DIY knife handle made from various materials at home

Wood is an excellent and long-used raw material for making knife handles. In terms of their aesthetic properties and performance parameters, various types of wood are in many ways superior to natural, synthetic and composite types of materials. A careful look at the photo of a knife handle makes it easy to appreciate the skill of the craftsman. A completely finished product, for the handle of which several types of wood have been exquisitely selected, can be both a highly artistic and practical thing.

Shape and properties of a knife handle

If the knife is equipped with a bad handle, it will not fully perform its functions. This does not depend in any way on the grade of steel on the blade and its sharpening. Due to the shape of the handle, various properties of the knife are achieved: convenience, balancing, maneuverability and ease of use of the tool.

The size and material of the handle depends on preferences and national traditions. Knives of Finnish origin are traditionally made from Karelian birch. It does not swell or deteriorate, and also does not sink in water. The purpose of the tool plays a vital role.

A universal handle is quite suitable for a fishing or kitchen knife. For cutlery and travel knives, an oval handle shape is most suitable. It is perfect for cases where you need to hold an object for a long time.

Handle mounting type

There are two types of attachment of the handle to the blade: mounted and overhead. Each installation method has its own advantages and disadvantages. To make the right choice, you need to rely on the scope of application of the product. These types of installations should be considered in more detail.

Mounting

Mount-on mounting technology involves mounting a narrow shank onto a hollow handle. Which is made from a single piece of material. Fastening is done by any available means, the most common is filling with epoxy resin.

There is also a type of mounted mounting - a stacked handle. In this case, plates of material with holes in the center are strung onto the shank. This handle can be made of any shape and size. But there is one drawback - the low reliability of attaching the handle to the shank.

Mounted handle mounting.

Surface mounting

The overhead mounting method involves attaching the plates to the blade shank using screws or rivets. For such a handle, you need to take care of the handle even at the stage of blade formation.

The shank should be wide and shaped to match the hand.

Making such a handle is not very difficult; you will need two pads made of any material. Which will later be riveted on the shank. But it should be taken into account that the choice of handle shape is limited and the overhead handle has greater thermal conductivity.

This installation is well suited for beginners, it is less hassle and is quite practical. It should also be taken into account that a product with such a handle installation will be much heavier than a knife with a mounting method.

Overhead mounting of the handle.

Methods for making a knife handle

According to the method of fastening, handles are divided into:

1. Overhead - used if the shank, on the size of which the profile of the entire handle depends, is wide enough. Such a handle has two mirror-matching parts, which are usually secured with through metal rivets. This mounting method is most often used for knives in which the blade has a relatively large length and width. In kitchen knives, the dimensions of the working part can reach 30 cm in length, so the pads best provide a working grip both in length and width.

2. Mounted - are used in knives whose blade shank is small in length and width. This handle is most often made of solid wood, comfortable for complex and long-term work, durable, lightweight and resistant to mechanical stress, including impacts.

Three main types of knife handle materials

You don't need to be a knife-making guru to understand that there are many materials available for making handles of any type of mounting. In general, all of them can be combined into 3 main groups:

Synthetic materials

Most of these modern materials were created specifically for knife handles. They have such positive properties as: lightness, ductility and strength. Trying to achieve maximum positive qualities, scientists from all over the world are constantly improving their developments. And there are quite a lot of materials for handles of artificial origin.

Natural materials

Most of them have been used by humans to mount handles for several hundred years. They played an important role in the history of knife making. Handles made from natural materials belong to the class of vintage products.

Metal materials

This is a durable and strong option for creating a handle. Such products are widely used for hiking or tourism purposes. Handles for cutlery are also made of metal.

Metal handles

The main steels for making metal handles are stainless steel, titanium and aluminum. This is, of course, rudely said; steel is present in the handle not in its pure form, but in the form of various alloys. Such mixtures occur with other metals or with non-metallic elements.

Alloys are actually more practical than pure steel. They are more durable and have stronger tensile strength. And thus the cost of the product is reduced. The main disadvantage of metal handles is their slippery structure, but various notches on the surface of the alloy save them.

Which installation method do you think is better?

On horsebackInvoice

Stainless steel

Stainless steel itself is an alloy based on copper and iron. The production of such an alloy is relatively inexpensive. It is quite widely used for making handles. Stainless steel is not easy to scratch.

It is also difficult to make dents on it. But at the same time it makes the knife heavier.

It is used to make folding knives for everyday use. A huge advantage of the alloy is its good corrosion resistance. But still, stainless steel handles require a little maintenance.

Good corrosion resistance does not mean that the product will not rust. Stainless steel handles become slippery when wet. To increase the grip of the handle, some manufacturers make rubberized inserts.

Knives with stainless steel handles.

Aluminum

Aluminum alloys are also very popular. It is quite durable, cheap and lightweight. It belongs to non-ferrous metals, so it resists corrosion well. But the delicacy of the material affects the appearance of scratches and dents.

There are quite a few alloys with an aluminum base. Marking T6-6061 is considered the most common. The alloy is based on aluminum and other elements such as magnesium, nickel and copper. By anodizing, such a pen can be obtained in any color.

When wet, such a handle becomes slippery. For this purpose, manufacturers make special invoicing of aluminum products. This helps to have a good grip between the hand and the handle.

Aluminum products.

Titanium

Titanium alloys are the strongest and most durable. Products made from it do not rust, because it is a non-ferrous metal. The alloy has high strength and lightness. It is often used on steel blades for added protection.

Ti6Al4V is considered a very popular alloy. It contains 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium and up to 90% titanium. The alloy has poor thermal conductivity, so you can work with it in the cold. It is also used to make locks on folding knives.

Lowers with titanium handle.

Knife shapes

There are a huge number of different variations of knives. Almost all manufacturers bend over backwards to create something extraordinary, unlike other products. It's also multifunctional. However, all their works can be narrowed down to a dozen basic forms, on the basis of which specialists begin their creativity. Basic types of blades:

1. A blade with a straight spine is the most common and traditional form. It can almost be called multifunctional, as it excels at handling a variety of tasks. It cuts and stabs well, and is often found on the kitchen shelf.

Blade with a straight spine.

2. Drop point, due to its distinctive design features, has great impact efficiency. The external chip has a flat plane. The tip is shifted relative to the butt line. The point of application of force is aligned with the tip.

Drop point knife.

3. At the Trailing point, due to the prying edge of the butt, the piercing properties are lost. The cutting ability of the knife is excellent.

Trailing point knife.

4. Clip point. A special feature is the upper bevel of the blade. This profile is ideal for combat knives. It has the appearance of a concave recess, due to which the point of impact is located in the center of the blade.

Clip point knife.

5. Scramasax is quite rare. But due to its unusual shape, it has good cutting performance. It looks like a blade with a straight spine, but it was supposedly sharpened on the reverse side.

Skramasax knife.

6. The tanto knife was invented by the Japanese and transformed by the Americans. Has two cutting surfaces. Most often found in models of combat knives.

Tanto knife.

7. Spear point is a spear-shaped configuration, with a cutting plane on both sides. Refers to daggers and hunting blades. Quite popular among projectiles.

Spear point knife.

8. Spay point is used for skinning carcasses; it belongs to the hunting family. A short blade, the upper bevel is not sharpened, to prevent damage to the skin of the animal being butchered.

Spay point knife.

9. The Hawkbill blade is exceptionally good at cutting. The tip is located below the middle of the knife. Outwardly, it is similar to the beak of a carnivorous bird. Unsuitable for business purposes.

Hawkbill blade knife.

10. Needle point has the appearance of a traditional stiletto - thin, elongated, sharpened on both sides. It is intended only for stabbing strikes.

Needle point knife.

11. Gut hook, its characteristic feature is a hook at the end of the blade, designed for gutting fish and cutting animal skins.

Gut hook knife.

Natural materials

Natural materials have been used for thousands of years. Not only the knife develops, but also its handle. These materials are not the most durable, waterproof or durable. But they are often considered traditional. They look quite aesthetically pleasing compared to synthetic products.

Bone handle

The material dates back many hundreds of years to its use as a handle. Today, such products belong to fashionable and non-standard designs.

Cow bone is mainly used to make such pens.

In reality, there are many ways to decorate such a product. The animal bone handle can be painted any color or textured to improve grip. People like bone handles.

It is quite cheap to make and is considered a traditional material. But the fragility of the bone should be taken into account; heavy loads on such a blade are contraindicated. The material is seaweed and can be very slippery when wet.

Bone handles.

Leather

Leather handles have recently lost their popularity. The principle may be to wrap a leather strap around the shank. This manufacturing method is not expensive. A handle made from pieces of leather will look more expensive.

Such a handle is difficult to manufacture and requires the necessary experience. But the result is above all praise. It should be remembered that a leather handle will quickly absorb all foreign liquids. It is strictly not recommended to clean fish with such a knife - you will not be able to get rid of the smell later.

Leather handle.

Nacre

In the list of natural materials, this is the most beautiful option. Knives with mother-of-pearl handles are very popular among collectors. The material is not durable and slippery when wet. Thus, the raw material is not suitable for survival knives or tactical products. The high cost of mother-of-pearl products also affects this.

Knives with mother-of-pearl handles.

Deer antler handles

It is preferable to use animal antlers that have been shed naturally. The option is very stylish and unusual. This material is used mainly on hunting knives. Because a deer antler can be a trophy obtained from a hunt.

Like bone, deer antler has a porous structure. Therefore, products made from it are not intended for high loads; the handle may simply crack or fall apart. But the uniqueness of the type of product gives the owners of such knives a high status.

Handle made of deer antler.

Tree

Among natural materials, wood is considered the most popular raw material for making knife handles. Such a handle can be strong and durable. Very beautiful texture makes the products popular among collectors.

There is a great variety of trees of varying hardness, color and texture.

Therefore, there are very great opportunities to make a unique handle. But not all tree species are suitable for handles. For example, soft wood, an example of which is pine needles.

Hardwood is more suitable for these purposes. These include oak, beech or walnut. Another option is to buy stabilized wood. It is reinforced with resins, which will make the handle more durable. Also, such a handle will be moisture resistant.

Wooden handles.

Birch bark

Birch bark is considered the simplest and most affordable material. To work with it you will need a minimum set of tools. Birch bark handles are resistant to rot and mold due to the presence of a natural antioxidant - tar.

The handle can be used in both cold and hot weather, due to the low thermal conductivity of the material. The handle is made from birch bark, cut into pieces. The typesetting method of installation is used. The pieces are placed one by one on the shank, gluing them with epoxy resin or glue.

Knives with birch bark handles.

How to make a knife handle

You can make a handle for a knife yourself and, in principle, from any material, the stages of the process are as follows:

1. Selecting material for the handle. It can be standard wood or something more interesting - for example, plastic or bone.
2. Drawing drawings. This is a mandatory procedure that allows you to determine the size of the knife handle, its shape and calculate labor and material costs.
3. The actual production of the handle. The most critical stage, but if the previous two are completed, then this one will not become a problem.
4. Attaching the finished handle to the existing blade.

At the end of the work, you can use your imagination and decorate the finished product, for example: wrap the handle with strips of leather, make curly notches on the handle, and so on.

Watch the video on how to make a knife handle with your own hands:

DIY Tools

To make a knife handle with your own hands, you will need the following tool:

• for working with wood - chisel, rasp, grinder, cutter;
• when manufactured from metal - fastening vices, stones with an abrasive surface;
• for processing materials of excessively high strength - jigsaws, chisels, drills.

Additionally, to make a wooden handle, you will definitely need to impregnate the material - this can be linseed oil or professional liquids to protect the wood from the negative influence of environmental factors and moisture.

Knife handle drawing

What to make from, materials

You can make a knife handle from a variety of materials - acrylic and leather, bone mass and birch bark, plastic and rubberized plastic. But most often wood is used for such work. By the way, it can also be different and the distinctive quality characteristics should be taken into account when choosing a specific plant.

Advantages of wooden knife handles:

• attractive appearance;
• light weight (you can work with the tool for a long time);
• does not slip even in a wet hand;
• perfectly absorbs moisture, including sweat;
• Processing/manufacturing of this part of the knife is easy; even an absolute beginner can handle the job.

Most often, wood is chosen for a knife handle.
There are also disadvantages to such handles - for example, most types of wood are characterized by low impact resistance, and impregnation with protective agents is required.

What wood is it made from and how is it made?

Making a wooden handle for a knife begins with choosing a specific material, and similar products are made from dense woods - cherry, apple, pear, heather, and so on.

If you want something exotic, then you should pay attention to the following representatives of the flora:

• Amaranth . Grows in South and Central America, the wood has a purple hue and straight or slightly curved lines. The plant is highly resistant to rot and damage from insects. It is quite difficult to process and requires a certain skill - working too slowly with amaranth leads to an abundance of resin, which clogs tools.

Amaranth wood
It is worth paying attention to one feature of amaranth: when processing it, it is possible to develop an allergy, which is manifested by profuse lacrimation, itchy skin and eye irritation.

• Bubinga . The tree grows in Africa and is distinguished by its pink tint to the wood. There are annual rings, they sometimes take on bizarre shapes, and the fibers can be located in different directions. The material is distinguished by its durability, resistance to the negative effects of moisture and insects. Bubinga is easy to process; it must be impregnated with specific materials.

Bubingo wood
After finishing work, this material can be polished and even varnished - its decorative effect will be maximized. It is important to dry the material properly - this may take several weeks. But at the end of the process, the wood becomes very durable and even shock-resistant.

• Karelian birch . Known throughout the world as a durable and decorative tree. The appearance is very beautiful - it gives off a mother-of-pearl appearance, has a marble texture and an amber tint. The quality of Karelian birch is so high that it is compared with tropical trees, and when selling them they are calculated not by cubic meters, but by kilograms - they are so valuable.

Karelian birch
Karelian birch is very difficult to process because the wood is very dense and hard. But this material lends itself well to polishing and varnishing. Some types of Karelian birch when cut have a yellowish color with dark inclusions - this is normal and does not indicate damage to the material.

• Walnut . We are talking about walnuts, which are distinguished by their high density. This material lends itself well to processing, can be polished, varnished, and painted. The structure of the wood is dense, the lines of the fibers are often located in curved directions, so the product looks quite interesting.

Walnut is the most affordable material option. It should be taken into account that when dried, wood is highly deformable, but in its finished form the material can even undergo excessive exposure to moisture.

Wood Walnut

In addition to the listed wood species, when making a knife handle, you can use ebony or wenge - tropical plants that are distinguished by their high density, pink, red and brown shades. This material is very expensive because it is resistant to moisture, insects, and mold/mildew.

How to make a handle from wood

Stages of making a wooden knife handle:

1. Sawing wooden blocks, the thickness of which varies within 1 cm. You can make several different bars and place them on the handle alternately - this will diversify and make the appearance more beautiful.
2. Sanding the workpiece. This is done with grinding machines, and the work is brought to perfection with sandpaper. The stage begins only after the future handle has been given the desired shape.
3. Product impregnation. Usually, the wooden handle is first impregnated with linseed oil; for this you can use mineral oil or varnish intended for processing utensils.
4. Handle polishing. After the handle has completely dried, you need to rub it with zero-grit sandpaper, then lubricate the surface with wax and polish it with a piece of felt or felt.

Watch the video on how to make a knife handle with your own hands:

From bone

Bone knife handles are distinguished by their beautiful appearance, durability and lack of ability to absorb foreign odors. Most often, horns, tusks, shells and skeletal bones of animals are used to make such a product. Disadvantages of handles for knives made from the following materials:

• excessive softness (easily scratched);
• low resistance to cracking;
• if the handle has come into contact with blood or fat, then it becomes very slippery;
• heavy weight - it’s inconvenient to work with a knife for a long time, your hand gets tired too quickly.

Most often, deer or elk antlers are used to make a handle; their surface resembles tree bark. The material does not require lengthy processing; light sanding of the surface is sufficient. The bone handle does not have any metal inclusions, because this material itself is a decoration of the instrument.

You can make not a full-fledged handle for a knife, but decorative linings. For this purpose, bones and horns of domestic animals are often used - for example, rams. If you choose natural tusks and bones for work, then you can also make a shaped handle for a knife - various images can be cut perfectly on them.

Experts believe that bone handles serve a decorative role and are not practical to use..

Acrylic

Acrylic knife handles are easy to manufacture, have a large selection of colors, and are easy to use. There are ready-made acrylic bars on sale for making similar products, which are available in different colors and can be used to make solid (mounted) handles or applied (riveted) handles.

You can prepare an acrylic blank yourself, for which you first make a template for the future pen - it repeats its shape and size. You will need 2 of these templates, because the handle will be overhead. Next, epoxy resin and acrylic glue are mixed in equal proportions, the mixture is poured into the workpiece and left for 48-72 hours to completely dry/harden.

When mixing two components, you can add dye to them. If you stir the mixture thoroughly, the shade will be uniform. If you limit yourself to a short stirring, then the “output” will be a pen with original marks.

Birch bark

The simplest and most affordable material for making a handle is birch bark, because to work with it you will need a minimal set of tools. The biggest advantage of birch bark handles is the presence of birch tar in the material; it protects the entire product from rotting and mold. This material has very low thermal conductivity, so a knife with a birch bark handle will work comfortably both during the heat and during winter frosts.

A birch bark handle is made from the topmost layer of birch - it is cut into small fragments, coated with epoxy resin and the bundle is clamped in a vice until completely dry. Next, all that remains is to shape the handle, sand it and coat it with varnish or impregnation. The entire manufacturing process will take no more than 1 day.

Cut out wooden blocks Make several different plates from birch bark String the plates, wash with epoxy glue The bars are removed and pressed in a vice Grinding the workpiece Polishing and the birch bark handle is ready

The only but very significant drawback of such a pen is its ability to absorb all foreign odors. That is, after cutting fish or meat, getting rid of the “aroma” will be very difficult, almost impossible.

Plastics

High-quality modern plastic has the following characteristics:

• long service life;
• does not absorb odors;
• does not rot, delaminate or crack;
• withstands even prolonged exposure to water;
• has low thermal conductivity.

Knives with plastic handles fit very comfortably in the hand and are light in weight, so you can work with them for a long time without signs of stress or fatigue.

Making a handle for a knife out of plastic yourself will be very problematic - you will need a specific tool, and the fastening of the handle will have to be carefully thought out. Experts do not recommend experimenting; it is advisable to use ready-made solutions from stores.

Rubber plastics

Rubber plastic is a synthetic fiber that is lightweight, practical and low cost. This material can be combined with wood or leather, which allows you to make knife handles of different designs.

The material does not absorb moisture, does not slip in the hand, does not conduct electric current, does not absorb odors and can be used for a long time even at the lowest air temperatures.

Making a handle from rubberized plastic is simple: you need to cut out blanks of the desired shape and size from a piece of material, then connect them to the tail of the blade and fix them with glue. You will need to clamp the finished handle in a vice and leave it until completely dry (about 24-36 hours).

Synthetic fibers

If you have a ready-made knife handle, but you need to make it more convenient to use, then synthetic fibers such as Kevlar, Dacron or Cordura are suitable for the job.

Advantages of synthetic fiber winding:

• are on free sale;
• are characterized by low cost;
• resistance to external aggressive influences;
• It is possible to replace the winding with a new one. Cordur Kevlar

Textolite also belongs to such materials - it does not absorb odors, moisture, does not crack under the influence of ultraviolet rays, and does not slip in the palm of the hand during the work process. The textolite is attached to the tail of the blade with rivets. The only drawback is the lack of aesthetics in a handle made of such material, but the level of practicality is as high as possible.

Blueprints

You can make drawings for a knife handle yourself, but it is much easier to find ready-made solutions - for example, a universal handle is made according to a classic drawing.

Knife handle drawing

Attachment to blade

After all the work steps described above are completed, you will need to attach the handle to the blade. And it is better to do this with the help of rivets - they are practically invisible, will not spoil the appearance of the finished product, and their reliability is at a high level.

The handle is attached to the shank of the blade; for reliability, you can treat the edges of the workpieces with glue and connect them. Only after this can you begin to decorate the handle - for example, work with a burner or apply a design by cutting. You can get by with regular winding using multi-colored threads made of synthetic fibers.

How to properly wrap a knife handle

Correct wrapping of a knife handle using paracord (synthetic rope):

1. Place the cord on one side of the handle, secure it near the knife blade and along the entire handle. The cord (its short end) should extend slightly beyond the handle. The tape should hold it tightly to the handle.
2. Perform movements with paracord, making loops. They should fit snugly not only to the handle, but also to each other. Each loop begins and ends at the section of the cord where it is secured with tape.
3. Tie the loose ends of the cord. This is done after the paracord has completely wrapped around the handle. If there are holes on the handle, then the ends of the cord are passed through it and then only tied. But you can do this without a hole - it is important to make the strongest possible knot.

You can wrap it in a cross pattern - in this case, both ends of the cord are used, so after fixing the paracord with tape, there should be a long free end (at least 30 cm). When finishing the work, you can make a loop when tying a knot - the knife can be hung on your hand.

Handle decoration

Handle decoration can be very diverse:

Decorating a knife handle can also be complex - for example, from precious/semi-precious stones, made in several different techniques. But at home, the most affordable types of jewelry are braided, notched, and leather decor.

Leather

The simplest way to decorate a leather knife handle is to wrap it with a thin leather strap and secure it to the base with glue. The result is an original relief, and the tool itself lies very comfortably in the hand and allows you to work for a long time without fatigue.

It is important to fulfill the following conditions:

1. the handle is degreased before decorating;
2. then regular shoe glue is applied to the prepared surface (it must dry completely);
3. leather strips are wrapped around the handle with an overlap.

After wrapping the leather is finished, you need to bring the handle to the fire (above it) and warm it up slightly - the glue will “float”, it will be possible to move the decor to the side of the handle. The pen is then dried again.

Braid

Braiding is the wrapping of synthetic materials and cords around the handle. The material is chosen at your own discretion, but experts do not recommend using cords that are too thick. If you select multi-colored material, then you need to ensure that each cord is of the same thickness.

The braid can be classic or made with a cross or a spike. The use of multi-colored fibers allows you to create unique designs on the knife handle.

Notch

Notches on the handle of a knife are made only on wood and before the material is treated with impregnation and varnish. Notches can be made in different directions and even different depths.

You will need to work either with special wood cutters or a thin file. It is highly advisable to first draw future notches on paper in the full scale of the handle and only then apply them directly to the product.

The notches must be processed with zero-grit sandpaper and only after that they are covered with drying oil and varnish.

Synthetic materials

The scientific minds of the planet do not stand still. They invent new materials for making handles. They try to increase grip, increase durability, and reduce the weight of the handle. There are many brands and names of synthetic materials.

G-10

The material is very famous among knife enthusiasts. It is also known as fiberglass composite. The production technology involves soaking pieces of fiberglass in resin and then compressing them. It is considered the best material for the handle.

It is used to make fixed blade knives. And for folding products, handle linings are made. The material is extremely durable, waterproof and lightweight. A handle made from this raw material has all the necessary properties for making survival blades.

There are special notches on the handle, this allows you to increase grip on the hand. The characteristics of G 10 are similar to carbon fiber, but at a much lower price. The material was originally manufactured for use in electronic circuit boards.

G-10 handles.

Micarta

The material is quite popular for making knife handles. It is strong, durable and safe. Micarta is a phenolic material. The manufacturing process involves soaking pieces of fabric, paper or canvas in epoxy resin.

The texture of the handle depends on the components used. This means that the result will look different, but the strength of the final product will not be affected. The resulting handle is smooth; in order to hold it well in the hand, notches are made on the surface.

knives with micarta handles.

Zytel (FRN)

The abbreviation FRN stands for glass fiber reinforced nylon. This material can be cast into any shape. The raw material has high wear resistance, moisture resistance and can withstand any bending in any direction.

All nylon strands in the composition are arranged randomly. This is what makes them durable in all directions. The most famous FRN manufacturer is Zytel®. The material is not expensive and is considered a very good budget raw material.

Reinforced fiberglass handles.

Paracord

Paracord material is rapidly gaining popularity; it can be found in many knife manufacturers.

Various companies sell separately blades with a shank, on which you can optionally wrap paracor and make a unique handle.

The material was originally intended for the manufacture of parachute lines. But today such rope is used for survival blades. You can unravel it at any time and you have a cord on your hands for any purpose.

Rope handles - paracord.

Carbon fiber/Carbon

The material has proven itself in the production of handles. It consists of carbon strands that are woven together and then turned into resin. Such raw materials are high-tech materials. It is considered one of the easiest.

And at the same time it is incredibly durable. It is also quite attractive in appearance. Also, products made from this material come in various colors. Carbon fiber can be stronger than micarta and G-10 in some cases. But it has high fragility, so you need to be careful with such a handle.

Carbon fiber knife handles.

Kraton

The material is a thermoplastic elastomer. It is a raw material made from synthetic rubber. Artificial rubber craton fits well in the hand and has high moisture resistance. Compared to natural rubber, it is resistant to heat.

Handles made of this material come in various types and sizes. Raw materials do not have many color options. But there is one significant drawback: the material has a porous structure. This is why it absorbs odors. The handle may lose its attractive appearance a little over time.

Kraton handles.

Materials and tools

Valuable wood is used for the knife handle. Walnut and maple are considered the best; beech, cherry, birch, oak and many others are used. They have a beautiful texture, sufficient strength, high surface quality after grinding and a long service life.

When choosing raw materials, you need to pay attention to the presence of shells and humidity - overdried material will crack, and too damp material is susceptible to decomposition. The required humidity should not exceed 12-15%. Stale material is also not suitable for work.

To process wood you will need impregnation. Flaxseed oil or dish varnish or pure mineral oil are suitable.

Impregnation is needed to protect the finished product from moisture, and with good polishing it gives shine, emphasizing special elegance. For the final stage of processing you will need wax, rosin, turpentine, as well as zero grade sandpaper.

If the choice is made on the mounted method, then epoxy resin and wood sawdust are needed for reliable fastening. For the overhead method, you will need a copper, brass or bronze rod and also epoxy glue.

Tools for manual processing include a hacksaw, plane, chisels, rasps, scrapers, abrasive stones, and a vice. You can also use power tools: electric drill, electric jigsaw, chisel and others.

Making your own handle

It may happen that the handle on the knife may deteriorate. Do not rush to throw away the blade, especially if it is dear to you. Using inexpensive materials, you can try to make a handle with your own hands. The most budget-friendly and simplest option would be to make a handle from wood.

Required Tools

Let's consider the option of mounted mounting of the handle. The method is quite simple and does not require special tools. And we need the following:

• Sander;
• wood for the handle;
• blade with tang;
• holdfast;
• epoxy resin;
• wood hacksaw.

Requirements for size and shape

The handle should be made so that the knife fits comfortably in the hand. The most convenient option is for the handle to extend 2-2.5 cm from the arm circumference. The optimal option for a hunting knife is that when gripping, the thumb should not touch the middle, ring and little fingers.

Complex handles with grooves for fingers seem comfortable only at first glance. And it should be taken into account that such a pen is not easy to make. You should choose a straight or barrel-shaped version, this will allow you to produce a universal type of cutting.

Comfortable knife grip.

Product drawings

To make a mounted handle, you will need a small wooden block, which is then shaped using a hacksaw in accordance with the template. To make the process easier, here are a few examples of finished product drawings. Already in accordance with the drawing, the required shape of the handle is cut out.

Various product drawings. with dimensions.

Attaching the handle to the blade

The mounted handle is attached to the blade using epoxy resin or good glue. It is necessary to drill a hole in the wooden blank; the blade shank will be inserted there.

After trying the parts together, epoxy resin should be poured into the hole.

To prevent adhesive from getting on the blade, it should first be wrapped with masking tape. Then you need to place the product in a carpenter's vice for 24-48 hours until the glue dries completely. At the final stage, the handle is turned from a block of the required shape.

Installation of a horse-drawn handle.

What types of knife handles are there: size, thickness

The handle for a knife should have an individual size; the thickness, for example, should be selected personally: it should fit comfortably in the hand and not be too thick or too thin. In the first case, the knife will fall out of the hand, in the second, the fingers and the entire hand will be constantly under tension and it will not be possible to work with the tool for a long time.

As for the length of the handle, the most convenient/practical parameters are 11-13 cm.

Team, combined

Prefabricated, combined knife handles are the most popular options. In their production, the same material is used, but of different types - for example, on one handle there may be 3-4 species of trees, they are sometimes even delivered from different continents.

When such a handle is made, first a set of combined materials is made, then they are dried/glued, and only after that they begin to be processed - the master will shape the already assembled handle.

Knife handle pommel

The uppermost part of the handle, its top is called the pommel of the knife handle. It can be made of metal - brass, copper, steel and be of various shapes - from a regular ball to an imitation of a lion or owl head.

It is important that the pommel is not too heavy and massive - the knife will literally become “unliftable”; even a successful choice of material and shape of the tool’s handle will not allow it to work for a long time.

The pommel is always an independent unit from the point of view of the entire structure; it can be used to connect parts of the handle (for example, with a combined type), serve solely as decoration, or be installed to correct the balance of the product.

For edged weapons

Edged weapons are knives with handles made of any material; among modern ones, acrylic and plastic are popular because they have the following properties:

• are not exposed to aggressive external factors;
• do not rot, do not mold;
• do not absorb moisture and do not slip in the palm;
• do not absorb odors;
• easy to clean.

Melee weapons are often selected based on the blade/blade and, according to experts, this is correct. Moreover, the handle can always be replaced - plastic and acrylic are repairable.

For hunting knives

For hunting knives, wooden handles are most often made, onto which various patterns are applied. Usually the handle has a convex shape, its thickness is selected according to the size of the palm of the future owner, the length rarely exceeds 13 cm.

If it is possible to find tusks, horns or bones, then it is better to make a handle for a hunting knife from these materials - they do not absorb odors, do not slip in the hand, and do not withstand the aggressive effects of water. And you can also make patterns on bone handles.

Large hunting knife Pike-perch Small hunting knife Skinner

Form

In addition to the three standard types, the shape of the knife handle can be:

• Convex . This is the most convenient option, which is suitable for knives of various types - from hunting to professional kitchen. They may have a thickening in the middle part of the handle or a narrowing - the second option is not very practical, but many people get used to it.
• Concave . Very easy to use, they always have grooves for your fingers, a knife with such a handle always fits comfortably in your hand. The only drawback is that such handles are not suitable for all types of knives: for example, they are never used for cutting knives.
• Persistent . Their shape resembles brass knuckles, they are considered non-functional and often serve as decoration for the instrument. However, knives with persistent handles are often used for cutting large pieces of meat.
• Flat . They are never used for long work, because the edges of the handle dig into the palm, cause discomfort and force the hand to be constantly in a state of tension. But such knives take up little space and are compact.

Mounting type: mounted, overhead

The handle can be attached to the blade in two ways - mounted and overhead.

Horseback

This type has the following advantages:

• has an attractive appearance;
• using this method, any type of handle, any shape of it, is attached to the blade;
• the weight of the riding handles is low;
• they can be repaired and completely replaced;
• has a low level of heat/electrical conductivity.

With the mounting type, the handle can be attached using two-component glue, a pommel, or a pin. Professionals note that this mount has a significant drawback - it is not as strong as an overhead one.

Overhead

A knife with an overhead type of handle attachment has a long shank, which must be completely identical to the shape of the handle. Plates (linings) are attached to this shank (an extension of the metal blade) and secured with screws or rivets.

Advantages of overhead handles:

• simplicity of production;
• maximum strength of the entire structure.

This type of knife handle attachment has some disadvantages:

• the weight of the product is quite large (due to the presence of a shank);
• limited choice of handle shape and size;
• the level of thermal and electrical conductivity is very high.

It is believed that it is unlikely that you will be able to work with a knife with an attached handle for a long time, for example, in the cold - your hand will quickly freeze and get tired. But the strength of such a tool is so high that it outweighs all its disadvantages.

Why do you need a kumara on a knife handle?

Often plates made of kumaru are used on the handle of a knife, which are considered not only decoration, but also material for creating an almost eternal tool. This tree grows in South America, its second name is “iron tree”. The plant is not subject to any destruction: it does not rot, is not destroyed by insects, and is not susceptible to the negative influence of mold and mildew.

Kumara is very difficult to process due to its incredible hardness/density, so when making handles, plates that have already been pre-processed on professional machines are used. Such additional pads will protect the main material of the handle from damage.

If you believe the legends of some peoples in South America, then it is this tree that protects a person from evil spirits and negative energy. If you study any instrument with handles in these tribes, then on each you can find linings and inserts made of coumarin.

Various interesting shapes

You can also find interesting forms that are distinguished by non-standard execution.​​

Recommendations for design and finishing

The unique design of the handle will help emphasize the individuality of the product. When decorating the handle, the master can show unlimited imagination and creativity. Engraving, figured cutting and braiding are considered traditional.

You can thread a cord or brush into a special hole under the lanyard. A cast or figured pommel looks pretty good on the handle. You can apply a pattern to the handle using a burner. You can also use paints and decorate the black.

What materials for the handle are better?

NaturalSynthetic

What characteristics should a tree have?

Craftsmen rely not only on the decorative qualities of wood, but also on the properties of the material. The following points are considered the main and most important:

• The strength of the raw material is very important. The handle of any knife is subject to constant stress. The wood should not warp or crack during operation;
• The moisture resistance of wood is considered important. The master should pay special attention to this. The knife will inevitably end up in a damp environment.

Handles made from various types of wood.

Suitable tree species for knife handles

Everyone knows that a knife consists of two most important components - the handle and the blade. The second can be purchased ready-made. But for the handle you should choose a type of wood of decent quality.

There are many types of trees, they have different mechanical and physical properties.

The following trees are mainly used: acacia, walnut, oak, boxwood, wenge and birch. It doesn’t matter which tree you choose, the main thing is that it is well dried. At the final stage of making the handle, craftsmen impregnate it with oils, wax or drying oil.

This protects against external negative influences and significantly improves the decorative qualities of the material. Thus, the life of the product is extended. Exotic trees are used to make expensive handles.

Birch wood for knife handle

The material is very good and easy to work with. But its only drawback is its lack of expression. The knife handle will look quite simple. But this material perfectly emits ivory. Lightness and affordability are the most important advantages of raw materials.

Birch knife handles.

Oak wood for making a handle

This material is very resistant to external irritants, has good strength and will last a long time. Oak is more difficult to process than some other tree species. But this matter can be corrected with modern equipment of the master. The raw material has a very beautiful pronounced texture.

Oak handles.

Unusual handmade knives

The history of ancient knives goes back centuries. Even in the primitive Paleolithic period, our ancestors used stone or flint products.

The most ancient knives began to be strengthened with wood or bone handles. With the advent of metal smelting and processing technologies, the first copper and bronze blades appeared. The Iron Age squeezed out soft metals and alloys, and strong steel came into everyday life. Blades are now primarily made from carbon or alloy steel, which is subjected to specialized thermomechanical processing.

Many knives are handcrafted from a wide variety of strange materials. They look stunning and unimaginable, as if pictures from science fiction novels had come to life.

Handmade knife.

There are masters in the world. They will cook porridge from an ax, and sew boots from thin air, and forge knives from garbage. Cutting tools made from the following materials look very aesthetically pleasing and practical:

1. From chains.
2. An attractive way is to use a gas key with preserved carvings.
3. Various wrenches, spanners, sockets, and open-end wrenches also have the opportunity to serve a second time.
4. An old Soviet key that has not survived frequent use. The broken end can be turned into a cool blade.
5. A straight razor comes out of a dialed spanner.
6. From a universal wrench, the blade will have an excellent damask engraving.
7. Made from steel cable.
8. From crankshaft connecting rods
9. From files. The knives are very diverse, strong and beautiful.