Thursday, 19 March 2015

Selecting The Best Wood For Knife Handles

By Zelma Hurley


From the invention of wood in the olden days wood has always been used to construct the handles of knives. Over the years man has discovered that there are many other materials that can be used to make a handle. Some of the materials that mostly used today include bones, plastics and ivory. As long as they give you a firm grip you can choose any of the materials to make the handle. Some people even prefer having custom wood for knife handles just for them. So that they feel unique.

It usually is the most common material that is used to make knives. Apart from the knives it has been used on many other tools even used to make the wheel of a ship. What makes it a favorite among many is that it is warm to touch and very comfortable to hold. Apart from that it is also organic and this is preferred to the plastics that are inorganic. It is also very durable and can be long lasting hence give you more years of service.

It can be grouped into three main categories. The first is the hardwood that is most common and known by many. Then the other type is softwoods and lastly the plain wood. Hardwood got its name from one of its best qualities, which are that it usually is most resistant to penetration and it is denser when compared to the other two types.

Having a handle that is made from a hardwood is a sign of class and taste for the owner. Hardwood has always been cherished over time even in the olden days. They are mostly used on knives since hardwood usually complement metal very well. Because of the above reason that hardwoods will remain to be a standard.

One might be tempted to think that any part of the trunk can be used to make the handle. This is not the case since different parts have different characteristics that make them stand out. The heartwood is the one that is used to build the handle since the substance that makes it is usually very resistant to decay unlike the sapwood. Sapwood is usually different even in appearance to the hardwood. It is normally lighter in color and this is a very notable characteristic.

There are several qualities that make wood the best. One of them is that it usually lasts longest when compared to the other materials. This means that you will not need to purchase a new knife every now and then. It is also smooth on the hand since it does not chip.

Being organic there are some undesirable characteristics about the wooden handle. One is that when subjected to high levels of heat it will expand. This constant expansion and contraction will make it loose. To avoid this; the most stable materials are used in place of the less stable ones.

Some people tend to choose the darker colored woods since they believe that they are the hardest and most durable. This is a common misconception since there are some light in color but are just as hard and durable.




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