Well in a couple of knife maker circles (Behrings/Randall's) musk ox handles are becoming quite the item. What are the choices for handle materials on Bose knives?

See Ya, Chief

Handle materials available: Micarta, black or green a variety of jigged bones in assorted colors, mother of pearl, elephant & mammoth ivory & hardwoods. I have seen a few knives with Oosic and Orange Fibermascus. I am sure there might be other materials available on special request.

Didn't realize the choices were so extensive thanks for the info.

See Ya, Chief

[WARNING: probably more than you want to know] True horn (that made of keratin - essentially compressed hair) can be quite an unstable material on knives intended to be used - especially in thin sections like pocketknife scales (which are also exposed to a lot of moisture variation on a daily basis in use). Trying to stabilize true horn scales is pretty random - often the horn will curl and distort severely while being stabilized, and even after stabilization will continue to move. (I once got the idea of recreating the gorgeous bias cut cow horn seen on some early Sheffield knives and getting it stabilized, but talking with several stabilization experts soon cured me of the idea.) Quite a number of custom makers have sworn off of using any type of true horn. Also note that certain beetles absolutely *love* to eat horn.

Maybe yes maybe no, I on the other hand tend to throw caution to the winds, I would rather have it the way that I want it so that ever time I use it I enjoy it. The next best thing to playing & winning is playing & losing Commissioning a knife just way ya want it & using it is the closest I can get to being part of the creation process of that knife!

See Ya, Chief

I have a knife where the handle is horse hoof (made by Grant Hawk). He calls it his "Pony Knife". It's a nice little fixed blade, but the handle material is definitely thicker than anything that could be used on a pocketknife. I hadn't thought about these sorts of materials before as being delicate/fragile, but I guess they are.

-Troy