I love working with nicely figured exotic stabilized wood. Now that that is out of the way...
Do you think synthetic materials have a place in the ABS due to their toughness and stability?
What materials do you enjoy working with the most? Stag? Ivory? Bone? Wood? Stone? Micart? G10?
All the above materials are seen on knives all the time and are all valid choices for a handle. I think that with the right blade style and handle shape they all have the ability to add aesthetically to the design.
I personally strive to make a comfortable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing handle on all my knives since the handle is the user interface for the knife. I am sure you all do the same.
So what do you guys like?
Here are 2 of my favorite woods. Koa and boxelder
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Jon Walker
Hello Jon. I usually work with wood, love the way ironwood looks, and some stabilized woods. I also really like mammoth and fossilized walrus. And of course stag when I can find a nice piece that does not clean out the bank account. Mainly wood here. I have used micarta on using knives and even horse stall mat for using handles.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
|quoted:
Do you think synthetic materials have a place in the ABS due to their toughness and stability?
I think for certain knives it is the only choice. Most in the tactical and military knives would not be very pleased with you if you didn't offer micarta or g10. Form should follow function. Ivory would not be good for a field knife you made for someone in the military overseas, just as micarta would be just a bad of a choice on your Quillon dagger.
Whitetail Deer horn is my favorite, with stag, elk, and buffalo horn a close tie for second.
I don't use many synthetic materials, but they do have a place depending on the type of knife you're making and what the customer wants.
Dave Armour
I am a HUGE fan of wood. I have never used ivory(Long way to go before i chance that). That being said, i seem to collect a lot of figured woods and burl. I am not the biggest fan of stag and horn, but at the same time, i kind of like them...if that makes any sense. I love the variations of a nice piece of burl or a piece of highly figured koa. I try to use only stabilized woods, as they have qualities that make them last longer.
Great Question!
I think the synthetics have their place on certain knives. The durability is good if you need a knife for real hard use.
BUT let's face it...wood has been used on knives for a really long time. AND it is warm to the touch, comfortable when shaped properly, and can be very beautiful.
Personally I prefer Desert Ironwood on just about all my knives. It come sin various colors and configurations of grain structures, is tough and stable and gets my vote for favorite handle material. I just wish it was not getting so hard to find the right pieces! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
-DON:)
Here is an integral camp knife I did sometime back with a wonderful piece of Desert Ironwood on it.
"with malice toward none; with charity for all...." Lincoln
