Most hunting knives have a handle made of wood, horn, leather or plastic. But before I get into the material of the handle in detail, here is an important detail that you must pay attention to before buying: There are various techniques with which the blade can be connected to the handle. The variant shown is the most durable.

As you can see, the metal of the blade is also fully integrated in the handle. In this case, the handle material is securely fixed with rivets or screws. With cheaper knives, material is saved and only a thin middle part of the blade is pushed into the handle and then glued.

As you can imagine, the cheap version increases the risk that your hunting knife breaks under extreme loads, for example on a bone. In addition, it quickly happens that your knife heats up in the sun so much that the adhesive loosens and the blade gradually slips out of the handle.

Below is a brief overview of the different handle materials. Actually, this topic has almost become a real science. I have therefore written you a detailed article about knife handles.

I want you the biggest pre – & amp; Briefly explain disadvantages from my experience. You should not neglect the handle of a knife when making your purchase decision – the handle decides about good handling and safe working in the area.

Knife handle made of wood

A wooden knife handle has several advantages. First of all, the appearance always plays a big role when buying a hunting knife. A wooden knife handle can collect plus points here. Thanks to the fine grain and the large selection of colors, the material is in great demand.

It is important to note that the patterns on the handle are of course always different. It is therefore completely normal for your knife to look somewhat different from the product image.

The disadvantage of a hunting knife made of wood is the longevity. No matter how well the wood has been prepared for the weather conditions: wood is a natural material and will change over time. In particular, moisture and moisture affect the material.

With a wooden knife handle you should also pay attention to an ergonomic shape, because in most cases the handle is relatively smooth. A wide crossguard, a thumb guard or a non-slip shape make it extremely useful for safety reasons with a hunting knife with a wooden handle.

Horn handle

A handle made of horn is, of course, highly regarded by hunters and gatherers. Visually, the hunting knife makes the best impression with a horn handle – but of course it’s a matter of taste.

In most cases, the horn is carved with a structure so that the knife lies securely in your hand. This is a great advantage over the handles made of wood, which is even more important especially with large hunting knives.

Of course there are different types of horn and bones. Hirschhorn is used in most cases. Of course, the following also applies here: The horn on the product images will differ slightly from your knife. You have a hunting knife in your hand, which is guaranteed to be unique in this world.

The biggest disadvantage of a hunting knife with a horn handle: you can no longer clean the knife with hot water, especially not in the dishwasher. A hunting knife with a horn handle is therefore not particularly easy to care for.

Hunting knife handle made of plastic

The manufacturer has many options for a plastic reef. Before buying, you should make sure that the handle has an ergonomic shape and a non-slip structure.

Otherwise, plastic has of course the advantage over wood and horn that it does not deform even after many years. It is also resistant to moisture and sunlight. Furthermore, the plastic knife shells have a weight advantage.

A plastic handle in bright colors, for example neon orange, also makes a lot of sense for an outdoor knife. Thanks to the eye-catching coloring, you can quickly find your knife again if it gets lost in the wild.

What I personally don’t really like about a plastic handle is the “cheap” look. The knives just don’t look really high quality – a plastic handle is still practical.

You could also say that a plastic knife handle is actually the most suitable for practical reasons, the cheapest, but it doesn’t look good for it.

There are of course many other exotic handle materials, which you will find primarily in collector’s knives. Are you interested in the different types of handles? Then read on here.