All About Pocket Knives

I have this neat old hunter that needs new scales. Please offer some opinions on the best route you think I should take this knife. Sambar Stag, jigged Bone, Buffalo horn ..... whatever let me hear some opinions. Thanks in advance.

I guess that would depend on what you were going to do with this knife afterwards. If you're going to keep it, use whatever you prefer. If you're going to sell it, well, there are many choices to choose from. However, I think that most of us would agree that you can't go wrong with Stag. That seems to always bring in a good price if it's done correctly and neatly.

Giraffe bone seems to be popular these days too. Whatever it is, make sure it's done right. That's the most important thing.

_____________
Mike

Landersknives wrote:I have this neat old hunter that needs new scales. Please offer some opinions on the best route you think I should take this knife. Sambar Stag, jigged Bone, Buffalo horn ..... whatever let me hear some opinions. Thanks in advance.

I agree w/ Mike, you can’t go wrong w/ stag. Or red bone.
SSk

I am biased toward stag handled knives. The look, the fill of the hand, the texture, and the durability of stag appeals to me.
Considering the size of that knife, stag to fit it properly would be much more expensive than jigged bone, buffalo horn, or camel bone.

Am I restoring for my own pocket, or to sell? Do I have more experience with one material over another? Do I have material on hand? Do i want to experiment with other materials?

These are questions I would ask myself.
By all means, post pics of the process and end result!

Oh yes!!
Stag or red bone would look nice on that one!

Mike

I think stag looks great on a hunter pattern...

glennbad wrote:I think stag looks great on a hunter pattern...

daved5.JPG

Great knife! Great work and beautiful stag! I love stag and I like nice jigged bone. Buffalo horn can be really nice as well. I will take pictures of the process and I will post those and the finished product here. Thanks for all the opinions.

I think a large knife like a folding hunter makes a great venue for African black wood. Done right African Blackwood is gorgeous!

Ed, you are receiving some excellent suggestions - hope you can make a decision .

The reference pictures I am providing are not exactly the same knife you have and the gunboat is not even close. The first knife below is a modern take on an old pattern. The older knives are approximately period relevant to your knife and show examples of bone and stag that Union / Ka-bar used on knives that are comparable in age to how old your knife appears to be.

Although it doesn't agree with what most of the other guys have stated, when I have the handles replaced on an old celluloid handled knife, I like to to try and find something similar looking in either Kirinite or acrylic.

Culpepper's Moss Green bone is some really nice looking stuff, especially in a classic styled jigging, like the RJB, Catalina and Richmond patterns. It'll give about any knife a nice old timey look.


WB

edge213 wrote:Although it doesn't agree with what most of the other guys have stated, when I have the handles replaced on an old celluloid handled knife, I like to to try and find something similar looking in either Kirinite or acrylic.

That's an excellent point. I also think you should consider the old favorite exotic woods such as ebony, coca bola, or rosewood.This old Kabar had no handles at all when I got it. I redid this one in rosewood.

All beauties!
I know Ed has to be be TOTALLY confused about what to do with his knife......LOL.

Mike

Meridian_Mike wrote:All beauties!
I know Ed has to be be TOTALLY confused about what to do with his knife......LOL.

Mike

Lol! Mike it does give me several options. This is what I wanted. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes will enlighten you to something you never considered. Thank you to all of you who have commented.