Vulcanized Fibre - 1 mm / 25 x 12 cm

Vulcanised fibre for knife-making.

Vulcanised fibre is used in knife-making as an intermediate layer in knife handles; it is a material that is both hard and tough, yet does not splinter.

Vulcanised fibre is highly malleable and easy to work with. In knife-making, vulcanised fibre is used in particular as a decorative insert between the blade and the handle to mitigate the effects of temperature and humidity on the wood, or to produce handle plates as an intermediate layer within the knife handle.

As early as the Early and High Middle Ages, discs made from various materials such as horn, bone and brass were inserted between the blade and the wooden handle. Horn, in particular, has the disadvantage, however, that it can change depending on weather conditions.

When incorporated into the handle, vulcanised fibre has the same visual character as horn, yet retains its shape. Fibre looks particularly good when combined with lighter-coloured handle materials, e.g. as a layer between light-coloured wood, horn, bone and brass.

Dimensions: 250 x 120 x 1 mm.

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Vulcanised fibre, also known as ‘Leatherstein’ or ‘Cottonid’, was first produced around 1855. This material is a paper-based composite characterised in particular by its hardness and toughness, whilst also being highly malleable. The name ‘Vulkanfiber’ is derived from the process of vulcanising natural rubber into hard rubber, which, on the surface, is similar to the manufacture of Vulkanfiber.