Ebony handle question

[Readyrod]

I'm curious about ebony. I just bought a Laguiole knife with an ebony handle. The knife was really old stock that was in the window for a long time. The knives with scales of other wood had cracked scales but the ebony looked fine. So is ebony especially tough or did I make a mistake in buying the knife/
Thanks

 

[Piraticalbob]

It depends on which wood species was actually used in the knife. Ebonies are from the Diospyros genus of woods, and various species of the tree are used for wood products. One variety used often in knifemaking is Macassar Ebony, which has a reputation for cracking. Other ebonies are more stable and used traditionally in piano keyboards (the black keys), for example. Confusion can be increased because a similar family of wood, African Blackwood, is often called "ebony."

You probably did well in buying the knife, as Laguiole knives (they are made by various firms under the overall name of Laguiole) have a reputation for quality. Keep it clean and out of the elements and it should last a lifetime.

 

[451 Detonics]

Are you sure it is ebony and not horn?

 

[hso]

I was wondering about horn vs. ebony and was surprised to see this-

http://www.opinel-usa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Opinel-No8-ebony

 

[Readyrod]

I was surprised that it was ebony also but that's what the box says and it just looks like ebony. It's really old stock. The salesman made a somewhat joking guess that it had been there for ten years.
It's definitely not horn tho.

 

[Carl Levitian]

Ebony is one of the hardest and most durable woods to handle a knife in. Back in the old days of Sheffield at it's hight, Ebony was used for working mans knives such as harness jacks and tradesman's knives.There are some knives in collectors hands that are well over 100 years old with ebony hands and they are in fine condition.

Carl.

 

[Readyrod]

Yea Carl, I know what you mean. The other Laguiole knives at the store all had cracked or shrunken (it looked shrunken) handles. The ebony ones were ok. After reading up about ebony a little I figured it was tough. I guess I'll find out. Makes me want to buy the Opinel ebony knife too.
You can buy ebony practice katanas at the kendo shops here and some of them are made of beautiful wood.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Woods Link

I was wondering about horn vs. ebony and was surprised to see this-

http://www.opinel-usa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Opinel-No8-ebony

Ironically, the link after the "ebony" in the spec takes you to the "woods" page, which describes all their woods . . . except for ebony.



Oh, well.

 

[rcmodel]

Ebony was once used for drive-shaft main bearings on early steamship prop shafts.

Tough stuff indeed!

rc

 

[Readyrod]

And it looks real nice with the brass bolsters.