"Butterscotch" Micarta?

C

carlpbrill

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Jul 23, 2006
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When I took a knifemaking class, some twenty years ago, the instructor had made several knives with handles of butterscotch colored Micarta. I've seen other pictures of it on knives also.

It was linen I think. Pictures of colors on the web are misleading of course. I have brown canvas and it's not what I'm looking for. Is there a lot of variety in the actual colors of the various Micartas and other phenolics? Some pictures say butterscotch and look dark brown, some say brown and look butterscotch.

Can anybody school me here, on the colors and varieties etc.

I can't seem to find any butterscotch like I remember, it was fairly yellow. I dunno...:confused:

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
I know with my brown canvas micarta, when it's in sheet for it looks very dark brown, but once it's sanded and shaped, it has more of a butterscotch look to it then like you are describing.
 
This is 'natural' or light brown canvas micarta:
Butterscotch is a good description of the color:

IMG_20150811_124249-small.jpg
 
Y'know, now that I think about it, he said that it was from a countertop of some sort so the Westinghouse, as an industrial material does make sense. It was cool stuff.

Thanks guys. There's loads of different phenolics, I didn't realize there was a market for old pieces and vintage etc.
 
dk-lvdp-7-16-12.jpg


Here's an example of some Westinghouse Micarta. Be advised: it has been said to contain asbestos, and anymore, it's pretty pricey due to no longer being manufactured.
I believe it's more of a paper micarta than a linen or canvas, like the brown micarta being discussed. IIRC, Sheffield Knifemaking Supply used to have a "vintage paper micarta" or "antique paper ivory" (I forget their exact designation for it) that supposedly approached a smilar color, but I'm not sure if they still sell it or not. You might download their catalog or give them a call.
 
The current Norplex industrial stuff is that natural color.
 
USA Knife Maker had some about 2 years ago and they called it Butterscotch. I have a piece and it is definitely more "butterscotch" than anything shown so far. It is linen and a little over a half inch thick. I tried to take a picture but I cannot get a good representation of the colors with the current lighting at my house. Here is an old picture with a partially ground blade sitting on a scratched up piece. It still looks darker on my computer than it really is.

DSC_0419_zps12rtxgrx.jpg
 
There's a few possibilities.

1) Vintage Westinghouse Ivory Linen Micarta

2) Vintage Westinghouse Gold Linen Micarta

3) The above two in paper

4) Vintage Butterscotch Paper micarta, as seen recently on a few knives by John Lloyd, Rick Menefee, Don Hanson, etc.

5) Various natural linen micartas, but generally the vintage stuff changes color, and goes that "butterscotch" color.


For my part, I consider #4 to be "Butterscotch" micarta.


Check this thread for info on various vintage phenolics, page 2, post #2 has some of the aforementioned "butterscotch micarta" but you may find something else there that looks like what you're talking about: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...e-Micarta-Ivorite-other-vintage-phenolics-etc
 
I don't think I can post links, but knifekits dot com are currently selling butterscotch paper Micarta. Their site>handle materials>std Micarta>28/28.
 
Feoh said:
I don't think I can post links, but knifekits dot com are currently selling butterscotch paper Micarta. Their site>handle materials>std Micarta>28/28.
Click to expand...

You can find plenty of that natural/light brown canvas micarta they're calling "butterscotch" on ebay. I doubt that's what the OP is looking for.
 
dont mean to hijack the thread but has anyone ever seen thick westinghouse micarta? like 3/4'' with maroon on the outside faces and a thin green line running through the center?
 
javand said:
There's a few possibilities.

1) Vintage Westinghouse Ivory Linen Micarta

2) Vintage Westinghouse Gold Linen Micarta

3) The above two in paper

4) Vintage Butterscotch Paper micarta, as seen recently on a few knives by John Lloyd, Rick Menefee, Don Hanson, etc.

5) Various natural linen micartas, but generally the vintage stuff changes color, and goes that "butterscotch" color.


For my part, I consider #4 to be "Butterscotch" micarta.
Click to expand...

Agree. This piece by Rick is mine and I've always known it as butterscotch micarta.


 
mike-E said:
dont mean to hijack the thread but has anyone ever seen thick westinghouse micarta? like 3/4'' with maroon on the outside faces and a thin green line running through the center?
Click to expand...

I've seen similar, although not this specifically. "Maroon" is another color like "butterscotch" that gets thrown around quite a lot. Half the time it's just natural micarta that turns a dark reddish brown over time. FWIW though, I've seen numerous varieties of westinghouse micarta that had one or two colored (usually black) lines in the center.
 
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