Tell me about Bocote

[Bmurray]

Possibly looking at another KE Bushie and bocate has sparked my interest recently. Any pros and cons about this handle material?

 

[bladesmith3]

Bocote is a great wood almost like ironwood but Bocote trees grow to enormous size. some are very figured. I have made numerous knives from it. all the customers are happy.
my custom pool cue is also Bocote and I have been using it and getting compliments for years. I think you will like it.

 

[Choppaman]

Possibly looking at another KE Bushie and bocate has sparked my interest recently. Any pros and cons about this handle material?

I have a few knives in Bocote and love the wood. The grain is beautiful. I just purchased a block from robswildwood to use some day on a knife. I cannot think of any negatives for this material. Give it a try. You have me to fall back on if you don’t like it!

 

[Rick Lowe]

What those guys said, Bob. Good stuff for handles with very interesting grain patterns.

 

[thurin]

I have it on a few knives, including my most carried Fiddleback - a Hiking Buddy. Great figure. Haven't had issues with shrinkage in the dry climate here like I've had with some other woods. Good stuff.

 

[Choppaman]

Just look at the beauty of Bocote!

(the sheath is from John at Badger Claw Leatherworks)

 

[SA Condor]

I’ve had Bocote on my FF Runt from @Luca917, a Bark River (when I was just beginning to dable with decent fixed blades. It has been gifted to my brother.), and my 2015 BF slipjoint. The BRKT and FF have awesome grain and are real lookers. The BF knife doesn’t share the same beauty, but it still has a nice in hand feel. I put it up there with IW.

I’ll add some pics later

 

[Southern Gent]

There is a Bocote Duke out there somewhere that is one of the few knives that sticks in my mind of the thousands I've handled and regret not picking up when I had the chance. Everyone should have at least a bit of Bocote in the collection.

 

[Bmurray]

I think a Bocote 3/32" handyman is what I'm needing. I would even trade my 1/8" TT Osage handlyman for one.

 

[Fiddleback]

I have a very high opinion of Bocote. It is dense and hard and oily and very stable by its nature. However, where Ironwood is heavy it is so dense, Bocote is not. Where Ironwood is greasy it is so oily and destroys belts and leaves a stink on a knifemaker who grinds it, Bocote does not. And where Ironwood will turn very dark when exposed to sunlight, Bocote darkens in a very endearing way. I think it may be the most ideal handle wood there is.

It is also very pretty stuff.

 

[Choppaman]

YES, what Fiddleback says!! and the beauty!! so many variables of grain as well. I will have more!

 

[Tim the Wizard]

I approve

 

[Scotcha]

Bocote is a very nice wood. Here’s one in bocote that I regret letting go.

 

[Bmurray]

Bocote is a very nice wood. Here’s one in bocote that I regret letting go.
View attachment 779866

would love to have that one

 

[prom52]

Booyah for Bocote

 

[Fiddleback]

Sexy knives!

 

[SA Condor]

As promised, here’s my pics.

Here’s the BRKT Little Creek that I gifted my brother. It’s a pic from when I got my first FF knife. My beloved OD Runt with black and lime green liners. The Runt got lost/stolen



Here’s my Bocote Runt from our stand up friend Tony! For some reason I can’t find any pics on my phone, so I’ve borrowed Vance’s.




Here’s the Canal Street BF 2015 Knife

 

[crex]

I like it almost as much as black locust....but not quite. Great wood, very stable and easy to work. I agree with Andy, really not anything like D Ironwood.

 

[Bmurray]

I like it almost as much as black locust....but not quite. Great wood, very stable and easy to work. I agree with Andy, really not anything like D Ironwood.

Yes black locusts is nice. Adam bought that sweet one of yours at the gathering.