Factory made or custom job

[michaelspayth]

Picked this one up several months ago and have been wondering if it's factory made or if someone, at some time, painted the handle or possibly customized it in some other way.. I really like the idea of the white handle but have not been able to find any mention of one ever being made..

[djknife13]

My guess would be that someone sanded the dark stained finish off and buffed it smooth. It is an odd color and doesn't look like a natural color for stacked leather, assuming that's what the material is.____Dave

[eveled]

Obviously painted. But at first glance I thought it was stacked birch bark.

I’ve never seen another painted white. So I’m thinking modified.

[michaelspayth]

Didn't expect such quick replies! Thank you both! My guess was also that it had been something custom done by someone over the years. I like the way the white looks though. Kinda makes me wish someone had made a stacked leather one back in the day.

[Gunsil]

It is definitely a paint job, I have had a bunch of painted over leather handles fixed blades over the years. Your knife was an Official Boy Scout model and when new had the BSA logo etched on the blade. Ed, birch bark is only white on the outside. The Norse have used stacked birch bark handles and it is tan/brown looking, kind of like leather or wood. The very thin white outer part does nor even show.