<h2>Paracord</h2>

<p>As Chris H points out, this knife has a skeleton handle rather than a normal tang, and it's really intended to be used either as is, or with a paracord wrap rather than anything more solid - for more on that, <a href="https://www.wikihow.com/Wrap-Paracord-Around-a-Knife-Handle" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> is an article showing a couple of ways you can do that. </p>

<p>Considering your other options, if you really need to cover it:</p>

<h2>Wood</h2>

<p>You <em>can</em>  make a wood handle for this knife, in much the same way as you make handles for knives with full (rather than stick or enclosed) <a href="http://www.brokebladesmith.com/blog/2016/1/15/tang-types" rel="nofollow noreferrer">tangs</a>. You'll probably want to fill the void in the centre of the knife, and match the chamfer of the edge, so it will be more involved than making a handle for a full tang knife, but still very much doable (depending on your skills). I'd note that you can varnish wood to maintain it, so oiling isn't strictly necessary, it's merely one way of finishing the wood.</p>

<h2>Leather</h2>

<p>A stacked leather handle (as you've mentioned in your question) isn't really possible here as the technique relies on having a fairly large area of leather around the tang, which you don't have. You could make a wrapped leather handle, in which you cut a piece of leather to fit around the handle and sew it on over the solid foundation (<a href="https://www.instructables.com/id/Leather-Wrap/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a> article shows the technique, albeit on an axe haft rather than a knife handle), or you could even use leather thonging in the same manner as the paracord wrap.</p>

<h2>Comparing the three</h2>

<p>The paracord wrap is by far the easiest of the three methods; the other two methods require tools, more expensive materials and a fair bit of specialist knowledge; while the paracord only needs a length of easily (and cheaply) available paracord and a bit of time to follow instructions.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T18:18:10.657Z
I would say this handle is NOT made for paracord, and I come to that because of the shaping of the metal. For paracord you would use straight metal.
Willeke
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T18:23:50.067Z
Thanks @Walrus for your answer, I appreciate the time you took writing it and I'll probably decide once I get it and have a feel with it.
Idan Botbol
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T18:56:39.023Z
@Willeke I'm intrigued; those holes at the end of the handle are the give away that it's designed for wrapping with *something*. Why is it necessary for the handle to be straight?
walrus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T19:00:27.047Z
The holes at the end are to attach string to the handle, not to use them in a covering.
Willeke
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T22:10:01.343Z
I had that in mind, seems like the maker had the odd idea of making a skeleton metal made handle, as if that's how it supposed to be, naked....
Idan Botbol
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-29T08:15:21.377Z
The vaguely ergonomic shape would make wrapping in paracord or leather thongs harder than it should be. I wonder if it's meant to be a flat, easily stowed, occasional use knife. It certainly wouldn't be very comfortable for long unless in gloves
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-29T10:38:31.233Z
I have vague ideas about doing something way-out like wrapping with sisal combined with epxoy
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-27T14:30:22.820Z
2018-11-29T09:52:32.463Z
2018-11-29T09:52:32.463Z
walrus
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ei5IV.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ei5IV.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I've bought this blade, and I want to make a handle for it. the handle should be easy to make, and easy to maintain, and I also need to make sure it doesn't get in the way of the sheath.#</p>

<p>I'm considering these materials:</p>

<p>1) Wood - Taking a piece of wood would take some time, judging my skills it might turn out ugly and you need to oil and maintain it.</p>

<p>2) Paracord - I think it'll look silly, feel weird and wear over time, for a cord I can just tie a paracord to the hole in the end anyway.</p>

<p>3) Leather - that could work but I have no clue on how to approach this tang with leather straps, most videos I've seen show a thin tang with sheets of leather stacked on top of each other then shaped into form.</p>

<p><strong>Which of these would be best for an easy to make knife handle?</strong></p>

<p>Measurements:</p>

<ul>
<li>Overall Length : 18.3CM</li>
<li>Blade Length : 8.3CM</li>
<li>Handle Length : 10CM</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-26T11:58:31.777Z
Wood could be varnished, for a one-off treatment. But that looks more like it's got a skeleton handle rather than no handle at all, which makes getting the shape to match harder than a simple tang.  Have you considered casting resin around it?
Chris H
<material-selection>
Materials for an easy to make knife handle?
Idan Botbol
# Materials for an easy to make knife handle?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-25)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ei5IV.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ei5IV.jpg)

I've bought this blade, and I want to make a handle for it. the handle should be easy to make, and easy to maintain, and I also need to make sure it doesn't get in the way of the sheath.#

I'm considering these materials:

1) Wood - Taking a piece of wood would take some time, judging my skills it might turn out ugly and you need to oil and maintain it.

2) Paracord - I think it'll look silly, feel weird and wear over time, for a cord I can just tie a paracord to the hole in the end anyway.

3) Leather - that could work but I have no clue on how to approach this tang with leather straps, most videos I've seen show a thin tang with sheets of leather stacked on top of each other then shaped into form.

**Which of these would be best for an easy to make knife handle?**

Measurements:

* Overall Length : 18.3CM
* Blade Length : 8.3CM
* Handle Length : 10CM

**Tags:** material-selection

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Wood could be varnished, for a one-off treatment. But that looks more like it's got a skeleton handle rather than no handle at all, which makes getting the shape to match harder than a simple tang.  Have you considered casting resin around it?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-11-27. Score: 2

## Paracord

As username_1 points out, this knife has a skeleton handle rather than a normal tang, and it's really intended to be used either as is, or with a paracord wrap rather than anything more solid - for more on that, [here](https://www.wikihow.com/Wrap-Paracord-Around-a-Knife-Handle) is an article showing a couple of ways you can do that.

Considering your other options, if you really need to cover it:

## Wood

You *can* make a wood handle for this knife, in much the same way as you make handles for knives with full (rather than stick or enclosed) [tangs](http://www.brokebladesmith.com/blog/2016/1/15/tang-types). You'll probably want to fill the void in the centre of the knife, and match the chamfer of the edge, so it will be more involved than making a handle for a full tang knife, but still very much doable (depending on your skills). I'd note that you can varnish wood to maintain it, so oiling isn't strictly necessary, it's merely one way of finishing the wood.

## Leather

A stacked leather handle (as you've mentioned in your question) isn't really possible here as the technique relies on having a fairly large area of leather around the tang, which you don't have. You could make a wrapped leather handle, in which you cut a piece of leather to fit around the handle and sew it on over the solid foundation ([this](https://www.instructables.com/id/Leather-Wrap/) article shows the technique, albeit on an axe haft rather than a knife handle), or you could even use leather thonging in the same manner as the paracord wrap.

## Comparing the three

The paracord wrap is by far the easiest of the three methods; the other two methods require tools, more expensive materials and a fair bit of specialist knowledge; while the paracord only needs a length of easily (and cheaply) available paracord and a bit of time to follow instructions.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I would say this handle is NOT made for paracord, and I come to that because of the shaping of the metal. For paracord you would use straight metal.  
> **username_0**: Thanks @username_2 for your answer, I appreciate the time you took writing it and I'll probably decide once I get it and have a feel with it.  
> **username_2**: @username_3 I'm intrigued; those holes at the end of the handle are the give away that it's designed for wrapping with *something*. Why is it necessary for the handle to be straight?  
> **username_3**: The holes at the end are to attach string to the handle, not to use them in a covering.  
> **username_0**: I had that in mind, seems like the maker had the odd idea of making a skeleton metal made handle, as if that's how it supposed to be, naked....  
> **username_1**: The vaguely ergonomic shape would make wrapping in paracord or leather thongs harder than it should be. I wonder if it's meant to be a flat, easily stowed, occasional use knife. It certainly wouldn't be very comfortable for long unless in gloves  
> **username_1**: I have vague ideas about doing something way-out like wrapping with sisal combined with epxoy  

---

