A New Handle Material.... What Say You?

[Horsewright]

So recently I tried a new handle material. Its called Zuma. Its a resin/mineral based material. I had used other resin/mineral composites and although the look was good, the durability was suspect. Seemed like they all cracked sooner or later. Well this Zuma seems different, firmer, harder and definitely more difficult to finish. I bought one set of scales in black and using some artful cutting was able to handle three knives:

A Buckaroo:

A Cowboy (same knife just AEB-L instead of damascus):

And a Poco (a Poco is Dave Spanish for not enough steel left to make another Gordo):

All dressed up and ready to hit the road:

My question to you is whadya think? Like it, yay or nay?

 

[r8shell]

Nice! I like the way the marbling echos the Damascus.

Is there a way to test it for longevity? Throw it up on the roof for a year, and see if it's effected by heat/cold/UV rays?

 

[VashHash]

It looks good to me. Definitely a different look similar to a marbled carbon fiber. If you send one of those knives down here I'll put it through its paces

 

[Jack Black]

Nice! I like the way the marbling echos the Damascus.

Plus one on that, nice work, as always Dave

 

[TheChunk91]

I think it looks really nice.

 

[JTB_5]

It looks good!

 

[paulhilborn]

Very NICE

 

[RayseM]

Yup - I like it too. Still, remains to be seen how well it will wear. So far, isssgood!

Ray

 

[Lapedog]

So recently I tried a new handle material. Its called Zuma. Its a resin/mineral based material. I had used other resin/mineral composites and although the look was good, the durability was suspect. Seemed like they all cracked sooner or later. Well this Zuma seems different, firmer, harder and definitely more difficult to finish. I bought one set of scales in black and using some artful cutting was able to handle three knives:

A Buckaroo:

A Cowboy (same knife just AEB-L instead of damascus):

And a Poco (a Poco is Dave Spanish for not enough steel left to make another Gordo):

All dressed up and ready to hit the road:

My question to you is whadya think? Like it, yay or nay?

All very beautiful. So this swirly marbled colour is what they are calling black?

Do you know what the mineral content is by chance?

 

[Peregrin]

Nice! I like the way the marbling echos the Damascus.

Is there a way to test it for longevity? Throw it up on the roof for a year, and see if it's effected by heat/cold/UV rays?

The ol Modoc ED test?
That looks pretty nice, Dave.

 

[Fodderwing]

Dave that is very very nice. Looks like charcoal burl and matches the charcoal damascus perfectly. If you decide to conduct the Modoc ED test, I have just the roof for it ... so send it on over....
Seriously, that is a winner.

 

[r8shell]

The ol Modoc ED test?
That looks pretty nice, Dave.

Ah, yes, thanks! I remembered someone doing that, but couldn't remember who.

 

[Jolipapa]

That's very good looking, is it lighter than , say, micarta or G10, or about the same balance handle / blade?

 

[Vaporstang]

Very nice - it has a lot of character! Especially with the Damascus....

 

[Whetstone39]

Looks very good . What does it feel like in hand? G10, micarta, etc.

 

[bikerector]

The aesthetics are nice. Interested to hear how that holds up.

 

[Ramrodmb]

Looks good, but...
I still prefer the natural materials you normally use.

 

[Astronaut FX]

 

[WinchesteRalox]

I think it looks good looks like it’ll make a durable hard use handle material, but still not as pretty as Mammoth!

 

[Modoc ED]

The ol Modoc ED test?
That looks pretty nice, Dave.

In order to conduct a proper "roof test" for a knife, you should have a galvanized tin roof and of course hot, harsh, direct sunlight until snow covers it upon which you leave it buried in the snow for a month or so.