Favorite pommel and guard materials...

[skypeace]

Over time I have come to recognize that my favorite pommel and guard material is brass. Aluminum is just too light for me in a fixed blade. Lately, most of Buck offerings have been in aluminum. I love the micarta handles and the SV steel blades but they seem like such a waste in aluminum pommels and guards. Which is your favorite material and what to you prefer, or does it even matter to you?

 

[eveled]

On a Buck I prefer Aluminum. Brass is too heavy. Handle heavy knives ride poorly on a belt.

The Brass ones my boys bought patina oddly not the nice patina on a 110.

 

[Huntsmanknivesandaxes]

Steel and Brass, simple for fixed blades and Engraved for folders..

 

[MT_Pokt]

I dont really have a preference other than how it makes the knife feel.
A longer / heavier blade may benefit from the brass or nickel to give more balance, whereas a shorter / lighter blade might benefit from aluminum for the same reason. The weight of the handle material needs to be considered as well.

I'm more of a "form follows function" guy so my material preference may not be the best decision all things considered.

That being said, Mokume with brass, copper, and nickel is something I always wanted to use on a fixed blade. I have a couple of chunks in my shop somewhere that are going on a 101 one of these days..

How about wood?

This old El Cajon dagger has stag, micarta spacers, a brass guard and mesquite pommel.

 

[Lesknife]

I’m not to particular but I prefer brass on the smaller ones like 105 and smaller. The bigger ones 119 and up aluminum is alright. I think my 120 cocobolo/ brass weighs about 11.4 oz and my 124 with micarta and aluminum weighs 13 oz. I can imagine if it were brass it would be a pound ! And for sheath I prefer the scout style as it don’t seem to mind the extra weight of brass.

 

[st8yd]

For weight I don't really have a preference.
For aesthetics I like shiny brass, don't like it dull, same with NS.
I don't mind the aluminum, but it does seem to scratch easily.
I prefer SS as it doesn't tarnish.
I think titanium would work well as it doesn't seem to tarnish or rust.
Damascus is pretty but don't want carbon steel for rust.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I just really love brass myself.
Aluminum is perfectly fine and I have no complaints but would rather it be brass honestly.

 

[GPyro]

Easy.
G10.
View attachment 1873016

 

[brianv]

Easy.
G10.
View attachment 1873016

That is a beauty! I'm not picky about my pommel or guard material but it is really nice when we have a choice. At least in the custom shop.