Wood handles?

Razor

Razor

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 8, 1999
Messages
3,990
I have a BR Kephart with Boycote handles. Would you trust these handles on a long backpacking trip? I know, I have seen alot of old butcher knives with wood handles.
 
Your good with wood!!!!!!!!

But test your gear before heading out!!!!!!!! Is it a full tang kephart?
 
I am partial to wood handles. I don't think you will have any problems with bocote (also know as Mexican rosewood). :thumbup:
 
I think the chance of wood breaking is very slim.

However I do think the chance of it getting wet or warping and you getting a few gaps between the scales and the tang is possible.

I have took many wood handled knives backpacking w/o problems though.:thumbup:
 
The 'handle' should not break in general on any quality knife. The scales on the other hand may come loose, experience cracking or chipping depending upon what you do with the knife. If the scales are pinned with what I call 'wire pins' smaller diameter pins then I hesitate to use much force for fear of a pin shearing. The BRKT's for the most part use heavier pins on the scales which should prevent all but the odd damage from occurring to wood scales. As I understand it most wood used on today's knives is 'stabilized' meaning it's been treated to prevent decay/separation for the life of the knife blade it's attached to. Good to go on that size knife..
 
If its up to me a knife should have only wood handles. If for no other reason but how wood feels in the hand.. Cant see how you might have any problems with wood out there..

Sasha
 
Razor said:
I have a BR Kephart with Boycote handles. Would you trust these handles on a long backpacking trip? I know, I have seen alot of old butcher knives with wood handles.
Click to expand...

Wood does not tend to break, it often times gives you plenty of warning. I had a custom euro scandi knife for a very long time with wooden handle the blade failed before the handle gave out. The problems you will encounter with wooden handles are wood tends to swell up if you expose them to water for long periods of times. Wood can be slippery, so gaming animal etc.. you risk of cutting yourself on accident if there no finger stop. If the wood is expose to water for long periods and do swell up, some of the chemicals that have been used to treat the wood may leach out, causing POSSIBLE skin irritation.

I would also like to add if its full tang you be ok if you bring some paracord with you. If the wood starts to show signs of breaking paracord will come in very handy.
 
Last edited:
On some of my wood handled knives I use a clear nail polish. It seals the wood and I've had zero problems.
 
Bocote is a pretty tough tropical hardwood in the rosewood range of density. It should give you many years of service without trouble.

I wouldn't advise putting it through the dishwasher, but most outdoor work short of scuba diving should be perfectly fine.
 
wood has been used for handles since man first use sharpened tools.

Bocote will last a lifetime.

Besides, Bark River will guarantee that knife forever.
 
I use wood a lot, carious kinds. In general you are fine, if the scales are attached well in the first place. Swelling and shrinkage are the biggest worries, and that's easily controllable with the magic of linseed or tung oil :) (Unless the knife has a solid poly or CA finish)

I wouldn't worry a lot about the pins thing. I use 1/8 most of the time, and have used some smaller ones. You have to really beat them down- shearing a 1/16 inch pin is still a lot of effort. Shearing multiple pins and the handle glue all together? That takes some work.

Nothing wrong with fat pins, and I like them, too. But I have had a few people ask if the 3 1/8 inch pins in a given knife are enough and the answer is yes. (Now I'm going to have to do a hammer test, since I don't have a press that will shear a pin.)
 
One thing to remember with Bocote is that it is a lot like Cocobolo, it naturally is an oily wood if you tried to put polyurethane over it the urethane wont dry. I have used a lot of Bocote it is not only beautiful wood it seems to be durable as well. It takes a real nice finish with just hand sanding and buffing or hand polishing. Doug
 
I always preferred wood handles until I started getting hooked on Busse's Micarta patterns....

Wood looks great, FEELS great, and is natural. But if you're going to be worrying about it, get Micarta to ease your mind.



Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
hollowdweller said:
I think the chance of wood breaking is very slim.

However I do think the chance of it getting wet or warping and you getting a few gaps between the scales and the tang is possible.

I have took many wood handled knives backpacking w/o problems though.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I certainly agree.

Possible, but not very likely. Like hollowdweller, I've taken countless wood-handled knives into the wild ... no problems to date.
 
Thanks for all the good advice. Now I want another wood kephart!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top