Knife Scales and Blocks in Beautiful African Hardwoods

ProSono offers knife makers in southern Africa high-quality knife scales and blocks, in a range of beautiful African hardwoods.

Our hardwood is also suitable for custom-made cutlery and unique collectors’ items, such as swords and axes.

In this article, we cover:

the main factors to consider when choosing wood for knife making
recommended African hardwoods for knife scales and blocks
what’s involved in stabilising wood for knife handles
an overview of what we offer at ProSono.

*ProSono knife blocks and scales on exhibition.*

Best wood for knife scales and blocks: what to consider

The right wood adds to the function and beauty of a finished knife.

The nature of a project will help determine which wood characteristics are the most important. Among the factors to consider are:

Strength and durability
Hardwoods are generally the best choice because of their superior strength. These woods are dense and heavy – in some cases, almost iron-like. They’re also reasonably resistant to water and heat.

Different hardwoods vary significantly. For example, they differ in colour, grain pattern, workability and porosity. They also differ in availability and price.

knife blocks — *Knife blocks in a range of African hardwoods*.

Workability
Wood for knife scales has to be sufficiently resilient not to crack or splinter during the crafting process. It should also turn and polish well.

Some hardwoods are so hard that they require specialised equipment, such as tungsten-tipped blades, to saw.
Aesthetics
Unique colouring or grain patterns give personality to custom-made pieces. Unusual markings, and sometimes even imperfections in wood, can add to the beauty of a finished piece.

For knife sets or small-run cutlery, consistency in appearance across a set of knife scales or blocks may be more important.

*A knife set in pink ivory by François Hachette, F-78150 Rocquencourt.*

Popular African hardwood species for knife handles

A number of African hardwood species are ideal for making handles for knives, axes, swords and other tools.

Mopane for knife handles

Mopane is rich in colour, with a fine, uniform texture. It is very dense and extremely durable.

*A knife handle in mopane by Stuart Smith (@smithhandforgedknives*).

Because of its hardness, mopane can be tricky to cut. However, it is excellent for turning.

Pink ivory for knife handles

Pink or red ivory, a protected species in South Africa, is sought after for its beautiful colouring, which ranges from light pink to dark red.

*Pink ivory/red ivory knife handles (top three knives by Stuart Smith (@smithhandforgedknives); bottom left knife from the Wafler gallery; bottom right knife set by François Hachette*).

This rare wood doesn’t slit easily due to its high oil content. It works well on the lathe and with the chisel.

African olive wood for knife handles

African or wild olive is popular for its pleasing grain patterns. It is hard, non-porous and heavy, and darkens somewhat with age.

*African olive knife handle by Elmar Venter (@elmarventer*).

Leadwood for knife handles

Leadwood is a protected species in South Africa. It is characterised by great hardness and a blackish lustre when polished.

*Leadwood knife handle by JD van Deventer (@jdvdknives*).

Camel thorn wood for knife handles

Camel thorn, also known in South Africa as kameeldoring, is a dense hardwood with an attractive reddish to purplish brown colour.

*Camel thorn knife handle by John Saunders, Outland Crafts (@outlandcrafts*).

Camel thorn knife handle by Harris Engelbrecht. — *Camel thorn knife handle by* *Harris Engelbrecht*.

A popular choice with knife makers, camel thorn is strong and easy to turn, and polishes to a high shine.

African blackwood for knife handles

African blackwood remains one of the world’s most coveted hardwoods.

It is extremely dense and, after polishing, has a dark, smooth appearance with almost no visible grain pattern.

*A unique African blackwood handle for a dagger by Rick Afonso (@afonsoknifeworks*).

At ProSono, we continue to offer limited supplies (subject to careful monitoring and regulation) of African blackwood. However, the availability of this hardwood is limited and, for a number of reasons, likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.

Should wood be stabilised for knife making?

Many African hardwoods of high density and oily content cannot be stabilised.

For species such as African blackwood, mopane, leadwood, wild olive, pink ivory, tambotie and camel thorn, the wood must be perfectly dry before the process of making a handle starts. These species all have a density above 1.0 (heavier than water) or very close to it.

For softer woods, stabilisation can add hardness and make the wood moisture- and damage-resistant.

Stabilising wood involves injecting it with resin or polymers. Optionally, dyes may also be added.

It can also be used to create interesting changes in colour and appearance.

knife scales and blocks — *Some examples of stabilised hardwood for knife scales.*

The stabilisation process typically involves using a vacuum to draw air out of the wood’s pores. High pressure is then used to force a liquid stabilising agent to penetrate the wood. Finally, the wood is heat-treated to convert the stabiliser into a solid.

What we offer at ProSono: African hardwood knife scales and blocks

ProSono offers knife scales and blocks in a range of dense African hardwoods.

All hardwood we offer is:

sustainably and ethically harvested
expertly dried (which is key to preventing damage when working the wood)
cut to required dimensions
carefully packaged for safe shipping.

We routinely exhibit knife scales and blocks at trade fairs and guild shows – and many South African knife makers are regular visitors to our sawmills.

We also export knife blanks to customers around the globe. Buyers are welcome to request photographs of unique hardwood we have in stock that may meet their needs.

For more information about our hardwood knife scales and blocks, contact us with your requirements and we’ll do our best to assist.

Contact us