[Crex]

I can pass on steel and guard material all day long, but seem to have issues with passing an interesting chunk of possible handle material. So....know what you mean. Have more trouble deciding on handle than any other part of knife. Sometimes I just turn the light out and reach into my materials cabinet, use the first thing my hand touches.
Best part of it is I rarely use plain-jane materials anymore.
My biggest problem is I "see" figure in standing timber, firewood splits and rough cut lumber. Then I wind up cutting the section I want out, dimensioning it out, sealing and drying. Then I forget about it and go get another piece somewhere (so it tends to pile up over time). Makes my students happy, 'cause I'm always loading them up with good material just to get the inventory down.
Yeah......I'm a handle hoarder!