Cherry Wood or Indigo Royal Wood?

Lenny · Dec 4, 2012

Thinking about one of these handle materials for a custom 501.
Does anybody have a knife with one of these woods?
Pix would be great.
Are they from Cherry Wood or Indigo Royal Wood Trees?
Dumb question, I know but I never heard of these woods.
Or are they some sort of composite?
Do they hold up like regular wood?
Oak would be my third choice.
Thanks all.
Lenny

Plumberdv · Dec 4, 2012

They're dyed laminates and whether or not you like them is personal taste. To me, they just look fake and artificial. The oak (my personal favorite of the inexpensive handle materials) and walnut on the other hand actually look like wood and are really nice in my opinion. I don't have an idigo blue but I do have a "Cherrywood" or two. I'll try to find some pictures to post.

Being resin impregnated, they should hold up at least as well if not better than regular solid wood scales.

Here's an example of Cherrywood and although it's not from the custom shop, it is a good example of the color. Just too red to be real, sort of like cherry koolaid. I have cabinets in my motorhome with real cherrywood and trust me, the Buck stuff isn't even close.

Lenny · Dec 4, 2012

Thanks Plumberdv.
Think I'll stick with the Oak.
Lenny

Plumberdv · Dec 4, 2012

Sorry that I have no 501's from the custom shop to show but here's a couple more 110's in cherrywood, with and without rivets:

Here's a couple of oaks with and without rivets:

sitflyer · Dec 4, 2012

Plumberdv, do you have an edge pic of the Oak? That one looks to be real wood. As for the OP's question about how will they hold up, the impregnated wood is stabilized, and will hold up exceptionally well, it can be sanded and buffed to an as new finish if scratched, and will not swell or shrink with varying degrees of humidity/ moisture exposure like un treated wood. It is a far more stable and predictable material, but to me it feels like plastic.

Plumberdv · Dec 4, 2012

Those are the only pictures that I have at the moment. I'll try to locate the knife and get some edge shots but I remember it being or at least looking like solid oak and not a laminate.

JK Knives · Dec 5, 2012

Indigo 110. I also have a 503 with the same material.

Lenny · Dec 5, 2012

Well, the cherry wood and indigo royalwood don't look that bad.
However, I'm really put off by the "plastic feeling" comments.
I used to have a custom 110 with Oak and it was gorgeous.
That's what I'm going with.
Lenny

sitflyer · Dec 5, 2012

Lenny, please take that comment with a grain of salt...it is a very personal observation, and I am a woodworker hobbyist. The laminates are a great handle material.

bertl · Dec 5, 2012

I think what bothers me about the cherry handles is the stain/dye that is used and the final finish. It's red, and cherry wood doesn't look like that at all. I agree with Sit; the laminates are good handle material. I made a living building custom cabinets and furniture for 25 years and am convinced that quality laminates have their use.

bertl · Dec 5, 2012

One other thing, the wood for the laminate is not actually cherry. Just staining it red doesn't make it cherry.

gastonian · Dec 5, 2012

Plumberdv said:

Generally I dont care for the finger grooved 110s, but it really looks nice with that oak!

Scott Hartman · Dec 5, 2012

Nice 110s Dave! Here's a photo of a 501 with the Blue, mine is stained so dark it's almost black

Plumberdv · Dec 5, 2012

Thanks Scott, the oak fg with rivets is the second favorite custom shop 110 that I own (favorite is one with great KOA flame wood and BG-42 blade). I have a number of others with in various configurations and handle material, but the oak just somehow rings my chimes.