What do you think of this handle material?

[Horsewright]

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.

I spoke at length with the folks at K and G where I purchased the pine cone scales. First, they stood behind their product and replaced all the pinecone scales with stabilized wood blocks of my choice, so hats off there. They told me they were not making the pinecone scales themselves but reselling. After speaking with their supplier they found out that the pine cones themselves were not stabilized before putting them into the scales. I asked them why they didn't make it themselves since they are the regarded as one of the best at stabilizing. Never did get a reply to that email, been some years now. I don't know if stabilizing the pine cone first would really make a difference or not. I can tell you that having replaced a whole bunch of handles already I'm not gonna be the guy that finds out.

 

[Tom Lewis]

Well, that's good to know about the pinecone scales. Those I used were furnished by the customer. The pine cone scales and also the Juma scales were very easy to work with. Maybe too easy. I don't think either would stand up under hard use.