Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Help me choose the material for my knife scales

I know the Gene Ingram knives (and similar ones) are very popular here, but because of an old injury, my mitts prefer a thicker handle with a small guard: the Loveless style drop point hunter it at the top of my list right now.

Anyway, I am considering a new knife, and I'd appreciate feedback on the ones below, particularly regarding handle material.

I have been told that sheep horn scales do not get slippery when wet -- any truth to that, or all the alternatives below similar in this respect? Are any knife handle materials less slippery when bloody?

Given that I am not going to pound on the handles -- are any of these handle materials not durable enough for a normal using knife?

The paired pictures below show both sides of the same knives.

First, Bighorn sheep scales:



Next, Sambar stag:



Camel bone, dyed orange but has some brown:



Desert Ironwood:
[img]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/meplat/kniv/470s.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/meplat/kniv/470.jpg[/img]

Which, if any, of these 4 knives would you recommend for a knife that will get used (but not abused)?

I am kind of leaning towards the Orange dyed camel bone (no, wait! the sheep horn! ) because these would be fairly easy to see on the ground. Feedback would be appreciated (and I have thick skin!).

John

The orange dyed bone is practical, I have a knife with an orange handle that I use when field dressing. Many times its color has prevented it from becoming list when laid down in the leaves or snow. My first choice will always be the Sanbar Stag because i like its rustic beauty. The desert ironwood is also rugged and attractive, I have made knives with scales of Goncalo Alves and Claro Walnut that turned out very nice. I like big horn sheep scales when some of the bark has been left on rather than when completely smooth, though both posess an attractive character of their own.

Hard to go wrong with Stag

Sambar stag looks great and in my experience gives me a pretty good grip when bloody.I've lost a couple of knives while field dressing,now they go into the snimal's ear when not in use! Monashee

I'd go for the bighorn scales myself but that desert ironwood is a damned pretty knife.

Sheep scales does get grippy when wet. The stag is very nice. I would think the camel bone would be slick to use with a lot of blood on it. Desert ironwood is good also and lasts forever.

I have two of Harvey King's blades in Stag. I have the Personal and the Small Game. I also have Ruana's, Dozier's, Ingram's, Winston's, and a May.

Harvey King's knives in Stag fit my big hand and feel best of all of these knives. Good luck.

http://harveykingknives.com/

I'll cast another vote for the stag. It looks nice clean and better bloody.

second or 4th set.

I don't like stag.

I like a lot of the various stabilized woods.

Lately I've been liking a lot of the dyed bone.

I've never had a knife slip while using it, so I don't worry about its grip properties.

Thanks for the comments -- further comments welcomed!

This is not an easy decision...

I wish I could get one of each and test them all on a critter or two.

John

If you plan on keeping the knife forever, I would pick whatever appeals to you the most. If you think you may sell it in the future, I would go with ironwood or stag, they are long term favorites that will probably hold more value.

Thanks for drawing my attention to this aspect, I had not considered it before.

John

It's not listed among your choices of Bighorn sheep horn, Camel bone, Stag, or Ironwood...but to answer your question above...I think you'd have to look long and hard to find a scale material that would work better for this than glass bead blasted G-10. I do not know of a better scale material that would be less slippery when bloody.

I require thicker than normal handles, due to my larger than normal hands.
To be honest, I like wood best. A nice burl, such as maseubirch, stabilized, is wonderful.
Here is an example of that wood, by Karl Lindblad of Sweeden.

Sam, is that the same wood they call curly birch? I've got a Helle Eggen with that kind of handle on it.

I'm not Sam, but I know a bit about masur birch (which I have seen called curly birch or Karelian birch as well).



It is name for this particular grain figure and is found in two birch species silver birch (Betula pendula and downy birch Betula pubescens).

Very commonly used in all of Scandinavia for knife handles. I have one knife with such handles, and it is quite nice.

John

Thanks for the info jpb.

Can't go wrong with any of the materials mentioned.
To me, sheep horn gets real high regards because it is just cool. It does seem to me to get a little tacky when get blood etc on it.
Once I made the step to orange I found it really grows on you. Camel leg bones have a limit on thickness, but giraffe leg bones are larger and usually thicker.
And of course stag and desert ironwood are classics and great materials.
Bead blasting micarta or G-10 adds some texture and hold ability to a knife.
jmho
Tim

I prefer wood, and that desert ironwood (which I've never heard of before) looks amazing.