How are pearl handles made?

[Cassull]

I'm looking at some custom (and not so custom, like Bark River) knives and I see these beautiful pearl handles on them and wonder how are they made?

Pearls are small round beads that are essentially made out of compressed sand and thus extremely brittle. How do they 'stretch' them out to form complete handle scales?

Are they actual pearls or some sort of plastic/glass composite made to look like pearls?

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

They are cut from oyster shells. The shells are lined with the same Nacre that the oyster coats a pearl with. Different species make different color pearl or Nacre. There is white, gold and black pearl.

http://www.knifehandles.com/pearl-types

 

[Cassull]

They are cut from oyster shells. The shells are lined with the same Nacre that the oyster coats a pearl with. Different species make different color pearl or Nacre. There is white, gold and black pearl.

http://www.knifehandles.com/pearl-types

Awesome, thanks!

They do seem like they'd be a bit brittle though. Oyster shells aren't known for being the sturdiest substances.

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

These shells are around 1/8in thick and are pretty sturdy, just don't drop them.

 

[Bigfattyt]

And pearls are not made of "compressed sand".

They are made of secretions from the oyster, which basically coat the piece of sand or other irritant with shiny inner shell material.



Shell handle material won't be the sturdiest. It won't respond well to dropping it hard surfaces, or hitting it etc.

Looks pretty, and is a stable material (it should not warp, shrink etc) from changes in moisture, heat, etc.

 

[McAhron]

I've handled plenty of 100+ year old revolvers and knives still intact.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I've handled plenty of 100+ year old revolvers and knives still intact.

Funny you said that, I was thinking this exact thing, and was too lazy to post it!

I would not throw, or do any heavy chopping with a pearl handled knife, but I would have no hesitation carrying one in my pocket!!!!

 

[LX_Emergency]

They are cut from oyster shells. The shells are lined with the same Nacre that the oyster coats a pearl with. Different species make different color pearl or Nacre. There is white, gold and black pearl.

http://www.knifehandles.com/pearl-types

And pink.... And various forms of Abalone which is very multicoloured.

 

[Hengelo_77]

Pearl handles are MOP ; Mother of Pearl.

 

[Brooks2]

Pearl handles look pretty great but they are pretty expensive and their appearance can be imitated easily by plastics or synthetic meterials.