Thread: Native wood for knife handles

To all the knife makers and wood workers out there. What are the best native woods to use for handle scales. Have been happily making a few knives and like using native wood for the handles. So far have used mostly Rimu a bit of Matai and some Manuka. I have a knife with Puriri wood handle which is beautiful but what should be avoided and what other native timbers have the right properties?

Couple of latest knives. Boning knife has a Rimu heartwood handle, Santoku chefs knife has a Manuka heartwood handle.

Looking good man, for timber the harder/denser the better.

I've used quite a bit of swamp. Kauri which is beautiful, but need stabilising.

Most native hardwoods will work, however with scales the timber will shrink/expand over time and end up leaving gaps around the tang. That why makers typically use stabilised timber for scales.

Hidden tang construction is a bit more forgiving as you don't have as many flush joins.

Maire is fairly popular for hidden tang as it's very hard.

Once you get into stabilised stuff you can use whatever. There's a super talented maker up north who's even used gorse as handle material. Looked surprisingly awesome

I have used Black Maire which is as hard as hell and has a nice grain.

Pohutukawa if you can find it.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Pohutukawa if you can find it.

I have a shit load of pohutakawa if anyone wants any for knife handles.

I have used Rewa Rewa, its not the nicest stuff to work with but it comes up nice in the end

I've got some matched pohutakawa scales - send me a pm and I'll give you a pair.

My favorite when I was making knives was Pohutukawa. Even when reasonably plain grained, it is quite nice looking. Its also hard as hell and stands up to use well. I made my personal hunting knife around 14 years ago and it has seen regular use and not a lot of care of the timber. Still looks near new.

[QUOTE=SixtyTen;1632346]My favorite when I was making knives was Pohutukawa. Even when reasonably plain grained, it is quite nice looking. Its also hard as hell and stands up to use well. I made my personal hunting knife around 14 years ago and it has seen regular use and not a lot of care of the timber. Still looks near

Funny enough Sixty Ten I recognise that photo. The puriri wood handle knife I have is one of yours, still going strong and has had plenty of use. You make a great knife.

Originally Posted by makka

I have used Rewa Rewa, its not the nicest stuff to work with but it comes up nice in the end
Attachment 263207

I would vote for Rewarewa as well, not that I have made knife handles with it but my bro just carved up a nice ladle

[QUOTE=DrYopnihc;1632475]

Originally Posted by SixtyTen

My favorite when I was making knives was Pohutukawa. Even when reasonably plain grained, it is quite nice looking. Its also hard as hell and stands up to use well. I made my personal hunting knife around 14 years ago and it has seen regular use and not a lot of care of the timber. Still looks near

Funny enough Sixty Ten I recognise that photo. The puriri wood handle knife I have is one of yours, still going strong and has had plenty of use. You make a great knife.

That's fantastic to hear, thanks. If it ever needs a spruce up, or repairs you know where to find me. Warranty still applies.

Pururi was another of my favorites. I got my hands on a large amount of exceptionally nicely figured and flamed Pururi and made a number of knives with it.

Northern Rata was what I used to put new scales on a knife I have.

Originally Posted by McNotty

I have a shit load of pohutakawa if anyone wants any for knife handles.

I've got a stack of pieces of Totara in Masterton if anyone wants bits for handles

Originally Posted by makka

I have used Rewa Rewa, its not the nicest stuff to work with but it comes up nice in the end
Attachment 263207

Very nice.