Can Some One Explain The difference between RC handles

[Lazy River Road]

What is the difference between the G-10, Canvas Micarta and the Cloth Micarta, Is one better then other other, advantages/disadvantages,im new to knives

 

[otis williams]

it's mostly personal preference. i've got RATs in linen and G-10, the linen has a bit more grip, but the G-10 isn't slippery. my understanding is that the canvas has more traction than the linen, but i haven't handled it. pick what you like.


here's the ESEE(RAT) subforum.

 

[1066vik]

G10 is a fiberglass "micarta" - and comes in blaze orange so it's harder to misplace in the woods.
Canvas and linen micarta differ mainly by the "coarseness" of the weave in the fabric.
both of them as delivered will absorb liquids/oils into their surface, but clean up easy with dawn dish soap and a toothbrush.

some folks feel the canvas is more "grippy" than the linen micarta.
the G10 on my RC3 feels fine to me.

in case you don't know what micarta is, it's made by "painting" thin material with epoxy in layers then compressing the entire mass while it cures.

it can be made with paper, denin, linen, canvas, burlap, etc...

hope this answers your question.

 

[EricV]

Canvas micarta is the grippiest, basically the roughest surface.

Linen micarta is also grippy IMO especially when wet, its like canvas but with a finer woven fabric that its based on, feels a bit like a new pair of jeans.

G10, I don't have any RATs wearing g10, but I do have it on other knives, it feels not unlike a roughed up heavy duty plastic. Its a fiberglass and resin based material, not the grippiest when wet.

Micarta's will absorb (sorta) water where as on g10 the water will sit on the surface.

Both are frequently used in knife handles. Micarta is widely used on hard use, or survival fixed blade knives, IMO it gives great grip and is extremely tough
(Micarta and phenolics in general are quite strong, in rowing micarta plates are used to attach the rower to their foot plate where most of the power is generated, these plates take a tremendous beating, and they're only an eigth inch thick.)

hope that helps, post in the RAT subforums that otis linked to if you want specifics on RATs



Beaten by 1066vic

 

[TKAZ]

G10: An extremely durable makeup of layers of fiberglass soaked in resin, then highly compressed and baked. Impervious to moisture or liquid and physically stable under climate change. Most commonly black, but is available in various colors, too.

MICARTA: Layers of linen cloths soaked in resin and pressured together. Most commonly used on more stylish knives due to its rich color finish qualities.

You will find that there will be pro's and con's to both handles. the G10 sounds as though it would preform better in wet conditions (tactical, outdoor) whereas the Micarta would be used on more fancier knives for collecting and display purposes.

I'm sure there are all sorts of opinions and people have their favorite handle material they prefer but if you start collecting and using knives you will find in time you also will have a prefered handle material you like.

 

[Phillip Dobson]

Good information here. My advice: buy 'em all, and see what you like.

The look and feel depends a lot on the method of finishing. You can get a shiny finish even on burlap micarta (as in my avatar). It just takes forever to smooth out all of those cloth fibers.

 

[knarfeng]

What is the difference between the G-10, Canvas Micarta and the Cloth Micarta, Is one better then other other, advantages/disadvantages,im new to knives

G10 is always layers of glass cloth held together by epoxy resin.

Micarta is layers of cloth (normally not glass) held together by a resin. The most common resins are epoxy and phenolic.

For a knife handle, the difference between the three are tactile and appearance. You won't notice any difference in strength or durability.

Because the tactile differences (surface roughness) are dependent on who finishes the stuff rather than upon an inherent difference in the materials themselves, it would be best for you to talk to the fellas on the RAT forum. Talk to someone who has held the various handles and get their input. It would be better still for you to go to a knife show or dealer and hold them yourself to see which you like.

 

[tiguy7]

The old micartas were compression molded thermoset plastics that were held at high temperature (350degreesF) and pressure (1200lbs/in2) until they kicked over (polymerized) to form a material that could not be remelted like a thermoplastic. These phenolics were developed for their heat resistance and were used for radio boards, pan handles, knife handles, stoves knobs, etc. They were often filled with wood, linen, canvas, or paper. When heated above 600 degrees F., they char and get brittle rather than melt. Melamine (melmac) was processed the same way. I thought that G-10 was a cold molded mixture of fiberglass and epoxy with no particular heat resistance except that of the glass itself.