Gemstone composites

[Forrest Taylor]

I'm contemplating the use of composite turquiose as a handle spacer for a bowie. Does anyone have experience with it. I know it's somewhat tricky to work with, but I'm mostly interested in how it holds up. Is it something I'm going to always be worrying about cracking if I use the knife.

 

[Cushing H.]

I'm contemplating the use of composite turquiose as a handle spacer for a bowie. Does anyone have experience with it. I know it's somewhat tricky to work with, but I'm mostly interested in how it holds up. Is it something I'm going to always be worrying about cracking if I use the knife.

Hey forrest. Ive used it a little, horsewright has used them a lot.

I personally think they work really well … they are basically small particles imbedded in a plastic (acrylic?). They drill and cut well, and sand pretty well (just go slow and keep cool). But they dont have a lot of intrinsic strength. As a spacer, or colorful segment behind a bolster and in front of a wood handle (see horsewrights examples), they should work fine

 

[12345678910]

Do a test piece

 

[Forrest Taylor]

Cool. Using it as a spacer between the wood handle and guard is exactly what I was considering

 

[Horsewright]

I've used them a lot on edc type knives that are heavily used. I've not had any problems. Many years ago I used some for complete handles and stopped after a few as they were having problems, cracks etc

I think it looks particularly well with elk or stag:

Jasper too:

Malachite:

Onyx:

Probably done 150-200 knives with these spacers.

 

[Forrest Taylor]

Thanks your input, because I was thinking they might be a bit too brittle. I plan on using it between the guard and wood handle on a hidden tang bowie.
Nice blades by the way.

 

[dwaterfield]

Thanks for this thread, Forrest. I've been meaning to try some different materials and I'm really impressed by Horsewright's work!

Any recommendation on good sources for composite turquoise? When I search I'm mainly finding finished jewelry or advice on how to use turquoise to improve my health.

 

[Forrest Taylor]

Thanks for this thread, Forrest. I've been meaning to try some different materials and I'm really impressed by Horsewright's work!

Any recommendation on good sources for composite turquoise? When I search I'm mainly finding finished jewelry or advice on how to use turquoise to improve my health.

Here's what I was planning on using

Dark Turquoise / Black Web / Gold Web

Order Dark Turquoise Material with black or gold coloring that will make for a unique and stylish knife handle. This material is durable and available in different sizes.

knifemaking.com

 

[dwaterfield]

Here's what I was planning on using

Awesome, thank you. They have a lot of interesting materials.

Kinda makes me curious about how to make them. I can find a lot of places that sell chips or crushed stone. I imagine the process would be similar to making Micarta, but that's just a guess.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I stayed out of this thread because I have never been a fan of most conposit scales. As a color spacer, it may work OK. The quality varies a lot.
These composites are usually of two types - good and bad. The good ones have a pretty strong colored acrylic medium with the stone chips cast in it. This works as long as there is not too much wear or any bending. The bad ones use the chips as well as powdered stone dust to make a stone looking composite. They break and chip out very easily.

Lapidary suppliers and online sellers carry inlay chips bags of a variety of stones.

Amazon has lots of stone chips for inlay for sale around $15 a pound.
Note - most low-cost turquoise chips are not actually turquoise, but dyed howlite. Howlite is very soft, and cheap. Natural turquoise is harder but more expensive. it would be best to spend a little more for actual turquoise chips. Check the listings thoroughly, as some is ridiculously high priced, but there is natural turquoise at affordable prices.

 

[Cushing H.]

I have also used them as spacers/accent pieces in wa handles (really similar to your hidden tang bowie). By my way of thinking, dont use them in a place where they get a lot of bending stress or impact stress (like bolster or butt location), but rather as accent pieces shielded on either side by more robust materials…

 

[Forrest Taylor]

Good points