Am I the only one who actually prefers krayton/kray-ex handles?

UCPOPO

UCPOPO

Joined
Dec 2, 2010
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I've spent a lot of years chasing the "perfect knife". I know its something I will always do because I love trying new gear and seeing what is and is not for me. I've tried knives from nearly every manufacturer and at every price range. One thing I consistently find is for actual using in the field, I still prefer the kray-ex style handles over most micarta or G10 handles on my fixed blades. I like the insulating factor for using in the cold, the fact that it does a great job at absorbing impact and the grippiness without having to have a strangle hold on the knife. Does anyone else share this opinion?
 
That's one of my favorite features of the Kobun, NW Ranger, Buck Vanguard, etc. I do prefer something more sturdy for users, and something nicer for more expensive knives.
 
It is what caught my eye so many years ago when I first saw/touched the Tanto, still very happy with it.
 
Yep, I like the kraton a lot. Mine is becoming a little rattley after about a year of use. Wish that didn't happen, but otherwise great.
 
I wish Cold Steel would take a shot at Resiprine C handles.

Much more sturdy than my Crayton handles.
 
i don't need the cold insulation as i'm in the deep wet hot south, but i do like the feel of it as much as any other handle material. can't say i need it or love it anymore than micarta or wood but it is useful in many ways.
 
i hate the kraton handles on my old trail master. HATE. Very bad under heavy use. Had to wrap it Part of the reason on went to Busse and customs.,
 
Although it doesn't match micarta, G10, wood, stacked leather, etc for looks I absolutely love kraton handles on my users because apart from being impervious to the elements, it makes the knife considerably lighter than any other type of handle.
 
I like them on some. My old-style Carbon V SRK feels great in the hand, but I'm thinking when I've worked it loose (if ever) I'll rehandle it with antler.

Zieg
 
UCPOPO,

Nah you're not the only one. I dig the hell out of Cold Steel Krey-Ex SCULPTED handles. The Kitchen Classic paring knife got me hooked. I am so infatuated I HAD to have a similar knife with full size handle and better steel (not that it was bad in the KCPK).

So I finally started on another "Project Knife". Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter in CPM-3V. I spent three or four sessions thinning out the blade. Now it is bellow half the originally 5mm thickness . . . it is around 2.2mm at the thickest and yesterday I tapered the heck out of the forward half. I thinned the behind the edge area a little. Is about .019 now or a bit less. Yes I am going to polish the sides, at least to satin, maybe some what mirrored just as soon as I finish thinning it and refining the shape (might take some off the point; It isn't penetrating as well as I need it to at present.

By the way it is thinner than my Manix now.

I like it so much I have committed to EDC it for a month straight in the One Knife For A Month Challenge.






This is where my addiction all began; Cold Steel Kitchen Classic paring knife (heck I bought three of them so I must like them;one is toothy now).

 
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UCPOPO said:
I've spent a lot of years chasing the "perfect knife". I know its something I will always do because I love trying new gear and seeing what is and is not for me. I've tried knives from nearly every manufacturer and at every price range. One thing I consistently find is for actual using in the field, I still prefer the kray-ex style handles over most micarta or G10 handles on my fixed blades. I like the insulating factor for using in the cold, the fact that it does a great job at absorbing impact and the grippiness without having to have a strangle hold on the knife. Does anyone else share this opinion?
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I love it. Yes I have had and still have the grip materials mentioned here. I have my ESEE's Spyderco's etc., high speed/low drag steel, plain Jane working steel. Opinions/tastes/applications will vary. But I do appreciate this grip material. I don't care about grip visual aesthetics, I prefer performance in the environments that I habituate with cutting tools. One of the few knives that my wife prefers to carry outdoors is an SRK. Although she's more often fine with a Mora. We are usually fishing, mushroom picking etc. and our hand to hand bear fighting is kept to statutory holidays only.
 
Wowbagger said:
This is where my addiction all began; Cold Steel Kitchen Classic paring knife (heck I bought three of them so I must like them;one is toothy now).

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FYI, if you get a chance, pick up one of the newer Finn Bears with the newer plastic sheaths. The sheath from the Finn Bear fits the paring knife perfectly. 👍🏻
 
UCPOPO said:
That would be nice. I really like Rec C also.
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Some of my Keaton handles have worked loose after a few years. A bit of wiggle when chopping hard, and allows twist when cutting.

I wonder if the Res-c is proprietary, or more expensive?
 
I like the grip the Kraton handles provide but I don't like the fact that they might work loose which I thought wasn't a common problem because otherwise CS would have changed something about it...then again there is already more than just one complaint about a loose handle in this thread. I wonder if there isn't another method to attach the Kraton in a more durable way

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Bigfattyt said:
Some of my Keaton handles have worked loose after a few years. A bit of wiggle when chopping hard, and allows twist when cutting.

I wonder if the Res-c is proprietary, or more expensive?
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As I understand it the reason Res-c handles stay on and dont come loose like the kraton handles on cold steel knives is because of the way they are fastened to the tang. The tang has prongs inside the handle to keep it in place. If you google it you will find some pictures.

I´ve actually never owned a knife with a kraton handle but its not because I dont want to. Just havent gotten around to it yet.
 
gardenrambo said:
I like the grip the Kraton handles provide but I don't like the fact that they might work loose which I thought wasn't a common problem because otherwise CS would have changed something about it...then again there is already more than just one complaint about a loose handle in this thread. I wonder if there isn't another method to attach the Kraton in a more durable way

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I've had a boatload of krayton and only had one work loose over the past 20 years. I pulled it off and applied epoxy and it's still going strong. I do wish Cold Steel would epoxy the krayton on the tang but I don't think it's a problem. Just like all the talk about the tangs breaking on a Trail Master or Recon Scout. I've tried to break a few of them and couldn't. I've seen a total of 4 or 5 broken on the Internet and everyone wants to talk like they break all the time yet they never had one break. :confused:
 
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My SRKs handles are still fine too. How do you epoxy the handle back on? I think the rivet of the lanyardhole still holds it even if it's completely loose...what's the easiest way to remove it and how do i get a new rivet back in/what's the size of the rivet if I have to buy a new one?

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gardenrambo said:
My SRKs handles are still fine too. How do you epoxy the handle back on? I think the rivet of the lanyardhole still holds it even if it's completely loose...what's the easiest way to remove it and how do i get a new rivet back in/what's the size of the rivet if I have to buy a new one?

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I drilled out the old lanyard tube, applied a flexible 2000lb rated epoxy, put the handle back on and made a new lanyard tube with brass tubing with a rivet press
 
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