All About Pocket Knives

I can't decide which handle material I like better Ebony or Cocobolo wood on old knives. I think I would call it a tie.

For those who don't know what Cocobolo wood is or where it comes from read this:. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocobolo

If you have any knives please share pictures of them

I have to agree with you Dimitri and nice knife - I like them both equally but cocobolo (or as many old catalog cuts called it cocoa (not sure why ) may have the edge for me as it tends to have more of a mixed grain pattern ...

I no doubt have a few but this one an old Walden Knife Co NY is probably my favorite cocobolo handle (more pics of knife were once posted under Horticultural knife thread in Knife Lore) - almost tiger striped
M&G Carpenter's knife:
Funny those 2 are more of my "Special Opportunities" knives I couldn't pass up from my collection so had to add at least one from more of my focus of New England state made knives - an old Excelsior Knife Co pruner:
Just got to get pics of some of my other cocobolo handled knives - have a few other nice CT made knives with cocobolo and even a few Sheffield made - just no pics at the moment ...

Thanks Lee!

Nice knives, I really like the Excelsior

Thanks Dimitri

Dimitri thanks for that tutorial on cocobello wood. I was surprised to see the density is actually greater than Gabon ebony. Absolutely my two favorite woods for knife handles. I have a brand new cocobello handled knife and you have peeked my interest now to compare it to my older ones but I am away from my collection so that will have to wait. Excellent thread.

Here's an old New York Hammer.

Wow Joe that one is really stratified if that's a word. A beauty no doubt!

Here's a nice old Keen Kutter Hawkbill.

American Knife Co. Thomaston

Thank you very much, Greg.

Dimitri and Lee. Those are fine knives.

Here's some cocobello on a brand new knife I recently purchased.

Thanks Joe and some nice knives sporting cocobolo

Greg - nice new example there!! - according to Dimitri's OP post maybe it is called "figured" with those lines...

Interesting to me that some of the older cocobolo has somewhat of a darker different appearance among the knives but that may be due to oils from handling over the years or the way the wood was cut... there appears to be only one species of cocobolo compared to species of ebony...

As you all know cocobolo is still ok to use though it is highly regulated - Brazilian Redwood is a big "NO" like ivory... here is a link to woods that are considered endangered, vulnerable etc for anyone interested - http://www.wood-database.com/wood-artic ... d-species/ ... note the different ebony species under regulation... and believe me I am not suggesting anything here other than an fyi in terms of exotic woods and knives

gsmith7158 wrote:Dimitri thanks for that tutorial on cocobello wood. I was surprised to see the density is actually greater than Gabon ebony. Absolutely my two favorite woods for knife handles. I have a brand new cocobello handled knife and you have peeked my interest now to compare it to my older ones but I am away from my collection so that will have to wait. Excellent thread.

Thanks Greg!

Yes the wood is very dense and heavy, it sinks in water unlike most logs that will float. It is also full of natural oils, so it is hard to work but what a beautiful finish you can get out of when it is buffed.

Here are a couple of customs that have handles made of various types of wood.
The Jimmy Lile Duxback hunter is osage orange which doesn't photograph well but is beautiful.
The Track folder is I believe rosewood but not sure of the variety.It was made in the 1970's.
This one by George Cousino I'm not sure of but it has a nice grain.George lives about 15 miles from me.
The last one is an unmarked custom I got years ago that was unsharpened. I put an edge on it(very hard steel)and I'm not sure of the wood but it is nice and actually fits the hand very well either in the normal position or edge up.

An M. Klein & Sons, #2132 L. F. & C. Universal & the #136 Schrade Walden N.Y. with lots of pitting but snaps like a gator and still does the job. I believe the Klein is cocobolo wood as well. I never came across any info on this knife - manufactured date or wood type but looks like it.

Here are a couple of Empire jacks. The knives are as solid as the cocobello handles.

My only old cocobolo qualifier, this old Robeson:

Very nice example Tony.