Suggestions for handle wood

Frank Perricone

Frank Perricone

FRANCO
Joined
Jan 12, 2019
Messages
90
Hi. Have a nice Damascus blank. 4.5" upswept blade. Nice dropped full tang with Lanyard hole. Light color or dark wood? I have a piece of Osage Orange, Macassar Ebony, Kingwood, Bloodwood, Beefwood and couple of others. Love them all. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Wont upload photo. Sorry.
 
I feel like just about any nice wood that is finished well will work for you. I’ve struggled in the past with what kind of wood looks good with a Damascus blade. I think light woods can work, but I probably lean a bit more towards the darker ones. But honestly, it just depends. One reality though seems to always come through-is the handle shaped well and the material finished well. If those are off the mark, the best piece of wood ever just doesn’t look very good. I say pick the one you like best and give it all the care and craftsmanship you can and you won’t go wrong.

Jeremy
 
gudspelr said:
I feel like just about any nice wood that is finished well will work for you. I’ve struggled in the past with what kind of wood looks good with a Damascus blade. I think light woods can work, but I probably lean a bit more towards the darker ones. But honestly, it just depends. One reality though seems to always come through-is the handle shaped well and the material finished well. If those are off the mark, the best piece of wood ever just doesn’t look very good. I say pick the one you like best and give it all the care and craftsmanship you can and you won’t go wrong.

Jeremy
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Thanks Jeremy. Before retirement I was in design. Form, function and color are very important to me. Thanks.
 
scott kozub said:
Doesn't bloodwood fade or turn brown over time? I may be wrong but something to keep in mind.
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Thanks Scott. I'll ask the artisan who gave me a trove of wood. The man who made my violin bow. He has been collecting woods for forty years. Never saw so much exotic wood in one place.
 
This is the guy I buy all my koa from
F0N5VVT.jpg
 
Cushing H. said:
LOL. After reading this, i think you have a problem: too many good options for handles. Proposed solution: get two or more of those damascus blanks and and finish several, using different wood on each
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Yep! Like this blank that much. Bought another and second type from same people. Different wood on each coming up! And thanks!
 
Frank I'd honestly say whatever floats your boat. Light and dark work on damascus in my opinion:

Ironwood:

QOPQt33.jpg


Not wood, camel bone but ya get the idea:

nq2T6YL.jpg


Dyed and stabilized maple:

RIa83Oz.jpg


nrLaW90.jpg


Olive:

tkuP6I2.jpg


A guy can even go cray cray a little and it still works:

UMAftIr.jpg


Zd2hBNf.jpg
 
Horsewright said:
Frank I'd honestly say whatever floats your boat. Light and dark work on damascus in my opinion:

Ironwood:

QOPQt33.jpg


Not wood, camel bone but ya get the idea:

nq2T6YL.jpg


Dyed and stabilized maple:

RIa83Oz.jpg


nrLaW90.jpg


Olive:

tkuP6I2.jpg


A guy can even go cray cray a little and it still works:

UMAftIr.jpg


Zd2hBNf.jpg
Click to expand...
Whew! Catching breath. Nice knives. Nice sheaths. Sorta like when I listen to Leonid Kogan play his violin I sorta wanna not play any more. But the human spirit presses on. Thank goodness! Thanks pal.
 
That Koa is beautiful. These are little Pocket Puukko’s I make as a hobby.
My favorite woods are probably Koa, Box Elder Burl and Desert Ironwood



Koa
 
Keep on keeping on and you'll get there. Try to make the next one a little better than the last one. I still do as I have yet to make the perfect knife or leather project yet. But I'm trying. I'll spend 8 plus hours today in the shop practicing.
 
Of the ones you mentioned, I would favor the kingwood butI am a rosewood fan. They look very good and are easy to work with.
 
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