Knives and Osage Orange

[mufb]

I've been given a big box with both Walnut and Osage Orange slabs. All have been seasoned 5+ years and have the ends waxed. Already cut in various rectangular shapes up to a foot long and up 5 inches thick. Some smaller. I've worked with walnut before, but never Osage Orange. I plan on using it for knife handles. Can anybody tell me the properties of Osage Orange? Good for handles or not? Thanks

 

[Black Hand]

Fantastic stuff. Hard and dense in the heavy growth rings, while the light growth rings are more pithy. Works great and takes a high polish. Will start out a yellow color and age to a rich brown to purplish-black.

Make fantastic bows!!!
Black Hand

 

[musketman]

Can anybody tell me the properties of Osage Orange? Good for handles or not? Thanks

Perhaps this will help...

http://www.woodworkerssource.net/Merchan...de=Osage_Orange

 

[mufb]

Thank you all. Would someone like a small block to try out?

 

[PaulN/KS]

I have used osage on a few of my knives and have had good results.It is nice wood to work with and makes a very nice looking handle.

 

[thomas]

Osage is a great wood for knife handles or any tool handle for that matter, I've used it to make self bows as well. I made a ramrod out of a split & altho a lot of work, its a great rod.

Thomas

 

[fatboy]

Hey Two hearts I sent you a IM

 

[metalbender]

Would love some if the offer is still open. I am working on a knife now that will look great with some osage orange on it. Down here in Texas they call it Hedge.

 

[adkmountainken]

osage makes beautifull knife handles. when its fresh it will look bright yellow to orange. after it seasons some it will turn a darker orange, absolutly beautifull. Matt from MLknives who is a member on this forum made me an awesome knife to go with a arm brace that another fellow made me for my longbow. here is a couple pic's.

 

[Bearbait2]

Mr.Adkmountainkin,
That is an interesting carry concept for bow hunting and a neat little knife. How long is the blade?
Best Wishes

 

[thomas]

That arm brace & knife is sweet! I love the longbow & flint as well!!!!

Thomas

 

[adkmountainken]

the blade is 4" long with the overall knife at 8 1/4 long. i like the sweep dwon to a scary pointsharp point design for bowhunting becouse i wanted a knife that would cut, stab or poke on contact. with its position on the arm gaurd i can grab it very quickly. osage is a favorite wood of mine as well, i have 3 beautifull longbows made of it.
Ken

 

[BillinOregon]

Ken: Very inspiring arm guard and knife photo. Good to hear you have three osage selfbows. It ranks right up there with yew for a bow wood, and I am sure the English yeomen of old would have been proud to pull an osage war bow against the French if they had had the wood available.