is butter nut good for a handle ? or is it to soft.

Butternut is a beautiful furniture wood, but I have not seen it on knife handles. That doesn't mean it couldn't be, but it should probably be stabilized before use.

I haven't used butternut but have used stabilized pecan & it is beautiful !

I just posted the following on another thread. This guy knows a lot about wood. You might check with him about butternut.

"I just started working on a web page for Frank Jacobs (the wood guy) I have a long way to go but some pictures of his wood are up and I think I got the shopping cart working.
Take a look some great product and his prices are right. http://jake.safewebshop.com/ "
Bob