Doug,
All of the comments are great considerations. I too believe that the Border Patrol handle shows up quality grain and color the best.
Be sure to stabilize the wood and let it sit in a properly controlled environment as long as you can possibly wait. I have had dense handle materials such as Musk-ox and Lignum Vitae move (shrink/develop hairline cracks). Especially during the heating months, you need to add moisture to the air where you store your knives and handle materials.
Tom Flynn
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Tom Flynn
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