Collecting folding knives is a passion. Deciding on what types of knives to collect can be a daunting question. Collecting folding knives with natural material handles is a great beginning due to wide range of choice, availability, cost, and functionality.

Range of Natural Materials

The primary natural materials for knife handles are Stag, Bone, Horn, Wood, Burl, and to a much lesser extent but generally well known seashell materials; Mother of Pearl and Abalone.

Stag, sometimes called India Stag comes from the shed antlers of the Sambar or Chital deer. Stag also comes from domestic sources; White Tail Deer, Elk, and Moose which is likely continue in light of the rising costs of India Stag. Stag can be finished with a high buffing process or may be dyed with stunning effects.

Bone comes most commonly from the shin bone of cows. Bone stands up well under regular use, dyes easily in a myriad of colors and frequently comes jigged. Jigging is a machine process which gorges out pieces of the bone in different but often distinctive patterns. By far, bone is the most popular of the commonly used natural materials.

Natural horn is a very rugged and distinctive material. Natural horn comes from Impala and domestically from Buffalo and Rams. It has a rather rustic appearance and will after many years of service begin to crack.

Wooden handles come from a multitude of hardwoods. Maple, Birch, Cocobolo and many others have successfully created handles which can stand up to years of hard use. Burls which are not a particular type of wood but are created from abnormal tree growth are very tough and come in unlimited natural designs.  Burls are prized for their natural beauty, above and beyond any particular wood.

Mother of Pearl and Abalone are natural seashell materials. Mother of Pearl comes from mollusks. It is usual white in color with iridescent hues of purple, green, pink and yellow. Abalone comes from sea snail shells and offers an iridescent range of color from pink to blue, to green and silver. Both materials are pricy and will not tolerate rough use. They tend to crack and shatter if dropped on a hard surface. Still, they are beautiful to look at and make excellent display pieces.

Availability and Cost

Stag, Bone and Wood Handles have been around for centuries in abundance. They are still the most popular of materials used in the creation of folding and fixed blade knives. For the beginning collector, this is good news as many can be purchased for less than $30 in auctions like E-Bay and a discerning eye can help you find some real bargains; costs far less than their values. If new knives are your passion be prepared to spend from $50 to $300 for some of the treasures available.

Collectability and Functionality

With so many choices, you don't have to be wealthy to attain a folding knife collection that you will enjoy having and showing to others. Take the time to look for favorite folding knives, to study your knife personal choices and engage in collection with a budget in mind. In time, you can amass a lot of good knives. Display them, store them and treat them with care and they will easily last for years. Think about it. What other type of collection can fit your budget, not clutter up your house and boast not only beauty but also practical functionality? Enjoy your passion and happy hunting!