My favorite wood handle happens to be the "Teardrop" shape of Desert Ironwood on one of my Bowles Skinners (#264):



One of my favorite specimens of Stag graces the handle of my Combat Companion:



The handle shape, material, and character seem to serve to "seal the deal" for the knife as a whole.

I should also point out that the Spacers also play an important part of the handle, in that the color and material can influence the appearance as it relates to the hilt and butt cap (if any).