In response to some requests I have included hyperlinks in case you wish to visit the sites mentioned in the blog on knife handle materials. I was also remiss in not mentioning one more company that can supply all kinds of metal sheet for cutting spacers, along with other enhancements. Listed below are the companies and the direct links to them. These sites are fun viewing and can consume more time than you would imagine.
K & G Finishing Supplies – knifeandgun.com for the stunning stabilized woods and blade steel.

Jantz Supply  –Knifemaking.com for a solid selection of knifemaking tools, recon stone, knife kits, and exotic woods, along with a huge selection of stabilized/laminated Dymondwood slabs.
Mother of Pearl Co – motherofpearl.net for everything you can think of related to shells, along with some exotic skins.
Masecraft Supply Company - masecraftsupply.com for the best selection of recon stone. anywhere.
Eline Merchandising - elinemerchandising.com for the best price on knives anywhere.

The Rio Grande Company - riogrande.com –This company is a huge supplier to the jewelry trade and is strategically located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The have three separate catalogs;
Gems and Findings, Display, and Tools which cover everything you could ever imagine or need if you were a jeweler. Of interest to us is their extensive stock of metal sheet and strips. You can get stainless steel, copper, gold, silver, and nickel silver in all kinds of sizes and thickness. If you are going to inlay semi-precious or precious stones into your handles they have every known stone on the planet, both real and synthetic, including diamonds and emeralds. They also have items I have never seen before, but which could be used for handle material. It’s mind boggling.

I buy sterling silver wire and sheet from them for spacers and inlays, and sometime copper and stainless and nickel silver sheets which I cut to suit. The word Findings includes this sheet and strip listings, so get the Gems and Findings catalog, or order direct online. You might also wish to purchase tools like the Optivisor or dop or some machinery. They have it all, including lapidary equipment.

Dr. K