Canvas Micarta & Black Linen Micarta, what's the difference ?

[Ironstakes]

Does anyone know what's the difference between those two Micarta materials? I think Black linen is somewhat more pricy that the other (??), does that mean better in any way? and which one would be tougher in a combat do-it-all knife?. I've seen Canvas M on some of the high-end custom pieces so that leaves some confusion in the slab field.

many thanks.

 

[Crayola]

Welcome to the forums!!

Micarta comes in several varieties, with paper, linen and canvas being the most popular (at least among knives anyways.) Canvas micarta offers the "grippiest" texture if bead blasted. Linen micarta looks more refined when polished. it really depends on what you are going after. I like the grippiness of canvas micarta, but I prefer linen overall. It just looks fantastic and can be made quite grippy too.

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

Crayola is correct.

When you look at linen and canvas side by side you will see that the canvas has bigger threads in the cloth and a looser weave. Linen is woven tighter with finer threads.

 

[Crayola]

Hey Chuck!!! How ya been? In a few months I hope to have some more projects done that use the green g-10 you sent me all that time ago. When the projects are done, you get pics!

 

[Architect]

Bob Loveless was one of the first to popularize the use of canvas micarta on his blades.

Some of the earliest knives I saw were photos of those canvas micarta handled blades. Since then, it has always held a certain appeal for me on quality knives. When nicely polished, it has a sort of rugged refinement. Also, no worrying about checks and cracks.