What wood type for a custom Buck Knife?

[KnifeWizard]

I am looking at buying a custom buck 501 squire, but don't know what handle material looks best. It's one thing to see the wood on the Buck website, but it's another to see it in real life. I am looking at either getting the 501 in Walnut, ironwood or buckeye burl. If anyone can post pictures of these woods or give any advice, it would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[redcanoe]

If you post this over on the Buck section of this forum I think you will get a better response.

 

[Horsewright]

I've used Ironwood many, many times. It is one of my favorite handle materials. Very strong and durable, it is one of those great woods where the finish is part of the wood not applied. Sand to a high grit and buff. That's it. This characteristic makes repair to a handle that has been scratched or dinged easy. There is a lot of burl type ironwood out there in the knife world but I prefer a little more straight grained stuff. Seems to be a little rarer and perhaps not quite as brittle as the burl. Ironwood has a luminescent quality that is for me at least hard to photograph. Ya move it around in the sunlight and you can see a glistening and depth, a 3dness to the wood that few other woods have.

I've used lots of walnut too. These knives are Exhibition Grade Turkish Walnut. Walnut is more difficult to work with than Ironwood. Its softer and requires greater care in finishing. It can be very beautiful but care by the maker is needed. Lots of times walnut likes to have a bigger canvas to paint on than a knife handle. I once asked a custom rifle maker why walnut was the wood of choice for gun stocks, (his rifles start at five figures and rapidly rise to six, cost of materials for such a gun simply isn't a consideration; these pics below are all from stock cutoffs from his rifles). His reply was for the weight, it was the hardest wood. So there are harder woods out there but they weigh much more. Probably not too much of a consideration on a knife handle but could be I guess. Anyhoo some pics:

I have used Buckeye burl on several occasions but it has been years ago now. It is definitely the softest and least durable of the three. A good piece can be spectacular. I don't have any pics of any of those knives.

 

[katanas]

I can't post any pics, sorry but I have some with buckeye burl which are truly beautiful and interesting. I believe, however, how interesting may depend on the particular piece you get; not an expert.

 

[ATJ999]

I personally like Ironwood or Buckeye Burl. Always liked Burls. This is all about personal choice, likes and dislikes. You're the only one that could decide which. IMO
Good luck, and enjoy the knife!