Stylish and Durable Exotic Handle Materials

The Arno Bernard Knives are made on the outskirts of the town of Bethlehem, South Africa. The four Bernard brothers collectively have an amazing talent, and their skill is noteworthy in each knife they make. Though they work incredibly well together as a team, and all of them have some role in the actual hand finishing of the knives and sheaths, each brother has a more specific role to play in the crafting of these beautiful creations. It is therefore mostly Franco that is involved in new product designs and Juan that heads up the handle division. 

The materials that are used in the Arno Bernard knife handles are what gives them their South African authenticity. All the materials are handled with tremendous care; some take years to dry before they can be utilized in producing the handles. With an Arno Bernard Knife, each handle is unique in colour and pattern, and with some knives, a colour-coordinated sheath is created, further amplifying the visual impact of their beauty. 

This skilful family of knife makers uses mostly natural materials to produce their knife handles, including Giraffe Bone, Warthog Tusk, Kudu Bone and Mammoth Molar.  

Giraffe Bone Handle

The giraffe shin bone is among the strongest animal bones and is extremely dense. This not only makes for a durable knife handle material, but it is also beautiful. This handle material produces exquisite natural shades, and it is the different amounts of fat inside the bone that causes the variety of patterns. 

Warthog Tusk

The Warthog tusk ivory is an excellent material for knife handles and creates an extraordinary, polished handle that stands out from the crowd. The Warthog is a most unusual animal, and its large tusks are even more so. It is a robust hog with two sets of tusks: upper tusks emerging from the sides of the snout to form a semicircle and lower tusks at the base of the mouth to give it a sharp cutting edge. 

Kudu Bone

The Kudu is one of the most magnificent antelope found on the African plain. Kudus have a narrow body with long legs and big heads. The bulls tend to be much larger than the cows with horns that can grow between 46 - 74 inches. Both the horn and the bone are used in handle material. 

Mammoth Molar

Fossils of mammoth teeth are strengthened through a process to create a unique luxury knife handle. Molar teeth are the large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth that are used primarily to grind food. These molars have three different layers creating patterns that can differ depending on the cutting direction. Their durability and exquisite beauty make them great for use in knife handles. 

Related article: How to Care for your Arno Bernard Hunting Knife 

Each Arno Bernard Knife is a unique piece of art made from raw materials processed into the finished creation. We use exotic elements from the farthest regions of South Africa and have developed methods to turn natural materials into beautiful and functional knives.