Athames of Steel or Wood??

[Mannun]

Traditionally one uses an Athame in a circle and sometimes a sword even. Some say that no steel weapons should be within the circle as it intimidates other worldly beings invited, amongst many other reasons. Some have opted to create wooden Athames or use wands of a sorts. What do you think??

[Pirranth]

My first athame was wood, simply because I do not have any blacksmithing skills. But I did take an interesting angle with mine, I started by breaking a few rocks, until I had enough sharp edges that I could actually use them to carve the wood with, sort of making it with tools I had made myself. It was a good athame, I think I'll go dig it out of my box.

A few years later, I started use with a metal pole, virtually a staff. It works well.

[watershield]

First I don't see how any blade is going to intimidate a spirit.
An athame has a role more than just a reprisentation of the male aspect of duality. In ritual little bits of this or that are being cut for offerings. I don't believe a wooden athame has the edge to cut Rowen twigs or bits of wool cloth or leather.
Not everyone has a boline and it's quite common for the athame to be used.

I have heard of bone athame which can hold an edge and are easily hand made

[juliaki]

This is one of those big ol' it depends.

In some traditions, the blade must be forged metal. If you are not part of a tradition that has this requirement and explains the lore behind it, I personally don't see a reason why you would need to have a forged blade for an athame. (It would be a personal choice.)

Many of those traditions that require the forged blade are also pretty strict that you do not do any cutting with the blade, but again, unless you're explained the lore behind that, I wouldn't see any reason why you would feel confined to not using the blade for cutting. (Again, personal choice.)

There are certain spirits that have "allergy" to iron, and to foster alliances with them while carrying any sort of iron or steel working blade would be seen as offensive. For those times, a stone blade (for instance, flint or obsidian), bone blade, shell blade, or wood blade could be used if needed.

Most people don't actually have need to carry an athame. For me, I worked with one for my first year of practice and then did not use one for the next decade and change (until such time as certain practices within the coven where I was initiating required obtaining a blade).

[Makbawehuh]

It depends on my purpose, though if I'm going to have a blade, I prefer forged steel. If I want or need a wand, I have wands too.

And it's just a matter of personal choice. I'm fond of sharp pointies.

[Orion]

Forged steel has gone through fire in its making, especially if you are the one who worked the metal. Though it is a matter of symbolism and how it connects things for you. That is how I think of mine athame. The steel was a gift from the man who taught me a bit about blacksmithing. The handle is mahogany used from what was left of flooring we placed ourselves in my home.
It has served well enough when I have needed it.