Whats your favourite guard material?

I

irbailey

Joined
May 11, 2008
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Last night I posted some knife pictures on here, just to see what people thought, and it seems brass is not a very popular material for guards/fittings. I like it, due to its very traditional look.
This has got me thinking, whats your favourite guard material?
 
I don't have a particular favourite in any abstract sense - it very much depends on the knife. Guard materials in my current collection include stainless steel, damascus, nickel silver and micarta. I am not fond of brass, but like textured bronze and aged copper.

Roger
 
Absolutely -wrought iron. Don't have any at this time, but I'm working on it. ;)
 
Stainless steel, and pattern welded damascus....
leaning more toward the latter.
 
SS, Iron and same steel as the blade, on some knives I do like the look of brass and use it on some of my knives.
 
Pattern welded steel, wrought iron, stainless steel and bronze. On some knives I also really like shibuichi and shakudo. It all depends on the knife.
 
I like mokume, but like damascus it very much depends on the specifics.
 
I haven't used any of my wrought iron yet, so i can't comment on it or damascus. My preferences come not only from what the customers seem to like, but also what is the easiest to work with for geting a good looking guard For me, the materials that do that are 416 stainless polished to the same grit finish as the blade or 1018 either etched, cold blued or both to get either a blue or "French gray" finish. I have some old fashioned rust bluing solution that I want to try on 1018 or wrought and I would also like to take a crack at browning some. From the knifemaker's persepctive, 416 and 1018 just cut, machine and file so much easier and more cleanly than 300 series or nickel silver.
 
IR, while brass may not find much favor around these parts, your knives looked well made and you should be proud of that! if you like brass, then use brass! this hobby should be fun and you should use what you enjoy working with.

heath
 
Thank you all for your thoughts on this matter. It seems I'm in the minority with my fondness for brass!!
Maybe its a Sheffield thing as I come from quaint old England!
Once again, thanks for your comments.
Regards, Ian
 
steel, baby!
 
Bronze,copper,damascus,wrought iron and of course stainless.
Hot blueing or browning always an option, depending on the piece.
The only time I'd want n/s used would be as a spacer with a damascus guard.

Doug
 
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