What do you want on a smaller fixed blade handle?

KYenglish

KYenglish

Joined
Nov 26, 2010
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Hey all,

So we have 5 HK knives coming this month and five next month, we broke the order up because of the cold temperatures, I don't want to see John frozen to his grinder :)

Anyway, was wondering what you all think i should do with them? are two tone wood handles really cool to look at, or getting tired?



Hollow pins or solid, one of each?



Should I break out the micarta I got in the Christmas gift exchange? fat, thin, groves for fingers?



Any ideas? I like to try and keep them all a little different and I'm open to suggestions for things I haven't tried with handles yet. I do prefer to work with wood though and have ordered some buckeye burl, some more bocote, it comes with some wenge and I have walnut, osage (still working off the lot KYturkey gifted me!) and the amendiom from andy.

I'm really looking forward to doing some more pocket muks, the last one came out so well



picture of the wenge and bocote wood!

$_57.JPG
 
I like the two tone handles. I`ve got a large container of wood scraps you can take home with you next Saturday.
 
Looking Good Pete!

I think you do a great job on your knives, the handles are smooth and beautiful.

I like the wood when it is polished up to a shine, and I really like the satin sheen on your pocket muk in the pictures above.

So far it is shaping up to be a nice day in Mokena next weekend!

best

mqqn
 
If it ain't broke…

I think we are all well settled into trusting your judgement. You can't go wrong with different fine woods from one knife to the next. From a practical point of view the mixed wood handles could be problematic if the woods are allowed to dry out - they won't be seamless anymore - though that is an easy fix. They are beautiful and worth caring for - no one should let them dry out.

I really like the look of hollow pins BUT they need to be flush - like with my mahogany HK Pooka. I also like the little solid pins :D.

Did I say - I defer to you Peter.
 
I appreciate the trust :thumbup: I'll keep trying to keep it fresh.

JK, you were the was the first person I saw use two materials in one handle and made me want to try it, I like 'em to

Mqqn, that macadamia did finish up really well, more a product of the wood then myself

RayseM, good point about the two tone wood handles, hadn't thought about it, the wood is thoroughly dry and evenly treated, and I haven't seen what happens to them in the long term enough to know how they maintain. Longest I tested one was 6 months. Hopefully they are all doing well ;) I liked your mahogany wood Pooka as well, another wood I was surprised worked so well. I run a small piece of fine sand paper into the hollow pins, being it over and turning it to try and smooth out the edges on the inside as well, it might be my imagination but I believe it makes them smoother tot he touch. Some one (may have been Outdoorsfan) mentioned in a thread once that the hollow pins would make it easier to lash a knife to a stick as a spear, I always kind of liked that idea.

Other then trying to pick up interesting or nice looking woods online, my judgment has really been putting all the wood down next to each other and deciding what looked nice together :thumbup: I have let wood blanks sitting for a few days making different couples. It's a fun part of the process.

I also save pictures of knives with handles I like and look through them now and again hoping something stick (a lot of the are JK's) :) One thing I've seen and haven't managed yet is a curved joining line between two woods, so far I'm not accurate/patient enough to make a tight fit with curve it seems. Something else is using vertical liners in brass or g10 to separate sections of a knife handle.
 
Very nice looking designs! I really like the two tone wood handles. The grain on that last one is beautiful as well. They all look great!
 
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I've been meaning to do a post on that there necker, it's a very tight little package, definitely one to consider in Johns large array over great smaller knives
 
Oh - and another thing I forgot to mention - I would really like to see some antler handles (not cow bone but antlers).
I think you'd sell these as fast as you could make them. Yes, not wood but kind of works like wood - just a thought.
 
Put me in the camp of those who trust your judgement, having seen your work in the past. I prefer one wood, looks more "traditional" to me. But, whatever you come up with....I'm drooling already! Oh yeah, smooth antler would be awesome too
 
All of the wood you've used has looked fantastic. I am intrigued by and love looking at the two-tone wood scales, but they seem a little "flashy" for me. I do think, however, that a knife like your necker (which I would love to hear more about) with stag scales, kept thin with just enough bark to keep things interesting, would be nearly irresistible.
 
Wasn't me that suggested tying a knife to a pole as I am in the "don't throw your tool" camp. The only time I have ever tied a knife to a pole was to cut something I could not otherwise reach. I have a few JKs with hollow pins but it was more for the look than anything.

As far a your handles go, I think the multi wood ones look cool but would prefer a single wood as I think those are a bit more solid and look great as well.
 
KYenglish said:
I have some antler, i'll look into how to use it.
Click to expand...

I like stag as well!

John won't work with it because of the smell if I remember right.

I mentioned in my review of the XD series that I like the hollow pins because it would allow you to lash the knife to a pole to use as a spear, either defensively OR for hunting as in fish or frogs etc.

You would not have to throw it, I was thinking that is is better to have a 5 foot pole with a sharp pointy thing on the end to fend off animals that you would rather keep at a bit of distance.

best

mqqn
 
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I can't see the "quick response" box, is that just me?

anyway, sorry for mis-naming you sean, although you can thrust and not throw a spear :)

Stag seems like something I should investigate, I have a mask so there is that going for it. I cut some up to make small bases for a bottle opener and a broken camillus once, it does stink. I think you'd have to sand the underside rather the the tops ide or you'd lose the texture, but I'm nto sure...to google!
 
I have to disagree on this spear idea. I would not tie my knife to a pole to either throw or stab. I would just sharpen the pole.

If you stabbed an animal and it took off with your spear/knife stuck in it you could be in for some issues. If it was my first or second blade, it would never become a spear.

I remember the spear points that John made. Those would be a different story as would a blade that was carried/designed specifically as a spear point.
 
Quick reply is not showing for me either. Not so much the smell of stag, more like you can't find it in slabs
 
KYenglish said:
I can't see the "quick response" box, is that just me?

anyway, sorry for mis-naming you sean, although you can thrust and not throw a spear :)

Stag seems like something I should investigate, I have a mask so there is that going for it. I cut some up to make small bases for a bottle opener and a broken camillus once, it does stink. I think you'd have to sand the underside rather the the tops ide or you'd lose the texture, but I'm nto sure...to google!
Click to expand...

I think Mykel M can give you some tips on using antler.
 
I like a hollow pin at the rear so I can put a lanyard on if I want it. Debuting the inside is also a real plus.
 
Have you tried pecan for the handles? I got pecan handles for my Ruger and trying to find anyone who works with it has been near impossible for knives but it looks awesome.pecan handle.jpg
 
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