What do you think of this handle material?

Tom Lewis

Tom Lewis

Joined
Feb 24, 2000
Messages
1,924
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This handle material came from Jantz. What do you think?
 
Top and bottom look pretty cool, the obvious snake skin pattern but I really like how it is irregular, almost like it is moving, and it seems to have some depth.

The pine cone in resin just never did anything for me.
 
I like all three, but a little more partial to the pine cone.
 
My Wife said the pine cone one looked like a centipede. I wondered how guys would like the bright colors. I think Women go for bright handle material more than the guys.
 
Looks like a mermaid and a gold fish. Pine cone is interesting.
 
Those acrylic molded materials look great, but get dull or chipped if used. They look stunning on shelf Queens, though.
 
Yeah I had a lot of problems with the pine cones lifting out of the resin. I won't use it anymore and had to replace quite a few handles for customers: My wife was one of the last holdouts but final she let me replace hers too:

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I'd used it quite a bit:

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I do use the mineral stuff but won't for a whole handle. I had that crack too and replaced several handles. However as a spacer I've had no problems and I can't make em fast enough:

Jasper:

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Turquoise:

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I did have one knife returned some Christmas's ago as the wife had bought a knife for her husband with a very bright blue bone handle. He exchanged it for something else. The turquoise ones go bout half and half male and female. Particularly popular if the sheath is stitched in matching thread:

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Thanks, horsewright, I always enjoy seeing pictures of your work. The turquoise thread is a nice touch. Where do you get the thread?
 
I've done a few pine cone handles as well stabilized in cactus juice and then resin and had similar experiences as horsewright. They didn't lift that bad but it doesn't take long before you start feeling them.
 
Dave pinecone scales were on my list of things I want to try, THANKS for saving me the headaches
 
Hmm I always like the look of juma, but no use to me if it isn't made for actual use.
 
I stabilized my pine cone in epoxy resin before pouring the epoxy, I am really interested if it will also want to move once used.
 
I understand we all strive to find new materials and new looks but I have always thought they look gaudy and don't trust their long term integrity.

Tried and proven micarta, carbon fiber, or G10 are the only synthetic materials I feel comfortable with.
 
i agree with mr del raso. i wonder if the pine cones were too dry and expanded when acclimated, or if the acrylic shrunk from outgassing or some other reason? maybe if the cones were vacuum stabilized with cactus juice they would stay the same size? i would also like to send out a warning about my experience with shadetree burlap micarta. it looks great, but i made a knife and it sat on the shelf for a few months and when i picked it up, i could feel the handle bolts, edge of the guard, tong tube and tang easily with my fingernail. the scales had shrunk.
 
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