Recreational Holidays

What Are Bowie Knife Handles Made Out Of?

When it comes time to choose that new bowie knife, you’ll have quite a few things to consider. One of the most important is what type of handle material you want. While blade length and the actual style of the blade are certainly vital questions to answer, choosing the right handle is imperative. The right handle choice will give you a bowie knife that offers a great grip, the look and feel that you want, and will also play a role in the durability and longevity of your knife. What materials can you choose from?

Wood - Wood is the traditional choice for bowie knife handles. You might find that the knife you like offers a solid wood handle, though most feature two wood “scales” or halves joined with rivets and other hardware. The hardware might be made of brass, silver or steel, depending on the model that you choose. Some popular woods used for bowie knife handles include walnut, cocobolo, oak and much more.Wood can be shaped easily, so that it has any type of style desired, or it can be made to resemble other materials.

Metal - Metal is a popular choice for bowie knife handles, particularly for those based on militaristic themes. You will find metal handles offer excellent grip, thanks the patterning they bear. You will also find them available in a wide range of colors, from black to silver, blue and many other colors, as well. Of course, the metal used in the handles varies from knife to knife, ranging from steel to stainless steel and other options.

Other options for handle material include plastics, composites, bone and even linen (hardened with a special manufacturing process). Each of these offers unique benefits, whether that be cost reduction, lighter weight or even longer lasting durability. Bone, in particular, is ideal for any bowie knife that you might want to display, as well as for those knives that will actually see use in the real world. However, before you can choose any of these materials, you should know what you want in a handle, as well as what to look for under the handle.

You should ensure that the knife you purchase has a full tang, rather than a rattail tang, as this provides better durability and solidity for your knife. You should also ensure that the bowie knife that you choose features a good grip - slick handles will betray you in the end and can lead to injury quite easily.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knifes store featuring the Cold Steel rubber training knife.