Collecting folding knives is just a passion. Selecting what forms of knives to gather could be a daunting question. Collecting BLADE FORGE with natural material handles is a good beginning because of wide selection of choice, availability, cost, and functionality.
Range of Natural Materials
The primary natural materials for knife handles are Stag, Bone, Horn, Wood, Burl, and to a much lesser extent but generally well-known seashell materials; Mother of Pearl and Abalone.
Stag, sometimes called India Stag arises from the shed antlers of the Sambar or Chital deer. Stag also arises from domestic sources; White Tail Deer, Elk, and Moose that will be likely continue in light of the rising costs of India Stag. Stag could be finished with a higher buffing process or may be dyed with stunning effects.
Bone comes most commonly from the shin bone of cows. Bone stands up well under regular use, dyes easily in many colors and frequently comes jigged. Jigging is a machine process which gorges out pieces of the bone in numerous but often distinctive patterns. Definitely, bone is typically the most popular of the commonly used natural materials.
Natural horn is just a very rugged and distinctive material. Natural horn arises from Impala and domestically from Buffalo and Rams. It includes a rather rustic appearance and will after several years of service begin to crack.
Wooden handles come from numerous hardwoods. Maple, Birch, Cocobolo and numerous others have successfully created handles which can stand up to years of hard use. Burls which are not a particular kind of wood but are manufactured from abnormal tree growth are extremely tough and come in unlimited natural designs. Burls are prized for their natural beauty, above and beyond any particular wood.
Mother of Pearl and Abalone are natural seashell materials. Mother of Pearl arises from mollusks. It is usual white in color with iridescent hues of purple, green, pink and yellow. Abalone arises from sea snail shells and has an iridescent array of color from pink to blue, to green and silver. Both materials are pricy and won't tolerate rough use. They tend to crack and shatter if dropped on a difficult surface. Still, they're beautiful to look at and make excellent display pieces.
Availability and Cost
Stag, Bone and Wood Handles have been with us for centuries in abundance. They are still typically the most popular of materials utilized in the creation of folding and fixed blade knives. For the beginning collector, that is good news as much can be bought at under $30 in auctions like E-Bay and a discerning eye will help you discover some real bargains; costs far less than their values. If new knives are your passion be prepared to spend from $50 to $300 for a few of the treasures available.
Collectability and Functionality
With so many choices, you don't need to be wealthy to attain a folding knife collection that you will enjoy having and showing to others. Take some time to find favorite BLADE FORGE, to examine your knife personal choices and participate in collection with a budget in mind. With time, you are able to amass a lot of good knives. Display them, store them and treat them with care and they will easily last for years. Think of it. What other kind of collection can fit your financial allowance, not clutter up your property and boast not only beauty but additionally practical functionality? Enjoy your passion and happy hunting!