Favorite knife handle materials

[Shing]

Just want to know what your favorite handle materials are? For looks, I really like burl desert iron wood, burl walnut and African blackwood because it takes a fine finish, I'm also very partial to well textured and colored stag. For durability, linen Micarta is very hard to beat and it look quite nice too.

 

[JohnC]

I got some delrin from the medical physics workshop here in the hospital. It's cut into slabs waiting for me to finish sharpening a blade.

 

[BorderReiver]

For looks,any finely figured wood.

For use,G10, in a bright,"no lose in grass" colour.

Having said the above,Fibremascus seems to cover both criteria but I haven't seen it in the flesh or handled it.

 

[MartiniDave]

JohnC,

You might find Delrin (acetal homopolymer to be posh) a bit on the soft side for hard use knife handles. Its also quite tricky to glue to, you'll need a well keyed epoxy joint to stand a chance.

Dave

 

[ilovemybed]

JohnC,

You might find Delrin (acetal homopolymer to be posh) a bit on the soft side for hard use knife handles. Its also quite tricky to glue to, you'll need a well keyed epoxy joint to stand a chance.

Dave

I looked it up coz I'd never heard of it. Apparently it doesn't like acidic or basic conditions either. Isn't that a worry for a knife handle because your skin is slightly acidic, and I expect most things you cut aren't pH neutral either?
If not, well, good on you for some good ol' fashioned pilfering...

 

[JohnC]

re Delrin, I'm planning to key the tang side of it and to use pins, but that is a worry.
So far its been a very tough material to work, and I've seen some moulded handle knife scales on websites.
To be honest I'd have rather found some antler, but the chance of making use of something free rather than shelling out cash was too tempting

 

[C_Claycomb]

Bocote and cocobolo are hard to beat. They are naturally oily and hold up with minimal maintenance and finishing even when washed with detergent on a daily basis. They are also relatively cheap and easy to get since they are used in this country for wood turning.

If you REALLY want to see some cool wood, check out http://www.gilmerwood.com/new_unique.htm

 

[Carcajou Garou]

I have mostly stag handles on my knives, less slippery when my hands are full of b...d and g.ts. On 2 I have linen micarta in an oval shape configuration for the same reason.

 

[Stew]

Wood.


You want me to be more specific?

Well, it changes all the time but nothing too plain...