Are micarta scales kind of gross?

[RIBob]

Tung oil or another drying oil tends to work well with Micarta handles that have the bead blasted/rough looking texture to them. The oil will harden and usually lasts pretty well, but you want to wash and clean them first like RIBob said!

The oil will also darken up the scales so they don't look as light/dusty looking.

I had thought about suggesting Tung oil. While I have lots of experience with Tung oil on wooden rifle stocks, I'm ignorant concerning Micarta.

Lots of folks become confused about Tung oil, often buying inferior grade(s). See for suggestions: https://woodnbits.com/vetted/best-tung-oil/

 

[Taz]

Yeah, I have both the 100% pure stuff and the cheap hardware store "tung" oil.

For micarta and G10, I often use the cheap stuff, it will penetrate better because it's thinner and soak in and dry quicker than the real stuff. I usually go to 320-600 grit on synthetic handles, 1000+ on carbon fiber usually, so they aren't super polished and I am not looking for a glossy wet look, more to even out and darken the colors and give it a little bit of protection. It's super easy to re apply for the end customer, too. Wipe on, rub in, let sit for 20-30 min, wipe off excess and let it sit overnight before getting it wet.

I use the real 100% pure stuff on nicer wood handles that are more polished, but its a longer process!

 

[scorpnsnake]

Got a couple more gross micartas to share with ya OP.

Sculpted micarta top left, canvas top right and rag micarta at the bottom.

 

[norcalAF]

The Crucarta PM2 has scales that aren't like any other micarta I have. The texture is like cloth. Any of the others have a feel that's more like G10.

My crucarta PM2 sucked all the blue from my jeans super quick, it's the only Micarta I've seen do that.

 

[Danke42]

My crucarta PM2 sucked all the blue from my jeans super quick, it's the only Micarta I've seen do that.

Denim camo!

 

[Buck Razor]

I prefer micarta on some knives. I like the feel over FRN, G10, or metal. In fact, I just added micarta scales to my MSI Ram-Lok and have no regrets.

 

[ShelterGirl]

It's a little gross, yes, but it feels nice in hand, and is difficult to drop.

 

[ToddM]

It depends on a lot on the micarta and how it's finished and what you want. Linen micarta that's highly polished can be very slippery, on the hand rough finished canvas micarta and be very grippy. The same is true for G10, polished G10 is super slippery, but peel ply, or rough sand blasted has tons of grip. IMO rough finished canvas micarta, while not "pretty" is probably the best handle material I've ever used for wet/sweaty hands, that doesn't generate hot spots in use like say some of the very aggressively textured G10 can.

Unfortunately these days the popular trend is polished micarta/G10, often polished micarta might be oiled as well. Has about as much grip as a golf club shaft with no grip installed. Still better than the smooth AL/Ti handles we see on tons of popular knives now. You can get away with a slippery material on a fixed blade because you can heavily contour the handle for retention, but on a folder the options are much more limited.

Too much emphasis on fashion for knives these days rather than actual function.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

It's a little gross, yes, but it feels nice in hand, and is difficult to drop.

"That's what she said."

 

[el gigantor]

Got a couple more gross micartas to share with ya OP.

Sculpted micarta top left, canvas top right and rag micarta at the bottom.

View attachment 2938407

View attachment 2938406

DISGUSTING!

 

[jjg6319]

If you buy a CRK with micarata inserts they can always sand blast them along with the titanium. That is kind of nice if you want to go that route. That kind of demonstrates how tough the micarta is.

 

[RIBob]

I have gone to the expense/trouble of obtaining Micarta grips for a number of my knives which have replaceable grips/scales, and the Micarta grips are always better than the original plastic grips.

I was even able to obtain a set (took months) of Micarta grips from Boker-Germany for my Boker Applegate-Fairbairn Smatchet. Turns out that some runs of the Boker A-F Smatchet had the factory grip rivets set too "tight" and the plastic scales/grips often cracked as a result; So "common" that it is taken as a sign of authenticity by some folks. I have yet to install the Micarta grips, but at least I have them in-hand.