A strange knife grip trend

[Kailash Blades]

Paracord/fabric wraps have been around for a long time and they've certainly earned their place as a high aggression thin and easily moddable grip style. However, recently I've been seeing a few grips which are mimicing these patterns and textures but are actually made of solid plastic or composite.
This bloodshark for example imitates the wrap on the original and looks fairly similar if you ignore the bolts.

Another example I came across recently from what appears to be a russian instagram maker and is recreating a thick paracord cobra weave out of solid material. They even go to the effort of carving in small texture on each part to make it look like individual strands. (note, link hosted off instagram and will disappear in a few months)

What do you guys think of this kind of thing? Do you like the look? Is it worth going to the effort of replicating these rextures in another material entirely?

 

[MolokaiRider]

It’s worth it if it sells.

It’s interesting to look at, but I have no idea about function.

 

[AntDog]

Looks “grippy”, but it probably isn’t more grippy than paracord.

That bloodshark looks damn uncomfortable - too fat in the index finger channel area. I have one knife with that problem and hate it. CM was gonna peel it down for me but didn’t get around to it.

 

[Korean Hog]

I don't think any solid material is really going to replicate the feeling and grip of a properly wrapped handle.
The first one looks dumb, and like it would feel even worse than it looks.
The second one looks nice. It also looks like it would be good and grippy, I wonder a little about strange hot spots developing/ becoming apparent
with prolonged use, but this doesn't look like the kind of blade you'd use for very long anyway, being that it appears to be more of a fighting knife than a utility knife.
I don't know... the more I look at the second one, the more it looks over-done and looks more like stone than paracord.

These are interesting and I bet the second one may feel good in hand, but something about them is just too wonky for me to ever be tempted
to buy them. Interesting concept, but I think they need to dial it back and concentrate more on replicating the feel of a cord wrapped handle rather than the look.

 

[Henry Beige]

I don’t like paracord grips. I’d rather put a piece of innertube over a bare tang/handle.

 

[Halador]

I think the idea is to create an extremely grippy handle like can be done with a cord wrap, but by making it out of a solid handle scale you can have it made by machine in bulk instead of by hand. Plus, maybe even more importantly to the producers, it removes the risk of having the wrap come undone and the customer being upset or sending it back.

 

[Kailash Blades]

I don't think any solid material is really going to replicate the feeling and grip of a properly wrapped handle...The second one looks nice. It also looks like it would be good and grippy, I wonder a little about strange hot spots developing

I think the second one looks a lot better too, but also kind of funky. I feel like for aesthetics you could do something much better looking or for grip you could likely do a more involved pattern of shaping that would offer even better grip. In this instance by vaguely imitating the texture of a cord wrap you kind of get neither.
I think that replicating the feel of a wrapped handle, especially one that's been soaked in resin could be done through 3d printed/high end cnc scales that can capture the thin ridges and twists etc quite well. Again though, using 3d printing but limiting it to replicating a cord wrap is really cutting it's potential. Check out these Swiss army scales someone did as an example. The thing about a cord wrap is that it's a very elegant process that produces a very specific and interesting outcome quickly with very little equipment or tech needed. Using a heap of tech and time to replicate the same result is just kinda backwards.

I think the idea is to create an extremely grippy handle like can be done with a cord wrap, but by making it out of a solid handle scale you can have it made by machine in bulk instead of by hand. Plus, maybe even more importantly to the producers, it removes the risk of having the wrap come undone and the customer being upset or sending it back.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. For small makers wrapping is a simple, quick and effective process but for large scale manufacturers it's a slow and expensive bottleneck. I guess the question is though, is it functionally similar enough to appeal to buyers? Is it visually similar enough to appeal to buyers? Finally does the resulting handle lose conceptual appeal due to the removal of such an interesting handmade process?

 

[Korean Hog]

Hell I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not becaused I don't own one, but I like the idea of the Williams Blade Design in regards to replicating the function of a cord wrapped handled in a functional way.

 

[comis]

I think it depends on what purpose is the knife. If it is a show piece, it really doesn't matter whether it's ergonomic or not.

But if it is a user, I would want my knife handle to have at least good 'ergo-dynamic', which doesn't dig into my hand and give me hotspot/blister. Personally, I just hate overly aggressive textured handle or jimping at the wrong place, YMMV.

 

[JAB]

Kind of brings to mind when KA-BAR mimicked the look of the classic stacked leather handle in molded Kraton.

 

[gazz98]

In the OP, the bloodshark looks horrible. The 2nd one looks better. I really don't see the point of reproducing a paracord pattern, but that's me.

If you are going to do a plastic handle, I'll stick with a tradition pattern. EX. Spyderco Delica/Endura or Ontario Rat 1.

I don't like paracord wrapped handles myself. If I was going for a true minimalist blade, like an Izula, I'd just keep it as is.

 

[Danno4017]

They look like junk.
Would not touch them.

 

[abcdef]

Solid meh here. More marketing ideas to throw on the wall.

 

[eveled]

It’s really just a repeating geometric pattern. Reminds me of basket weave patterns on sheaths and holsters.

It adds texture without the negative aspects of paracord.

 

[GIRLYmann]

.... I like the idea of the Williams Blade Design in regards to replicating the function of a cord wrapped handled in a functional way.

fine design.. except i find the "x x x x" ugly
its like ominous "kill markings"....
understandaby it mimics the cross over
folds of the cord wrap.
and suppose to add traction.
great idea, but rather oddly executed

 

[Alberta Ed]

Paracord is both beautiful and functional, but if it's not sealed it will soak up gunk (blood, fish guts, grease, etc.).

 

[CVamberbonehead]

That bloodshark looks downright painful. Lol
I am not a fan of fake wraps. I only use a paracord wrap when the knife doesnt have real scales to grab onto...if theyre making a knife with real handle scales, then why not make a bigger, comfier handle? It makes no sense to me.

 

[jackknife]

Solid meh here. More marketing ideas to throw on the wall.

And that's it in a nutshell!!!

It's all about having something different to hawk on the market. All about attracting buyers with more money than common sense to spend more money on the artificially stimulated market.

 

[Korean Hog]

fine design.. except i find the "x x x x" ugly
its like ominous "kill markings"....
understandaby it mimics the cross over
folds of the cord wrap.
and suppose to add traction.
great idea, but rather oddly executed

Yeah, I like it, but I go back and forth a bit on this one too... epoxy soaked cord is the way to go I think if you want a more durable cord wrapped handle.

 

[SteelPanther]

nope