.jpg
2 years in the pocket with bills coins the occasional key. Color has faded and jigging has smoothed a bit but no chips and no cracks!
 
I’d go straight with good old fashioned jigged bone. Holds up well, won’t hurt your heart if it gets a stain or crack and ages well, imho. When I was talking to Todd Davison about it natural materials for a user, that was his recommendation.
 
The above knife is , I believe , a GEC Northfield 78 . I believe it to be a Heck of a Knife and the type of jigging seen on it has pretty good gripping capabilities . I have one and I like it a lot but I have not carried mine nearly as much as Anothername Anothername has it looks like it wears a little fasted than I figured it would . I bought this Ulster knife in 1961 and retired it in 2001 or 2003 and I carried it every day . It has Jigged Bone handles . I will agree that I am not as tough on a knife as many people are .

The other knife in the photo is an old Taylors Eye Witness with Jigged Bone with Worm Tracks . It most likely over 100 years old and appears to have been lightly used but I can tell you has been a Great Work Knife for me . I am a retired engineer who likes to stay busy but I am certainly not as tough on a knife as many people are . The grip that I can get on that knife is pretty darn good . Deep Jigging on Bone provides a good enough grip for me .
Edited after seeing SVTFreak SVTFreak 's post : wholeheartedly agree with him and Todd
Harry
 
Old Engineer Old Engineer I was thinking that the other day too but I like to use it as a “worry Stone” I’m always rubbing or spinning it between my thumb and pointer finger!:rolleyes::eek: I’m assuming that’s why? Jigged with worm grooves also look quite grippy! Probably more so than the checkered on the 78!
 
How fancy do you want your working knife?

IMHO, Stag is fancy. (and in many or most cases, extra cost)

Wood has been used since the first time someone put a handle on their knife, who knows how many eons ago. Bone no doubt followed soon after.

Don't discount the synthetics. Delrin, for example, is very tough and long lasting. G10, Micarta, Acrylics, (not Celluloid though) will all outlast you.
They also give a good grip, and are immune to most oils and solvents, and do not absorb moisture and swell, or lose moisture and shrink.

Most of my working knives; Stockman, Trapper, Moose, Barlow, Canoe, etc., have synthetic handles, simply because that is what is most common.

If given a preference, I'll take wood over bone, because it is easier to care for. Antler and horn ... I only have one. I've heard there are bugs (and maybe itty bitty worms) that enjoy dining on antler and horn. I'd just as soon not feed them. :)

As for bone, I have a couple, both smooth and jigged. I can't say I've got a preference for one over the other.

Oh, of the natural materials I have experience with, wood seems to feel warmer in the cold than bone or the synthetics.

NOTE: Few of my wood handles use a treated wood. Those infused with plastic or epoxy may feel just as cold as an acrylic or g10 handle does.

Any (except genuine Celluloid) will last a long time, and probably won't break or shatter if you drop it from waist height on a hard surface. :)
 
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Anothername said:
Old Engineer Old Engineer I was thinking that the other day too but I like to use it as a “worry Stone” I’m always rubbing or spinning it between my thumb and pointer finger!:rolleyes::eek: I’m assuming that’s why? Jigged with worm grooves also look quite grippy! Probably more so than the checkered on the 78!
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Yes , the Jigged with Worm Grooves does have more grip than the 78 jigged bone . I also have another old Taylor Eye Witness and this is both of them .
They both are great grips .

A comparison of the 78 and some 38 and both are good

Just look at the beautiful jigging on these old WWII Vintage jigged bones :
Imperial , Camillus , and Pal Easy Open Jacks .

But some of the best grip is found on some of the Stag which is much more expensive and with brass liners you will end up with ugly green Verdigris .



Some of the GEC's with the Grizzly Cut Bone had excellent grip capabilities . I gifted the 74 that I had with it .

Harry
 
black mamba said:
I think it's awfully hard to beat bark ram's horn for a working handle. It has natural texture which makes it nice and grippy, and is very tough, resisting dents and dings. It also can look quite spectacular!

JG2TGg6.jpg
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I totally agree with you Jeff and I might add that I have read that it is among the Toughest that there is.

Harry
 
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hornetguy said:
Does ebony or African blackwood count? If so, one of those would be my choice. Very dense, hard wood, but still warm to the touch. And, they "age" well.
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I've seen some Ebony priced less than 'cheap' Rosewood. A dense hardwood is where I was inclined to go but, my foreign language skills are a bit rough so I had some concern with the price disparities. A little texture for sweaty or oily hands is really all I need besides general durability and a lack of outright ugliness.
 
afishhunter said:
How fancy do you want your working knife?

IMHO, Stag is fancy. (and in many or most cases, extra cost)
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I'm not looking for 'fancy'. I'm not out to impress anyone with looks, myself included. This is a tool but, I do appreciate 'elegance' in a tool. ;)

afishhunter said:
Don't discount the synthetics. Delrin, for example, is very tough and long lasting. G10, Micarta, Acrylics, (not Celluloid though) will all outlast you.
They also give a good grip, and are immune to most oils and solvents, and do not absorb moisture and swell, or lose moisture and shrink.

Most of my working knives; Stockman, Trapper, Moose, Barlow, Canoe, etc., have synthetic handles, simply because that is what is most common.
Click to expand...

G10 I run 'hot and cold' on depending on the specific item and the scale finish. I do generally prefer Micarta if that's an option. In the European slip-joint knives I'm looking at, those aren't options. The other slick colorful synthetics don't generally appeal to me now because they don't seem to last in my pocket or in my uses. Plus they seem a bit 'slick' most of the time which isn't too dangerous with a dull blade but, on a freshly sharpened one is something I want to avoid.

afishhunter said:
If given a preference, I'll take wood over bone, because it is easier to care for. Antler and horn ... I only have one. I've heard there are bugs (and maybe itty bitty worms) that enjoy dining on antler and horn. I'd just as soon not feed them. :)

As for bone, I have a couple, both smooth and jigged. I can't say I've got a preference for one over the other.
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The only bone scaled knives I have used were 'polished', almost glass-like which is a non-starter for me and this type of knife. The jigged versions are intriguing though.

In terms of pests consuming my knife with natural scales, not a concern just as termites aren't a concern for wooden scales ON MY KNIVES!

afishhunter said:
Oh, of the natural materials I have experience with, wood seems to feel warmer in the cold than bone or the synthetics.

NOTE: Few of my wood handles use a treated wood. Those infused with plastic or epoxy may feel just as cold as an acrylic or g10 handle does.

Any (except genuine Celluloid) will last a long time, and probably won't break or shatter if you drop it from waist height on a hard surface. :)
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Epoxy infused woods to me might as well be Micarta except on fancy gentleman's knives. They sure look nice but on a working knife, I'll take Micarta if it is an option. Natural woods are attractive to me in a functional way and, some of them are gorgeous too!

Thankfully, use in cold environments or with cold hands is not really a practical factor however, wood and other natural materials have a soul to them which I prefer over common cheap synthetics.
 
Frailer said:
I *love* snakewood. In addition to being beautiful, it’s also very dense and hard, so it will hold up well if you carry it in a pocket with other items.
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Very pretty but, also VERY expensive in the knives I have looked at. Expensive in the double or more premium type expensive. I'm not paying $150 for a working knife that is $50 with a more pedestrian wood. In a classy go to Church type of knife, it is certainly an option though I'm more apt to go with nicely figured Ironwood. :)
 
PirateSeulb said:
Would micarta(linen or canvas) be considered. I would say that micarta is number one for me but if not considered natural then it would be some type of wood for me.
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I don't see European slip-joints, at least in my patterns and price ranges in Micarta. If I did, I'd already own them! :)
 
Old Engineer said:
But some of the best grip is found on some of the Stag which is much more expensive and with brass liners you will end up with ugly green Verdigris .
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Those Taylor Eye Witness (TEW) models are very nice.

And, great comment on the Verdigris. With as sweaty as my jeans get in the Spring and Summer, that's a concern I totally overlooked! Thanks! :thumbsup:
 
black mamba said:
I think it's awfully hard to beat bark ram's horn for a working handle. It has natural texture which makes it nice and grippy, and is very tough, resisting dents and dings. It also can look quite spectacular!
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If I see a Ram's Horn model similar to yours I'll bite! You sure have an awesome collection of slip-joints. Thanks for posting more drool worthy photos of your knives!

Old Engineer said:
I totally agree with you Jeff and I might add that I have read that it is among the Toughest that there is.

Harry
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