Knife handle options

[Lucasade]

Been lurking for ages - life gets in the way 

I am making a bone knife and wondered what people's thoughts on the best/prettiest handle wood are - my options are ash, birch, elm, hazel, elder, yew or laburnum. I may also have some rose thick enough to use too.

[Pat B]

Any of those will work. Figured grain makes an attractive handle. Ash grain is quite distinctive too when dyed. Woods with distinctive heartwood makes a nice handle when some heartwood and some sapwood is used.

[Lucasade]

Thanks Pat, yes I'm leaning towards the laburnum at the moment for the contrast in colours and sneaking a bit of sapwood in sounds like a good idea.