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The comittee knife part 2

Allright. So far we've decided on a design, and a grind.

Here's what we have so far:

I'll soon be setting a flat grind on that knife. What I need your input on now though is what kind of handle material it should have.

Basically almost anything is an option. But just to get the ball rolling I'll show some pictures of wood I have in stock:

On the left some pieces of Olivewood, on the right a very gnarly type of Oak that I got from a staircasemaker.

Next up a MASSIVE block of mahogany. Not the prettiest wood. But hardwearing nonetheless.

Also I've got some Spalted apple wood. This wood was dried and cut by a friend of mine from the states. If I use this I'll have to do some stabilising on it.

Also in need of stabilising would be these pieces of Sycamore and Spalted sycamore (pieces on the left) but the American Walnut (on the right) won't need stabilising.

btw, the checkering in the piece on the lefthand side is all natural. That's not dust or something.

Then here's an Ebony and "ivory" combination. The pale wood is very light maple. Extremely hardwearing but so light that it's almost like wooden ivory.

Here's a piece of Katalox with Sapwood:

And finally a piece of Black Palmwood:

.But I'll consider any suggestions, Giraffe bone, jigged bone, other stabilised burls/woods, stag, ivory (if I can garantuee a buyer and the ivory isn't too expensive), Micarta

No G-10 and no Carbon fibre though. I don't feel like getting dressed like this:

Just to put on some handle material.

So use your imagination....or just pick something from what I presented. As usual what gets the most support is what I'll end up doing.

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Comment by Alexander Noot on July 24, 2013 at 6:12: Here's another thought to consider....I could Jigg whatever wood is put on the knife. Jigged wood handles would be an option. It's just a matter of working it with the dremel in the right way.

Comment by Alexander Noot on July 24, 2013 at 5:36: Like I said, bone would also be an option.

Comment by Jess Cobb on July 24, 2013 at 5:04: I like bone handles better than wood.

Comment by Alexander Noot on July 24, 2013 at 2:20: Good stuff guys, keep em coming. This is still a brainstorming session so no idea is too wild.

Let me see if I can find you a picture of what that Ebony looks like finished:

It's a bit of a brownish ebony.:

But if you guys like a blacker ebony I'm sure I'd be able to find some somewhere.

Featured Comment by Craig Henry on July 23, 2013 at 18:08: Gee, I like most of those woods. But Ebony is a great choice.

In Memoriam Comment by Robert Burris on July 23, 2013 at 18:03: I with Ivars, Ebony, real dense wood.

Comment by Alexander Noot on July 23, 2013 at 12:06: Jan, that's funny. I owned that EXACT knife for a while.

Comment by Brad T. on July 23, 2013 at 10:21: I like the Olivewood and the Katalox. I prefer some contrast in the grain of wood handles.

Comment by Jan Carter on July 23, 2013 at 8:00: Maybe something like this? Mahogony and a spalted for a good contast

Comment by Alexander Noot on July 23, 2013 at 4:40: I'm not saying I don't like it or that I can't do it. I don't know if I can. I was merely pointing out that the drawing still needs pins.

Like I said. If our "comittee" decides that this is what they want I'll do it. I don't know if I'd put those small strips of palmwood in there without any mechanical fasteners though. I've seen too many knives with "inlays" like that that came out or loose. And since this is a 5,6mm thick knife and as such should be a HEAVY user. I wouldn't want any parts that could come loose.

If we were to do something like that then I'd suggest 2 pins in the front part of the knife, a mosaic pin in the middle part and two pins in the rear part.

But it's a great example of thinking outside of the box.

Another cool thing would be like you suggested to make one type of wood the liners.

I also like that you opted for a swedge in your drawing. That is something we haven't talked about yet. But it IS a possibility.

So far I do really like your line of thinking. Looking forward to other people's suggestions.