Abalone shell knife handles

[Niner]

I don't know who came up with the idea but it's been around a long time. Somebody pulled up a mollusk for food many centuries ago and noticed the inside of the shell, and having a lot of time on his hands, figured out he could make something with it. The abalone shell now is an established part of things from jewelry to buttons to knife handles. They are, to begin with, crafted by a particular kind of mollusk and the sea. No two patterns are exactly alike. Although found in most of the world, including the Western US seaboard, some of the species are highly regulated as to import. All the knives that I know of that are in the US are imported and mostly made in China from shells harvested in Australia and Southeast Asia. Many of the knives on the market are really top quality for the money.

US brands, using Chinese factories, often import them under their brand name. Remington, for instance, is listed as manufacturer on one of the ones in the photo, although all manufacturing was done in China under contract.

The all white slabs are called "mother of pearl", although from the same abalone family of shells.

[Niner]

Shell handles are sometimes made with the rough side of the shell. The outside surface. This one is well polished, feels very smooth, and has a glossy shine to it. It comes out of China and made under the Rough Rider banner. It's not likely to be abalone but more likely some more humble member of the clam or mollusk family.