Wrapping the Hanwei Military Dadao grip

So, as many of you know, I've recently purchased the Hanwei Military Dadao. After I received it, I broke apart the grip to see what was underneath. Well, tomorrow I'm going to put a new one on. I already have the "rough" wood core assembled and it needs some work on the belt sander, but I was thinking as I was headed to bed as to what to wrap it in when I'm done.

I have some undyed pig skin, pre-dyed cow skin (dark brown), a shammy ( I forget what this is technically called, but it's thin sheep skin), canvas and some faded blue suede (Intentionally faded as in left out in the sun for a month in a random pile)

I want to do a cord wrapped texture overtop of whatever I choose, but I was also considering just leaving the wood core bare and staining it. So I ask the community which would you guys like to see. I wish I had some picture to post of the different types of material, and when I wake up tomorrow, I'll try and get some up.

If I go the plain wood route, I'd also like to take a heated wire and put some scorch lines into it before staining and sealing it. The only reason I wouldn't want to go with the plain wood is I'm afraid of gripping issues when my hands get sweaty.

And the more I think about that faded suede, the more I'm starting to like it.