All About Pocket Knives

Any of you very talented guys; pin any pearl handles? Thanks.


Paul

Bump I know someone has to pin pearl handles.


Paul

Wish I could help...I've been looking for someone myself,
every time I ask about re-handling in pearl folk's grit their
teeth and run off...but I'm still looking. I'll let you know
if I find someone.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I know exactly what you mean. I know Wendell Carson pins all of his; and it is easy to crack and ruin the scales. But I'd be willing to pay for any mishaps and use two or three sets of scales if necessary. But I don't have the talent to work on knives; maybe there's something I am not seeing with this task. The only thing I can think of; maybe its the peening.


Paul

I'd be happy to do it



































If I wasn't HIGHLY allergic to pearl dust

Thanks Kaleb, and you would have been the person, I would have used. Except you had told me previously; that you were allergic to the pearl dust.


Paul

Okay, time to fess-up. I just finished this old bartender's knife that used to be in Bob Farquaharson's collection (Retired President of W.R. Case). The thing originally had celluloid scales that had done what we all expect them to do (go to crap), and the owner contacted me about the MOP job. He was smart enough to take my advice and go with presentation grade as I probably wouldn't have done a one of a kind like this if he hadn't. I just mailed her out a couple of days ago. I don't post stuff like this on the CCC Forum simply because I don't like posting reworked Case knives on a site they pay for (bad manners and stuff, ya know?). BTW, it gets pinned and glued. That's my rule for any handle material I do except for moasic stuff. Hope ya'll like it.

Bob, absolutely beautiful.


Paul

Great work Bob (as usual)

Not only a beautiful job but I think those are the best pictures of MOP I've ever seen. WOW!!

Nice work!
I mean that sincerely! You did a great job.

But I still hate working with MOP!
Between the cracking and the dust it is a major pain.
Besides, I personally do not like the look of MOP.
IMHO, (and probably in my opinion only) as a general rule I think it looks cheap.

Please don't send "hate PM" or "hate emails," but I have never liked the look of MOP!
The Black Lip MOP is ok, but if I had my choice between MOP and bone handles, I am taking bone every time! I like the way they feel and the way they wear and the way the lighter colors color up with use.

Dale

Dale, I guess everyone has their own preferences; I personally have a dislike for woods. Ebony comes to mine; although Spalted Maple, Desert Ironwood and some Burls; look pretty good on a knife to me. IMO some woods make a knife look utilitarian; and cheap. Give me stag, bone, ivory, pearl and exotics.


Paul

Luckypaul777 wrote:Dale, I guess everyone has their own preferences; I personally have a dislike for woods. Ebony comes to mine; although Spalted Maple, Desert Ironwood and some Burls; look pretty good on a knife to me. IMO some woods make a knife look utilitarian; and cheap. Give me stag, bone, ivory, pearl and exotics.


Paul

I love wood. The beauty of the grain is something to behold. BUT Not on a knife handle, for pretty much the same reason's as LP. When it's on a knife, I can appreciate the grain and colors of the wood but it does nothing to enhance or compliment the knife. Just my opinion.

Call me strange, call me crazy. Just don't call me late for dinner.

I think it takes a special wood to make a good knife handle.
They need exceptional color, or texture or a highly figured grain pattern to make a beautiful knife handle.
Rosewoods, Cocobolo and ebony were used traditionally because of their durability, not necessarily because of their beauty.

However, IMHO, highly figured woods like peasant wood, Amboyna Burl, thyua burl, Ziricote, desert Ironwood, lace wood, and a whole host of other colorful and highly figured woods can make beautiful handles.
While I generally to prefer bone or stag on a slip joint knife, I think that certain woods make beautiful handles for fixed blades, or even some folders. For larger knives like Bowies it can be difficult or very expensive to find a large enough piece of stag, bone or ivory. I have yet to find any MOP that is thick enough for a large fixed blade.

But as someone once said, variety is the spice of life.
When it comes to knives, I like them all!
I just like some better than others.
Dale

Personally, MOP is nice if you plan on having a showpiece. It's just not practical on a knife that's going to be used. It's too fragile and yes, a real pain to work with. Bone is my preference for something to carry although I've done some nice pieces in different burl woods for other folks that I wouldn't mind having in my pocket. Culpepper & Co. (Knifehandles.com) does some really super looking red bone in jigged and smooth that reminds me of the old Robeson Strawberry Red (maybe even better). I have some pearls in my collection, but only because they're on a pattern that I collect. Paul asked.....I posted. Like I said, I like good old red bone for my pocket, especially after it gets some pocker wear.

I love good fiery pearl handles on certain knives. To me they are just for looking at; admiring and fondling; I would never consider using one. For carrying I prefer bone or stag; that I bought for that purpose; nothing that I collect. It is good to know that just about anything; you may want done to a pocket knife; there is someone here at AAPK; that can do it. My hats off to all you guys; that have the talent.


Paul