What are some of the best natural materials to use for knife making?

[needler420]

I have a project that I started with some help from the community.

I completely took apart a rusted up imperial barlow and cleaned it up snapping one of the plastic scales in the process. Well I had a far fetched Idea that wasn't so far fetched once I saw a fellow member of this forum take the exact same imperial barlow I had and refurbished it using natural bone for scales.

I used to work construction framing but I'm no Ron Swanson when it comes to wood crafting.

I don't know what kinds of woods to use or how to treat them. Or any other natural material for that matter. I know international sales of Ivory just recently got banned on ebay in 2008 so apparently there has been a big demand for ivory and from my research is going into bigger demand every day. So I look at that material as a political debate. I would love to be able to legally obtain and use some if I knew its origins. Just like blood diamonds I wouldn't want to give a spouse certain diamonds if I knew there origins.

Obviously the knife I'm working on isn't something you'd want to use Ivory on. I just brought that up because its a natural and sought after material.

I know just grabbing a random stick outside isn't the way to go either.

 

[Morrow]

Moving to MT&E.

 

[Bob W]

I don't know what kinds of woods to use or how to treat them.

Some woods are oily or dense enough that they need no special treatment. Other wood species need stabilizing, and others yet need quite a bit of aging to prevent shrinkage after assembling the knife. Knife suppliers sell wood that are already stabilized, treated, and ready to use.
Cocobolo, ebony, ironwood, oak, olive, and even pine cones and cholla cactus can be used. Practically any wood you can think of.