armadillo skin for knife handles?

[jonwelder]

Has anyone had experience using "armadillo" skin for their knife handles? I recently seen some small folders at the PKA show in Denver where the maker used armadillo skin, (tanned and stabilized). He gave me the name of his source, but I have not heard back yet. The material becomes hard, just like bone,, but with tan and yellow colors, and the "pattern" of the skin is there also. It is very unique, and good looking too! He also told me "Sheffield knifemaking supply" sold it,, but I could not find it on their web catalog.. Makes me wish I had picked up some of the dead ones I saw on my last trip to Oklahoma! --(grin) ---Jon

[SBuzek]

Hey Jon
If you want I could pick you up several fresh dead ones down here in Texas and ship them to you.

[jonwelder]

Thanks Stan, thats very tempting! Yesterday I was out bid ($30.00 e-bay) on a basket made from an armadillo's body. I figured I could make some handles from that! We don't have 'dillos up here, if you took the guts out of the body, is the "shell" like turtle shell? If the body was just left on the road, will it all decompose, or would the shell remain? Yea, I know,, weird questions! ---JOn

[TexasJack]

An armadillo is - outside of politics - the dumbest creature on earth. It's natural defense mechanism when scared is to jump straight up into the air. That's why so many are dead along the road. Instead of keeping low (and avoiding wheels), they jump up and get hit by the bumper or grill. It's also the only creature besides humans that can get leprosy, making them a bit iffy to handle.

While the hide looks like armor, it's not all that thick and wouldn't add more to a knife handle than a piece of leather, if that. In Texas, we generally leave them to the buzzards. I don't know many guys - Stan's offer notwithstanding - willing to skin one out.

Lone Star Beer used to advertise with an armadillo and so jokers would frequently stop and place an empty in the paws of a dead one along the road. Always good for a chuckle.

[jonwelder]

For those who think I'm nuts,, (you gotta know me first, then,,) Here is the web site with pictures of folders with armadillo skin for the handles. Yes,, it's quite thin, he has laminated the skin on to black micarta to make it thicker. I've seen it in PERSON and it looks GREAT!!
So here you go,, tell "Whiskers" that I sent you! --Jon
www.whiskersknives.com

[SBuzek]

I did not say I was gonna skin them, Just ship em.

[jonwelder]

Ha! Ha!,, I know what you ment!!! I can just see you filling out the shipping slip, "contents",, dead armadillo!! (grin, grin..) ----Jon

[Chris Meyer]

I was given a knife with with an armadillo skin handle. Personally, I think it's yucky.

[Galloglas]

Jon,

You might try using ray skin (called same' some places...) as it has a similar pattern to the armadillo and is a lot safer the handle, is more available, and can be dyed most any color you want.



I have used a lot of it on Japanese style handles and it cuts and works very nicely in panels or wrapped wet. Some skins have larger nodes and look a lot like the armadillo...kinda like dragon skin or something.

Anyway, a suggestion.

Brian

[jonwelder]

Thanks Brian! Do you mean "stingray skin"?? I've been watching it on e-bay, with plans in the near future to use some! Did you make the sword? The skin under the cord wrap looks white -(?) Yesterday, I made contact with the guy who has the armadillo, and he is sending me some of that, so that is going now. But, back to the stingray skin, Japanese style knives are on "my" horizon to start making. The styles just fascinate me! The one in the picture is very unique! --Jon

[Cord Nipper]

Originally Posted by jonwelder

We don't have 'dillos up here

Patience. They'll get there eventually!

[Galloglas]

That particular ray skin was dyed black...when you dye the stuff it usually turns the nodes a lighter shade than the membrane between the nodes. It the picture doesn't really do it justice...it's kind of a blue/grey with black between the nodes...



I used to make all kinds of Japanese sword stuff but it has "jumped the shark" with me. I have moved on to folders and given up on making the swords. I'll always make them for personal consumption as I train Japanese swordsmanship but for the public I am done with it.....

I will be using all the tricks I learned to apply ray skin to folders, though. It's a very cool material and like I said the larger noded stuff looks a lot like the armadillo skin pictures I have seen but rayskin as a lot more versatile and available. If lacquered it can be done in different effects and colors and it is really exotic looking and grippy.



I never used armadillo but it looks like something I might try except for the leprosy deal...

Brian

[jonwelder]

WOW Brian,, you are tripp'en my trigger with these pictures!!! I need to get to know you! If you would, please go to my web site, and send me a personal message, that way I'll get your e-mail, and we can correspond directly!! I have more questions than I want to post here.
I also read somewhere about the "leprosy" thing,, I don't think it's as bad a problem as it sounds. Also,, this skin I'm getting has been "stabilized" 2x. I'll try to find that info and post it too. -----Jon

[jonwelder]

Very rare indeed! According to the info I found, you would have to eat one raw to contract it. I'll try to add the info in an attachment. You stand more chance of getting rabies from a raccoon than ANYTHING from an armadillo.. ----Jon

[jonwelder]

Sorry, I can't get the connection right, but you can go to "armadillo Online",, ( google search for armadillo), look at the F.A.Q. 's some very interesting info, #4 leprosy question.
This has been fun,, getting some very interesting reply's about the lowly Armadillo!! -Jon