Whats your favourite guard material?

I agree Joss, freshly polished brass is gorgeous.

Matter of fact, I remember a beautiful bowie and sheath with brass fittings that someone posted here a couple of months ago, that I can't imagine looking better in any other material.
I will try to find the photo.

Though definitely not my first choices, I believe both brass and nickle silver have their places on certain applications.
They clean up so easily with I don't particularly see that as a problem either.

Here's a n/s Fisk sheath that's 11 years old and still looks as good as new. I have not cleaned it up in the 5 years I have owned it.

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I am surprise we see so little silver used on fittings. It certainly increases the cost, but on some of those ambitious pieces, it would completely make sense.
 
I have always liked brass on a knife. I really like the aged mellow look it gets with time. Nickel silver is also a favorite and I have never had much trouble keeping it clean. Copper is one metal that will tarnish and turn green before you know it and it surprises me that people will list it as a favorite guard material, but not brass because it tarnishes. I might use copper as an accent material in combination with other materials but never again by itself.

Much of the guard material choices to me depend on the knife and the uses it will be put to. While I like stainless on a hunter or fighter, I don't care for it on a traditional Bowie with a carbon steel blade. I would much rather use wrought iron, blued steel, or nickel silver.
 
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