Knives are an important part of daily life - be it at home, work or in many other places. Wooden knife handles have been used ever since the invention of the knife. Woods are organic, warm to the touch, comfortable to hold, and can be long lasting. Hardwoods compliment metals very well, and are artistically sound pieces. In knives, they have been, and will always be a standard.

Woods used for handles must be fairly hard to be long lasting and must be attractive. Hard wood is one of the most popular materials for knife handles. Hard woods like rosewood, ebony, cocobolo are used very frequently. They are relatively inexpensive and are easy to be shaped by the knife maker.

Some advantages of stabilised woods are:-
• Minimal shrinking
• Does not absorb water
• Resists cracking/ expanding/ warping
• Impervious to oils