Best Wood for Knife Handles

Today we are looking at rare and exotic types of wood for making knife handles. The original drawing of each of the listed types of wood gives the product individual beauty and unique design. It is important that the custom knife has a high quality and comfortable handle made of durable and stable wood. Knife makers use about 20 to 60 types of wood from the whole variety of wood types. Also, we use some of them to make our custom wood knife boxes.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Wood

Selecting the ideal wood for a knife handle is akin to a craftsman choosing the right steel for a blade – it’s a decision that profoundly affects the knife’s balance, resilience, and overall character. When considering hardness and density, one must seek a wood that can withstand the pressures and impacts of routine use while maintaining its structural integrity. Woods with a Janka hardness rating that’s neither too soft to dent easily nor too hard to make crafting a chore are ideal.

Moisture and decay resistance are equally vital. A good knife handle should be like a steadfast ship in a storm, impervious to humidity and resistant to rot accompanying repeated exposure to adverse conditions. With their natural oils, tropical hardwoods often provide this impermeability, ensuring longevity and ease of maintenance.

Workability, the third pillar in this triad, is about the wood’s willingness to be shaped and fashioned. It should be malleable enough to allow for the intricate workmanship that a fine handle requires, yet firm enough to hold the fine details and resist wear over time. The wood’s grain structure, too, plays a part in this, as it affects not just the ease of work but also the final aesthetic—grain patterns can transform a simple knife into a piece of art. Thus, the selection process is a meticulous one, where one weighs these factors, often finding the sweet spot in a wood that offers the perfect amalgamation of beauty, functionality, and working pleasure.

What wood is good for a knife handle?

Hardwoods are ideal for making knife handles. Also the beautiful pattern of wood is highly valued, which in itself is an excellent decoration for the knife. Properly chosen wood will complement the finished knife and add functionality and durability to it. For knife-scales used Hardwoods such as Ebony, African Tamboti, Rosewood, African Blackwood, Merbau, Wenge, Boxwood, Bubinga, Rosewood Santos, Paraguayan Quebracho, Tigerwood, Leadwood, Lacewood, Paraguayan ironwood, Arizona desert ironwood, Cocobolo, Bocote and other.

Ebony (Diospyros Ebenum)

Density is 1200 kg/m3

This is one of the most expensive and valuable types of wood. Very hard, heavy and dense with high wear resistance. Ebony is perfectly polished to a mirror-like gloss and has a beautiful pattern of alternating straight black and brown stripes.

African Tamboti (Spirostachys Africana)

Density is 1000 kg/m3

Also known as African sandalwood. A rare and very dense breed of golden brown color with dark stripes. In some areas, fine marble patterns formed by the fibers are visible. The natural oils in the wood give it a vibrant natural sheen. Wood has excellent working characteristics. Durable and despite the high density, it is well processed on the machine. It has a pleasant sweetish aroma. This valuable wood species is used in the manufacture of luxurious furniture.

Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia)

Density is 900 kg/m3

This type of wood is heavy, hard and highly durable. It is excellently polished and varnished. It has a beautiful chocolate brown color with dark stripes forming an unusual pattern. This type of wood is rated as very resistant to decay and resistant to insect damage. All over the world, this wood is considered acoustic and is used in the manufacture of expensive musical instruments.

African Blackwood (Dalbergia Melanoxylon)

Density is 1500 kg/m3

The only wood that is processed like metal. After an electric planer or thicknesser, it gives shavings that look like metal. The only type of wood that can be carved like metal. This tree is resistant to changes in humidity. It is one of the three hardest woods in the world. (Janka hardness is 4500, for comparison, Eben is in 40th place). This type of wood is not only hard but also very durable. African Blackwood is 3 times harder to break than ash.

Merbau (Intsia Palembanica)

Density is 880 kg/m3

The texture of this type of wood is quite homogeneous with a wavy arrangement of fibers that create a decorative texture. Merbau is characterized by high mechanical properties and endurance. Red-brown exotic wood of high density and strength.

Dark Wenge (Millettia Laurentii)

Density is 850 kg/m3

It is a rare and valuable species of tropical wood. Being heavy, resistant to deformation, having toughness and resistance to bending, together with exceptional wear resistance, make it an excellent material. Wenge wood has a large, straight-grained texture. Its golden and chocolate colors create a beautiful canvas, and thanks to the black veins, the tree acquires a special expressiveness and coloring.

Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens)

Density is 980 kg/m3

Boxwood is the hardest and densest wood found in Europe. Heavy, homogeneous wood species is used for products that require high wear resistance and strength. It has a uniform light yellow color. Over time, boxwood wood acquires a darker color with the same yellowish tint, but closer to brown-yellow and becomes matte. This wood is well processed. It has a unique color and characteristics. Looks great polished. After polishing, the wood becomes similar in color and texture to mammoth tusk.

Bubinga (Guibourtia spp.)

Density is 900 kg/m3

Heavy hard wood red-brown with beautiful pink and red veins. It has an unusual texture owing to frequent changes in the direction of fiber growth and other growth deviations. Wood is well processed by all types of tools and polished to a mirror finish.

Rosewood Santos (Machaerium Scleroxylon)

Density is 900 kg/m3

Decorative dense wood of chocolate color with longitudinal dark stripes. In addition to high strength and beauty, it has an impressive weight. Wood is characterized by high hardness, resistance to the negative effects of external factors and pests, wear resistance, decorative and aesthetic qualities. When processed and finished, it gives an exceptionally smooth surface and polished surfaces bring to the fore a magnificent pattern.

Paraguayan Quebracho (Schinopsis spp)

Density is 1200 kg/m3

A very hard wood of golden red color, the density of which exceeds the density of water. The word “Quebracho” comes from the Spanish “to break an ax” and is explained by the high hardness of the wood of these trees. Wood is widely used in furniture production, construction of bridges and port facilities, as well as for the manufacture of various parts, decorative figurines and knife handles.

Tigerwood (Astronium Fraxinifolium)

Density is 1000 kg/m3

Also known as Tigerwood/Goncalo Alves. The wood is brown-red in color with a contrasting striped pattern. Heavy and hard, belongs to durable breeds. Wood is excellent for processing: it is easily sanded and polished. Often used in the manufacture of handles for pistols and butts of weapons.

Leadwood (Combretum Imberbe)

Density is 1200 kg/m3

Also known as lead/crocodile wood. Rare wood, very heavy and dense, has an interesting structure. After polishing, it acquires a slightly gray metallic tint.

Lacewood (Panopsis spp.)

Density is 580 kg/m3

This type of wood is also known as silk/leopard/snake wood. Ornamental wood is pinkish or reddish-brown in color with shiny silvery spots. The clearest sign of Lacewood is the large medullary rays, which form a well-marked silky pattern of fibers. The wood pattern resembles snakeskin. The wood is dense, hard and moderately heavy

Libidibia paraguariensis (Caesalpinia Paraguariensis)

Density is 1420 kg/m3

The wood is chocolate brown. On the radial cut, there is a very small pattern similar to the wing of a partridge. The wood is very beautiful when polished. The wood is slightly oily, but not like Blackwood.

Arizona desert ironwood (Olneya Tesota)

Density is 1210 kg/m3

Drowning in water.

Extremely dense wood that is polished to a mirror finish. It is famous for its strength and beauty. It has colors from red-brown to yellow-sand. With a beautiful striped pattern. Used for knife handles as well as for carving and handicrafts. Difficult to handle manually. Ironwood products do not tend to crack but can give a chip if there are sharp corners. It is recommended to adhere to smooth forms during processing.

Lignum vitae (Guaiacum Officinale and G. Sanctum)

Wood density ranges from 1.1 to 1.4 kg/m3

Bocote is a hard, dense and stable wood that easily sinks in water. The heaviest wood sold on the market. Hardness of Bocote on the Janka scale, which measures the hardness of wood, is 4500. A beautiful brown with lighter stripes would look great on a knife handle.

Bocote (Cordia Gerascanthus)

Density is 770-1040 kg/m3

Several varieties of Cordia grow on the islands of the West Indies, in Central and South America (Brazil, Argentina). It is rare in its habitat and highly valued for its aesthetic properties. Bocote wood has an oily surface with variable luster and a fine to medium texture. The wood is solid.

Cocobolo (Dalbergia Retusa)

Density is 1095 kg/m3

The color is dark orange to deep dark red, darkening to black over time. Cocobolo is perfectly processed on a lathe and planed, but it is almost impossible to process it manually due to its high hardness. The wood contains a lot of resins that provide shine when polished, but this makes gluing difficult. Cocobolo is used for flooring, knife handles, inlays. This type of wood is considered very valuable and has a high cost, but due to its properties, the high price is justified.

Jacaranda (Jacaranda Mimosifolia)

Density is 870 kg/m3

It is a hard and heavy wood. The color is chocolate, brown with a beautiful pattern. Dries slowly in the open air, may crack. Jacaranda wood is very durable. It is rather difficult to machine due to increased hardness, which leads to rapid blunting of the cutting edge.

Where to buy better knife handle wood?

YouTube video by: Tyrell Knifeworks

Specialty Woods and Their Unique Qualities

Burl Woods: Unique patterns, prized for beauty

In knife handles, specialty woods are the gems that elevate a knife from a tool to a treasure. Burl woods, for instance, are the aristocrats of the timber world, boasting mesmerizing patterns and swirls as unique as fingerprints. These woods come from tree growths where the grain has been disrupted, creating complex, eye-catching designs. Collectors and artisans prize burls for their beauty, knowing each piece is a unique natural art form.

Stabilized Woods: Enhanced properties for durability

Stabilized woods are the seasoned warriors, having been infused with resins and polymers under high pressure to enhance their properties. This process fortifies the wood against environmental threats like moisture and temperature changes, making it a robust choice for a knife handle. The stabilization not only boosts durability but also often deepens the color, enhancing the wood’s natural beauty while making it tougher.

Hybrid Handles: Combining wood with other materials for performance

Hybrid handles are the innovative mavericks, where tradition meets modern engineering. By combining wood with materials like resin, metal, or even carbon fiber, craftsmen create handles that offer the warmth and natural feel of wood with the strength and resilience of synthetic materials. These hybrids are tailored for performance, providing exceptional grip, balance, and aesthetic appeal, making them a favored choice among those who demand both functionality and style in their knives. Each of these specialty woods brings its own set of unique qualities to the table, offering knife enthusiasts a broad canvas to find the perfect match for their blade and their personal taste.

Handle material options (video)

YouTube video by: Emberleaf Workshops

Caring for Wooden Knife Handles

Caring for wooden knife handles is akin to nurturing a fine piece of furniture—it requires attention, regular maintenance, and a gentle touch. A wooden handle needs to be cleaned with care; use a soft cloth and avoid harsh chemicals that can strip the wood of its natural oils. Periodic oiling with a suitable wood conditioner is crucial; it keeps the wood from drying out and cracking, much like moisturizer protects the skin. Choose oils that are food-safe if the knife is used for culinary purposes.

When it comes to protecting your handles from extreme temperatures and moisture, think of them as you would a cherished leather jacket. Avoid the dishwasher, don’t leave them soaking in a sink, and store them away from the heat of the stove or the prolonged dampness of a shed. These precautions prevent warping, cracking, and other moisture-related damages.

For those with a fondness for antique or well-worn handles, restoration is a labor of love. Begin by gently sanding down the handle to remove the old finish and smooth out imperfections. If the handle is very dry, a more intensive oil treatment might be necessary to rejuvenate the wood. In cases of significant damage, a skilled woodworker can often replace sections of the handle or reinforce it. With the right care, even the most time-worn handles can be brought back to life.

In conclusion

The best woods for knife handles share a triumvirate of characteristics: durability, resistance, and workability. Hardwoods with a balance of toughness and density ensure longevity and resilience. At the same time, those with natural oils offer a bulwark against moisture and decay, crucial for maintaining form and function over time. Workability allows the artisan to shape the wood into a handle that’s comfortable and a pleasure to behold.

As you select the wood for your knife handle, let personal needs and aesthetic preferences guide you. Are you crafting a knife that will see the rigors of outdoor use, or are you creating a kitchen heirloom that will slice through generations of family dinners? Your choice of wood can make all the difference.

The beauty of wooden knife handles lies in their ability to blend the natural charm of wood with the precision of a well-crafted blade, resulting in a tool that is both a pleasure to use and to display. The wood’s grain, color, and texture add a unique personality to each knife. Remember, a knife handle is more than just a functional tool; it’s a statement of craftsmanship and taste, a connection between user and utensil that grows deeper with every slice and every dice. Choose well, and your wooden-handled knife will serve you in the kitchen or the great outdoors, and pass on a story crafted by nature and honed by your hands.