Knife handles

[Ahjno]

Last week I fell in love with the AB Bushcrafter :naughty: ... I contacted Allan about the several handle options that are available and some other specs (and his reaction was almost faster than the speed of light!! :biggthump).

The following handle options are available:
- Black canvas micarta Allan's site (http://www.bladecutlery.net/bladecutlery1008002.jpg)
- Hard maple (standard)
- Curly maple post by Jake Rollnick, #7 & 17 (http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=4834)
- Bacote
- Ipe
- Cocobolo post by Andy, #1 (http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=4721)

Does anyone has a (knife) pic of the above mentioned handle materials? (No specific need for the knife to be a Bushcrafter :wink: - although it would be great to have a(nother) thread dedicated to this beautiful knife).

Did a search myself on the forum and found some Bushcrafter's (MagiKelly (http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=4402) , Jake Rollnick) - but it isn't yet all clear to me ... :?: So I hope you lads (& gals) can enlighten me :wink: (no ... without set something alight :yikes: ... you pyromaniacs :nana: )

[Andy]

Shings knife which I did a review on was Cocobolo scales

[C_Claycomb]

http://www.bladecutlery.net/bladecutlery1_008.htm

The stripy handle is Bocote

http://freespace.virgin.net/en5chc.ky42420/semiscandi.jpg

That is Cocobolo

[Stew]

I haven't seen Ipe used for a knife handle but this is what it looks like as a plank:

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/ipe/ipe%204b%20s50%20q60%20plh.jpg

Not the most exciting of woods but nice all the same.

[Ahjno]

Andy, Chris & Stew thank you very much lads, makes my decission making lots easier :wink: - I really like that cocobolo wood :naughty:

Also found this piccie, posted by Martyn on this thread (http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=415) (post #9)

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/wood.jpg

From left to right: '2x pieces of thuya burl, some artificial ivory, african black ebony, amboyna burl, some beautiful macassar striped ebony and a piece of cocobolo.'

[Stew]

I really like that cocobolo wood :naughty:


A better pic of cocobolo:

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/cocobolo/cocobolo%20flats%201a%20s50%20 q60%20plh.jpg

[MagiKelly]

I really like that cocobolo wood :naughty:

If you like dark wood handles the Cocobolo is definitely the way to go.

[Andy]

I really like beefwood Like this (http://yumahardwoods.homestead.com/files/RassmussBowl.jpg)

[Lord Farquhar]

If you like dark wood handles the Cocobolo is definitely the way to go.


cocobolo is a git to sand as the high extractive and rezin/wax content really fills the sand paer up but it have lovely figure and get s smooth finish right away

[C_Claycomb]

I haven't found cocobolo to be any worse than Bocote for clogging sand paper. Niether is as bad as thuya for that. Using the high quality anti-clog paper is a must, and I often sand with wet & dry using water to prevent the worst of the clogging.

There can be a lot of variation in cocobolo both in colour and density. I have some which is orange, some that is almost a dark red wine colour, and some that has orangy-white bands. Some shows pores, some does not.

There is also a lot of variation available in bocote. The stuff I have seen sold in this country has all been very straight grain for wood turning. In the US, when it was intended for knife handles, they had found peices with lots of grain swirl.

All of which is pretty irrellevant if you are buying a knife. All that matters then is what the maker is actually going to use, not what the range of wood is like, or how difficult it is to work. I haven't seen much difference in durability, or hardness/oiliness between cocobolo and bocote. There might be some, but I haven't seen it. For me it just comes down to which I like the look of. Maple is pretty, but unless its stabilised it isn't as durable.

[alick]

The appearance of a plank or block gives some clue to the look of a particular wood, but once shaped, the effect of the grain may be a bit unexpected.

The pics in magikelly's thread about the AB runt are spot on. My own scandi packpal was also made with cocobolo and looks just like John's picture. The layered grain is emphasised by the contours of the handle and looks stunning.

Cheers

[rapidboy]

I think wood as a scale material almost always makes for a more aesthetically pleasing knife but i have found my micarta woodlore to be very practical and i would probably favour micarta on a knife that i intended to use a lot.
Especially if it will be used for preparing game or fish.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/rapidboy1/397_9796_a.jpg

I just paid Allan for two knives so im expecting them in a week or so.
One with micarta scales and the other with a wood and micarta handle so i will post some pics when i get them.

rb

[tenbears10]

This is my pack pal by Allan.

http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/500/184packpal-thumb.jpg

It is natural micarta (I think that's what he calls it) so will give you an idea of what the pattern looks like.

I'm pleased with it and it did some good spoon work over the weekend.

Bill