Is yew wood durable enough to use as a knife handle?  I want to have a custom knife made, and infuse it with some local, costal flavour.  Will the yew stand up to use as a knife handle or will it dent too easily?

you could stabalize it?

For Yew I would have it impregnated with epoxy.  Is is not a tough wood as for as taking abuse like a knife handle would.

Dan Raney