What is your favorite scales/handle material?

[RJ Talas]

Just came from the Madpoet tribute pages, and saw some great scales I never knew about! What are you fave scales?

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Cutting through all the muck,
we get to what's really important.

John 3:3-7

God Bless You!

 

[stjames]

Cocobolo, Linen and Paper Micarta, Titanium, Apple Coral, Mother of Pearl, Carbon Fiber, Hard Anodized Aluminum, Desert Ironwood.

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James
San Francisco, CA

 

[Tom Carey]

Dark Amber Misquete aka Desert Ironwood.


Regards,

Tom Carey

 

[Gene]

Good post RJ and God Bless you also!
The "King", (in my book), is Sambar Stag. It's tops for looks AND durability. This stuff loves skin oil and just gets better with age and use and hardly ever shrinks or cracks like the old favorite; Ivory. For man-mades, Micarta and/or G-10 are hard to beat. They're both tough as nails and can be made pleasing to the eyes. Most of the exotic woods, (I love 'em all), such as Ebony, Ironwood, Tiger Eye Maple, etc., are wonderful and durable. And lastly, my two favorite natural materials for light duty or show piece scales are Abalone and Black Lip Pearl.

 

[Gene]

How could I forget Amber Stag?

 

[mjjbecker]

Micarta, particularly Ivory micarta. Good staghorn is very nice also, as is quality MOP.
I just obtained a Wostenholm pocket knife today with lovely red bone scales-not something I normally go for.

 

[Chiro75]

RJ, I'm glad you liked the Madpoet page. There are some great woods there, but the pictures barely give them justice! I would value a wood handle over almost any other because it has an inherent character that cannot be duplicated. A nice piece of any kind of wood is just too complex to pass up for a good knife. For synthetics I enjoy using Micarta a lot. Carbon fiber is great to work with, too, and I do like the look on certain knives, but after using it one time I doubt I ever will again due to the danger and annoyance of the dust. Easy stuff to shape, though. Easier than wood or Micartas.

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[anthony cheeseboro]

G10 is my absolute favorite scale material. Zytel is good also. I wish there were more colored G10 kniveslike the Blue Native.

 

[Defender]

On fixed blades Linen Micarta...On a folder its G10.

 

[Corduroy]

I'll use a lot of things but I have to admit (rather lamely) that my personal preference runs to simple black linen Micarta. It takes a great polish, is totally stable, has a nice layered look when contoured, and doesn't crack, chip, or scratch easily. I'm no fan of the inconsistencies of natural materials, though they sure can be pretty. I feel G-10 is a little over-hyped; though a fine material, I think Micarta looks nicer, works easier, and the strength differences are negligible in 90% of its knife applications. Water buffalo horn is probably the prettiest natural material I've worked with, though dreadfully unstable, and Mesquite may be my favorite wood so far.

-Drew

 

[Strider]

No nonsense on a fixed blade Micarta. Depending on the folder anything from bone to G-10.Fancy I will take MOP anyday of the week or Abalone.And for down right tradition STAG.
Bob

 

[Scarman]

With my limited experience I would have to go with: G10, titanium, Carbon fiber, Micarta(love the variety of colors) and some bone.
I have yet to experience Stag, Wood(of any kind) and others, but I do look forward to it.

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"The bible is no mere book, but a living power that conquers all that oppose it"
*Napoleon Bonaparte

Gal 6:7

 

[Steve45]

I like black linen Micarta the best it takes a good beating . But as for fancy stuff mother of pearl does it for me .

S45

 

[misque]

I like G10 for it's impervious nature.

In woods, I like Cocobolo for the beautiful figure and total toughness of the wood & (because I have 20 lbs. of the stuff).
I've also used water buffalo horn, Desert Ironwood and Maple Burl in my knives.
I love the Ironwood, but it seems to be getting pricier by the day.
Oh, yes and how could I forget Brazilian Rosewood? Absolutely wonderful stuff! Beautiful and tough as nails. I've never had a problem with it and it makes lovely handle material.

Man, I just got the overwhelming urge to go out and make a knife...

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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I've always been fond of the Sheeps horn scales that I've seen on knives. Like to get one but have heard that since it is a Hair Horn that the scales can crawl right off the tang. This is in regards to flat slab scales and not the hidden tang of Mr. Fowler fame as I've not heard a bad thing spoken of his handles, only that they truly fit your hand like a glove.

Anyone have a problem with Sheephorn scales on their knives?

Desert Ironwood is also a real favorite of mine as well.

G2

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at least have the decency to be vague. Stephen Wright

www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/7306/blades.html

Gillett PA

 

[Rob104]

I love the beauty of stag and brass together. I keep asking myself why I have all these black G-10 knives when there are much better looking and just as functional scales out there.

 

[Chefget]

Middle cut Sambar stag

-Michael

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Chefget's Knife Page

 

[PhilL]

Stag, it's all I'm buying in 2000, custom mostly. The only exception would be if I can figure a way to get an Ed Fowler "pronghorn."
If I can't it's Stag!

 

[Steve Smart]

Micarta, Sambar Stag and Desert Ironwood.
Steve

 

[Gator]

Hmm . . . Krayton, with a checkered pattern for grip. Any glass-filled nylon, like a G-10, Kevlar, or Zytel is also a good choice, IMHO.

Gator