What kind of wood do you like for your High End Knives?

Ironwood
Afzelia Burl
Maidou Burl
African Blackwood
Black Ash Burl
Box Elder Burl
Macassor Ebony
Tasmanian Eucalyptus Burl
Many different flavors of walnut
Ziricote
Redwood burl


I've used all these woods on what I consider high end knives in the $1,000+ range.

I'm sure there are others, but these are off the top of my head. :)
 
There is not a simple answer since each piece of burl has its own character and appeal.

The woods from Australia are some of my favorites; red mallee and hairy oak are two exceptional ones.

As to wood found here in the US I like redwoods and dyed box elder.
Box elder is my first choice when it is dyed properly. It looks and finishes like marble.

Fred
 
Larry D. Davis said:
I think high end custom knife makers fall into the same market trap hand made acoustic guitar builders fall in. They don't often get to use the wood or other materials they want, but must make what the market expects and the customer will purchase. There is certainly more acceptability in the knife market than the traditions long lived in the instrument craft.
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That's very true. I find that when I make handles in, say, tulipwood, I will get several more orders for the same material within a month or so. The demand will soon die off and a new wood will take its place.

At least knifemakers don't have to deal with a wood like Brazilian rosewood. It seems that that is all guitar players ever want in a high-end instrument. It must be annoying for a luthier to have to work with this rare and expensive material when there are so many other options available.

Phillip

P.S. When I say ebony, I usually mean the black stuff. If it's one of the colorful varieties, I always specify it. And yes, some of those are very nice looking in knife handles.
 
Well I am by no means a top end knife maker even though ive bought 3g worth of wood in the past year. It doesnt take much when you buy top end stuff. I will have to say Ambonia ,suriname snakewood and waterfall bubbinga and ambrosia would be great for any top end knife. I just did a paring knife in snakewood and it was hard as a rock and buffed out really nice . I made it for my wife for xmas. IPE is really nice stuff too.
 
I'm a huge fan of pink ivory and snakewood. I saw a knife posted yesterday that contrasted the pink ivory with blackwood - now that really made both woods pop - a beautiful combination.
 
I am more of a newbie than a high end maker, but I love black ash burl and redwood burl. I also like to use ebony, ussually with another wood.
 
Larry D. Davis said:
I have both in either regular or stabilized.
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Hey Larry,
Whenever anyone asks me for exotics (imported woods) I refer them to you. Maybe you could post some photos of the really cool stuff you have stashed. IE: thuya & amboyna burl to mention a couple.
 
Larry D. Davis said:
I have both in either regular or stabilized.
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I really need to get to your warehouse sometime soon. Hopefully this spring.

Right now I feel like a slave to Gilmer and (more recently) Mark. They've both been great to me, but I'd like to expand my options. I could use another way of satisfying my addiction. :)

Phillip
 
Burl Source said:
One knifemaker recently took his Journeyman test with the ABS and was told that curly maple was too plain. I believe there were other issues as well but the comment about the curly maple caught my ear. I had always thought it was a classic handle wood, but what do I know.
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I'm not exactly a master maker, but I have always thought that maple made a better handle for heavy users or EDC than show knives. Don't get me wrong, it can be very well done, and there are a few birdseye maple knives that have looked absolutely stunning, but I've always used it just because its rock hard.

As for favorite woods for show knives, amboyna burl and silvervine are my two favorite.
 
delbert ealy said:
Mark,
The best wood you can exibit is the one you use as your avatar.
Del
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Here are a few variations cut from the same buckeye burl.
4a-10.jpg

2a-12.jpg

6a-7.jpg
 
bbarnettAUS said:
Gday Larry,
Have been to your site and had a look but can only see 1 ebony block and 1 set of scales. Have i missed a link somewhere????
Cheers Bruce
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Gday m8, I don't keep the website up as it would never end. Just send me an email and let me know whats needed and we can sort it out..cheers...Larry
 
Larry,
Every so often I get people asking me for silver vine. You are the only person I ever heard of having it. I've seen photos, but what is it?
 
I bought some Thuya Burl and Teak Burl from Larry, I have to admit probably those will became my favorites. The smell of thuya is also very pleasing to work with, though I make not so high end knives (max 400)...

Emre
 
Burl Source said:
Larry,
Every so often I get people asking me for silver vine. You are the only person I ever heard of having it. I've seen photos, but what is it?
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It is an exclusive with me. Many years ago on a trek thru South America buying rosewood logs, I saw a piece of vine and brought it back. It was two years before I could get more of it and the locals had no name for it. I coined the name "Silver Vine" due to it's colors. My jungle contact has disappeared..maybe eaten by a snake :eek:...and I've been sold out except for folder size scales for some time. A.G. and Goldie Russell bought me out, but don't yet have enough for a production run. They are first on the list when I get re-stocked.
 
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