So, what's everybody like decorating their handles? I prefer a nice burl wood - a nice highly figured wood with a good finish is really great. I may be heretical here... but I sort of don't like snakewood that much. On the synthetic side of things, I really dig that silver twill g10! That's some cool stuff, hope they start coming out with more along those lines.

Always liked horn, have yet to see a US made bali with horn inserts. Deer antler also looks very fine.

I also understand that horn is not the easiest material to work with ie; the smell when cutting, has to be heated to flaten. etc.
But it sure looks good when properley fitted and polished.

Green/Black or Blue/Black micarta has always caught my eye. There's just enough color to accent the piece but not so much that it looks too colorful. Color is good in a painting or flower arrangement, but I don't like alot on a knife. I will admit though, I to am eager to see more of that silver carbon fiber!
Just as accents though, not an entire handle.

Dark, nicely-grained woods are always at the top of my list. I love desert ironwood, cocobola, snakewood among others. I've never been wild about stag/horn, but i do love bones and ivories, not to mention MOP and other shells. In general i prefer anything natural as opposed to g-10 or micarta, but i do like carbon fiber and of course i've seen many great examples of the other synthetic materials as well. Bottom line i suppose is as long as it's a bali we're talkin' about here, i'll take it dressed with anything!

Up until recently, it was stag for the texture and the looks. Now I'm leaning towards SS damascus, like Damasteel. They reall impart a sense of old-world charm, while at the same time, new technology.

Woods mostly, with losts of character, and Ivory...drool.

Shiny metal (gold or silver) or mother of pearl.

Yeah, I like the damascus inlays too. Mmm.. forgot about that. :) Hmm.. let's post pics of handles of our favourite insert material balisongs! I'll try and snap a couple in the next couple days.

Sounds like we got a bunch of wood enthusiasts here - I wouldn't mind having a little picture catalog here of the best woods to use!

I wouldn't mind having a little picture catalog here of the best woods to use!

Now you're talkin'!! I'll try and get some shots of my limited selection as well...

natural: i prefer mop or abalone, after that ivory or bone. if it has to be wood, ebony.
synthetics: i have a silver carbon fiber shift knob in my car and it looks pretty good. i was told that colored "carbon fiber" is usually kevlar, but i'm not sure. what exactly is g10 made of, graphite?

I love MOP, but I also like a nice figured, curly wood--ironwood, Koa, maple burl, stuff like that. I also like the silver twill G10 that nybble mentioned. Didn't used to like stag, but it's kinda growing on me.

Natural: prefer well-figured hardwoods like Ironwood, Koa, Juniper Burl & Ringed Gidgee, good stag is okay but absolute favorite is Blue Mastodon Ivory. Almost forgot about the Giraffe Bone that Arno Bernard is distributing - seen some awesome pieces that would do justice to any Bali.

Synthetics: like Burgundy Micarta best and Carbon Fiber (blue CF would definitely get my interest).

A nice Damascus would also work for me.

Bill

Sort of odd we never hit this topic hard before (and if we did just rub my face in it Tony...lol).

I have to admit I'm still a sucker for really nice Elephant Ivory.., and Bark Mastodon also. I also like the exotic woods like just about everyone, and Nicaraguan Cocobolo and Chinese Quince Burl stick out particulary in my mind. Sadly.., many of the examples of these fine hardwoods are not so fine these days :(..., but I've certainly seen lots of nice Ironwood recently.

I'm about to head out on a ramble that will end up like Abe and end with...."Ok, so I guess I like everything"....lol...., so I'll just shut up... :)

Oh yeah....:rolleyes: ..., on the synthetic end.., I still really like the old Ivory Micarta. I think maybe Westinghouse made it..., but I'm not sure?

I wouldn't mind having a little picture catalog here of the best woods to use!
here is a start for you felix:
.
eisenbrand (http://www.eisenbran.com/WoodList.htm)
lumberlady (http://www.lumberlady.com/listing___alphabetical_order.htm)(you have to drill down a bit)
gilmer (http://www.gilmerwood.com/sample%20image%20categories.htm)
xylo-australis (http://www.ajh-knives.com/material.html#exoticwoods)