What are your favorite handle materials on traditional knives?

[T.A.DAVISON]

I did not there were any materials other than ivory, black lip and stag.

My choice was micarta - But I was going say "As a maker I have to use OTHER stuff for those guys like the one above, who are picky about their knife handles"

TA

 

[moonwilson]

I like ebony, stag and jigged bone. But I don't really turn my nose up at anything. I like variety. Yellow delrin, pearl, micarta, acrylic, G10- all are fine with me. I don't discriminate. Build quality is more important than scale material.

 

[2Dead]

Looking at my collection, I don't see a favorite really. I guess I do like the scales to be somewhat uniform but its ok with me regardless of what material its in. I have knives in all the above materials sans elephant ivory and I like them all.

 

[Humppa]

Hi guys!

1. Stag
2. Jigged Bone
3. Others (Like Delrin etc.)

Kind regards
Andi

 

[Morrow]

I'm not sure I have a favorite. I know what I don't like (any type of pearl) and that's what I avoid. Don't hate me Gus.

 

[Will Power]

Stag....and Stag

Old Stag like that would be top of the tree!

I like most of the materials offered but a lot depends on the pattern it's being used on, bone suits some, acrylic others etc.

What I'm not keen on is pearl of any type(many very impressive knives come shod in it for sure) or that sea-snail stuff

 

[Bigfattyt]

I voted for more than one!

I do like the look of nice stag, but also love well jigged bone, and mellow colored paper and linen micarta as well.

Black lip/MOP (both checkered) are also great.

Mammoth ivory is on my list as well.

 

[Modoc ED]

I like jigged bone the best but I also like delrin; therefore, I voted jigged bone and since delrin wasn't on the list I voted "other" too.

 

[Railsplitter]

I voted for Micarta but I like them all except Celluloid. My second choice is Ebony Wood.

 

[oldrifleman]

For me it is always been Stag followed by Ivory (in all of it's forms). Steven

 

[thejamppa]

Ebony, Jigged bone, elk and stag are my fave's. Although I've recently been introduced materials: buffalo horn, brazilian cherry, wenge wood and coconut palm...

 

[dannyp]

I couldn't pick just one favorite.........so I didn't. Knives hafted in ebony simply have a timeless, classic look to them regardless of when they were made. On the other end of the spectrum, stag and mammoth can be absolutely mesmerizing when done properly with high quality materials. The great thing about bone is the variety of colors and textures that can be applied to the scales.

When it comes down to it, I guess I like a little bit of everything for one reason or another. They each have their pros and cons.

 

[Bastid]

I couldn't pick just one favorite.........so I didn't. Knives hafted in ebony simply have a timeless, classic look to them regardless of when they were made. On the other end of the spectrum, stag and mammoth can be absolutely mesmerizing when done properly with high quality materials. The great thing about bone is the variety of colors and textures that can be applied to the scales.

When it comes down to it, I guess I like a little bit of everything for one reason or another. They each have their pros and cons.

Great answer!

 

[Peter Parker]

1. Stag
2. Jigged Bone
3. micarta

 

[Daniel Dorn]

Jigged Bone, for the reasons stated in dannyp's post: Variety and durability
Stag: same as bone
Other: Pearl. Although delicate, it is just too beautiful to ignore.

If not for price, I'd pick mammoth ivory almost every time, but have yet to afford one.

 

[black mamba]

Like Daniel Dorn, I too have a favorite that I didn't vote for, as I don't own any due to expense. But the prettiest slipjoint I ever saw was one in black lip pearl by T.R. Overeynder of Arlington, TX which I saw at BLADE this year. At over $2200, all I could do was gawk, ooh and aah!

 

[Peruna1998]

What, no horn?

1. Buffalo Horn (other)
2. Elk
3. Ebony
4. Acrylic (love those crazy colors)

 

[dannyp]

Great answer!

Thanks, Gus. I'm just glad Jake made it a multi-choice poll.:thumbup:


I guess nobody around here likes metal handles. Where's all the Douk Douk, Mercator, Demo knife, and Higonokami fans at?

 

[TLARbb]

Delrin is a great material for knife scales, but it lacks the personality of most of the other materials listed. I just got a white delrin stockman. Scales are "hot' jigged and it looks and feels good. It's very unlikely that I would have a custom built with delrin scales, but it is a good material for those classic patterns that Case and others put it on. - Ed J

 

[combatjiujitsu]

STAG! Then Bone