What are your top 5 favorite handle materials

[supratentorial]

You can choose only 5 or fewer. What are they? What are your opinions on the different materials?

 

[Jack Black]

I chose Ebony, Stag, Buffalo Horn, and bone, but I also like ivory/mammoth ivory

 

[Old Engineer]

I chose Stag , Elk , and other , with other being Rams Horn

 

[black mamba]

My five are pretty much in reverse order of the way you have them listed in the poll.

My other 1st choice is ram's horn, preferably the gnarly exterior stuff. This Cuban is about AGAIG.

2nd choice is elk stag. Again, GEC have done it better than anyone else.

3rd choice is stag, either burnt, genuine or red stag. Another favorite GEC.

4th is bone, and more specifically jigged bone. Here is a prime example from Frank Buster's Fight'n Rooster.

5th choice is Cocobolo, or really any nicely colored and figured wood.

 

[afishhunter]

Of the ones I actually own, Delrin, Bone, various "synthetic" (sorry, they are not more specific) Walnut, Maple, Beech(?) and the ebony(?) plywood that Buck uses.
I've always liked the Rams Horn, Buffalo Horn, Impalla, and stag, and pretty much any wood.
I also like stacked leather handles on my fixed blades, though I don't have one with that at the moment.
I might be strange, but I also like the plain stainless steel used on the "Demo" knife, Marbles "Fish Knife" and the brass and copper handled Mercator's, although I've never owned one of the latter.

 

[MCar]

When stag is good, it's AMAZING. When it's mediocre, it kinda sucks.

Bone is probably my favorite. Jigged or smooth.

 

[AShearer]

Stag unless it's just sucky stag
Horn
Woods include ebony, and exotic woods like box elder, etc.

 

[ackeith4570]

Elk and any wood that is not ebony, cocobolo, or bocote.

 

[Sabercat]

I only chose my top three, and even with those I'm a bit picky:

1. Bone (Jigged is tops, sawcut is cool, smooth is okay).
2. Elk (mostly familiar with GECs, haven't seen any I don't like)
3. Micarta (mostly canvas. The more texture the better)

I do think some stag is gorgeous, but I hate the fat handles that often accompanies it. I don't like acrylic much, though some types are beautiful (talking to you Neptune Acrylic).

 

[SVTFreak]

1) ivory
2) mammoth
3) amber dyed stag but I am very particular about its thickness and jigging
4) properly jigged bone, picky again
5) pearl and abalone but, ironically, I don't own any of these.

For a serious user, g10 would replace 1 and 2.

 

[SVTFreak]

My five are pretty much in reverse order of the way you have them listed in the poll.

My other 1st choice is ram's horn, preferably the gnarly exterior stuff. This Cuban is about AGAIG.

2nd choice is elk stag. Again, GEC have done it better than anyone else.

3rd choice is stag, either burnt, genuine or red stag. Another favorite GEC.

4th is bone, and more specifically jigged bone. Here is a prime example from Frank Buster's Fight'n Rooster.

5th choice is Cocobolo, or really any nicely colored and figured wood.

Aside, BM, you ever wanna part with that jigged bone lockback northfield, I want a shot! Beautiful.

 

[nyrico]

I voted for Micarta, Bone, Ebony, and Buffalo Horn for traditionals, I do like carbon fiber as well. I would like to see more knives with nice black feathered buffalo horn.

 

[Titan]

I chose bone, stag, elk, buffalo and micarta. I'm just old skul, methinks (except for micarta)

 

[Rupestris]

Pearl for my "Other".

I only have a couple but it always grabs my attention when I see one in pearl when out and about.

 

[Ernie1980]

I would like to add pearl and ivory for other! Stag, cocobolo, and micarta round out my favorites from the available choices. Why did you go with specific types of wood? There are so many others that I really like also...
Neat idea for a poll!!

 

[Zombie411]

Buffalo horn times 5.
I don't like any other material for longevity, looks, or natural beauty.

Too bad the Horn has to be harvested.
Humans are such animals... (me)

 

[knarfeng]

I grew up using Delrin handled pocket knives. I still like them. They don't crack, shrink or curl up.
These days I'm also partial to Bone, Elk, bog oak, and ebony. Listed in random order.

 

[Jody744]

Ebony, stag, acrylic(especially the glow in the dark)
2 for other, mammoth ivory, and carbon fiber(thanks to Mike)

Edit to add: I like stag that is pretty gnarly.

 

[joeradza]

Stag/Elk far and away #1, I like most everything else but they are secondary.

 

[Peregrin]

Stag is number one by far. I also like ebony, jigged bone, mammoth ivory and micarta about equally.