Hard wood is one of the most popular materials for knife handles. Hard woods like cocobolo, rosewood, ebony are used very frequently. They are relatively inexpensive and are easy to be shaped by the knife maker. A well shaped and polished hard wood handle feels extraordinarily good in hand while holding it or using it for cutting and slicing and they also look aesthetically very nice. Stag is another material that is extremely popular although it is becoming more and more costly and rare. The charm of stag comes from the rough texture of the surface that gives a nice grip to the user. Some feel that it makes it hard to use. Stag handles should be carefully chosen after trying out the grip. These days many artificial handles are available to replace stag handles. Rubber or textured handles are also available, as these are soft on the hands and provide a pretty good grip during wet conditions.