Wood or Bone

Quy4n8 · May 7, 2004

What do you think makes a more durable natural handle for a pocket knife; wood or bone and why?

Architect · May 7, 2004

IMO, textured bone (picked or jigged or grooved or whatever) shows less incidental wear than polished wood - although many woods are pretty resistant to denting and scratching.

As for "field use" like a hunting knife, all of my out-of-doors knives have either metal or synthetic handles.

Sword and Shield · May 7, 2004

Bone, without question. Wood rots, dries out, chips, and other un-nice stuff should it be damaged. Bone lasts nearly forever. Stag's even better, as it offers a better grip than even the best jigged bone.

FK · May 7, 2004

Many older slipjoints have cracked bone problems. Check out the used knives at any knife show, tough to find many without cracks and chips.

I once had several 100-150 year old knives with rosewood and ebony scales that were in very nice condition.

Regards,
FK

Morgoth412 · May 8, 2004

FK said:
Many older slipjoints have cracked bone problems. Check out the used knives at any knife show, tough to find many without cracks and chips.

I once had several 100-150 year old knives with rosewood and ebony scales that were in very nice condition.

Regards,
FK

That becuase the bone has dried out. You should soak bone handled knives in oil at least once every few months. (Even the oil of your hands or forehead will work decently, gross at it sounds.) Most used knives at garage sales, knife shows, have not been oiled in forever.

With use, bone would be my choice. Wood doesn't really require maintenance, but is less tough then bone.
-Kevin

rev_jch · May 8, 2004

wood is much more durable, stabilized wood more so. Bone is beautiful, Ive made may handles and scales from bone, But bone cracks, it contracts and shrinks with humidity, not as much as stag, but it does. A little mineral oil is good for bone, or stag thats being stored, especially in a dry place. That does help with cracks that come naturally, but then there are the cracks and chips that come from using/carrying one. These happen usually "a little more purposefully" (not being careful, etc.), but they will happen naturally also.

spyken · May 9, 2004

I'm expecting a giraffe bone scaled mini-hunter soon. how do I maintain it so that it doesn't shrink, crack etc.?

How do I "soak" the bone in oil? Will vegetable oil do?

Morgoth412 · May 9, 2004

spyken said:
I'm expecting a giraffe bone scaled mini-hunter soon. how do I maintain it so that it doesn't shrink, crack etc.?

How do I "soak" the bone in oil? Will vegetable oil do?

Don't do vegetable oil. It will go rancid.. :barf: Try mineral oil.

Soak is just as it sounds. Soak the knife overnight in mineral oil in a bowl. Knife blades get super smooth too!
-Kevin