CF durability

[lazerboy2000]

I just got my 1st knife with Carbon Fiber scales. It's a Caly 3 ZDP189/420J2 and it's absolutely gorgeous. How well will the scales hold up for EDC? I don't want to scratch or bang up the scales from being in my pocket with keys.

I might just have to save this for dress carry otherwise. I got this from a guy who had it Kreined, so now it's super thin and scary sharp!

 

[Josh K]

CF is tough stuff. My T-Mag has held up just fine, I believe it has similar scales as the Caly 3. Of course, if you want the best handle material, go for the peel-ply stuff found on the CF Military or Stretch 2.

 

[SEH95B]

CF depends a lot on the maker, they stuff spyderco makes is pretty hard core. Plus of EDC type stuff i have found that mine dont show scratches at all.

 

[CWL]

Actual CF comes in sheets like fabric and needs to be stacked and compressed into scales with some sort of resin to hold it together (like micarta or G10). It will probably be the resin that will scratch.

 

[Josh K]

Actual CF comes in sheets like fabric and needs to be stacked and compressed into scales with some sort of resin to hold it together (like micarta or G10). It will probably be the resin that will scratch.

Does it? I've seen 1/4" carbon fiber on some sites.

I thought it was all woven fibers. Only the peel-ply stuff was made similar to micarta.

 

[crom]

Can't say I have any experience with CF knife scales, but in mountain bike applications (do have experience with) it's pretty tough stuff. I don't think it has the impact resistance G-10 has, i'd wonder if it would take a hit without chipping or cracking. A shop owner told me once when CF was hitting the cycling industry (early 90's) that it will flex to a degree but beyond that it will shatter, saying to be careful of things like carbon bars and seat posts.

 

[knarfeng]

Actual CF comes in sheets like fabric and needs to be stacked and compressed into scales with some sort of resin to hold it together (like micarta or G10). It will probably be the resin that will scratch.

Does it? I've seen 1/4" carbon fiber on some sites.

I thought it was all woven fibers. Only the peel-ply stuff was made similar to micarta.

CF knife scales are made from laminates. Similar to G10, but using CF fabric instead of glass fabric as the reinforcement. With G10, the resin is always an epoxy (there are thousands of epoxy resin formulations.). With CF for knife handles, the resin is most commonly an epoxy, but it is possible to get phenolic resin.

Carbon fibers are woven into cloth. The cloth must be impregnated with resin. It is possible to pour liquid resin, then lay down a layer of cloth then more resin, another layer of cloth, etc. I have made such and it is a bloody mess. However, today, what is mostly used is pre-impregnated cloth, "prepreg". This is cloth that has been impregnated with resin, then rolled into rolls. To make a laminate, you first cut pieces of resin-impregnated fabric from the roll. One stacks the pieces, then applies heat and pressure to cure the resin and compact the layers. Then you have a laminate, which can be formed into a knife scale.

When you see a 1/4" CF sheet, what you are seeing is cured laminate.

Epoxy resin can be scratched by metal such as keys. But, whether the scratches will be noticeable will depend on the finish and surface roughness of the laminate. If you have a smooth and glassy finish, then I would expect scratches to show.

 

[enderwiggin]

I've been very happy with the carbon fiber on Spydercos. It's actually very scratch-resistant. I'm inclined to say more so than FRN or G-10. I find that Spyderco's G-10, while nice and grippy, tends to show wear fairly fast because of the deep checkering.

My Caly 3 in G-10 has some scratching on the handle, and the G-10 under the clip is worn smooth from the clip wiggling while the knife is in use.

Another nice thing about Carbon Fiber is that it's a more likely to chip in small areas than to break. I've dropped CF handled knives on asphalt before, and usually the worst damage they sustain is some pitting or flaking from where they hit debris on the ground.

By comparison, in my experience, FRN will either pit, deform or crack, depending how hard the fall is.

Really though--if you're going to carry it in your pocket with your keys, any finish is going to scratch. Keys are one of the worst things to have banging around on a nice knife, or anything else that's in your pocket.

Just look at the amount of wear metal keys put on the other keys on the ring over time!

I got tired of destroying phones and other EDC items this way, and moved my keys into a key silencer. While very "tacticool" sounding, a key silencer is just a carabiner clip with a belt loop and velcro flaps so your keys don't jingle.

If that doesn't sound appealing, there are always key wallets.

 

[stabman]

Don't drop it.
It chips in an annoying fashion.

 

[Thalestin]

I never had a handl with carbon fiber. Ive also never sen a real user here on the forums with one. With that said, I play squash and the rackets are made with carbon fiber. With impact it chips and it doesnt look pretty. Ive also seen damage that happens to Carbon bikes (not on mine luckily=)) and it chips, or snaps in a similar fashion. I think carbon fiber knives are more dress than real users unless you dont mind ugly chipping (and is why i have not got one since i like to use my knives). G-10 works awsome on users. I drop it on cement and it barly shows any marks even with hard falls

 

[Billbo66]

I have two carbon fiber scaled knives from Lone Wolf- a pocket folder Executive, which has an exposed weave texture, and a Harsey T1 small tactical folder, which had a flat, shiny 3d look (no longer available on that knife).

The exposed weave on the Executive provides a nice grip texture and looks nice. Since it is a small pocket knife with a leather pouch, it doesn't get much pocket wear, and holds up well. I like it for that purpose.

The scales on the T1 were initially pretty disappointing. The finish was slick, and showed scratches very easily. I wet sanded with 600 grit to give it a more satin finish, and radiused the edges to make it feel better in the hand. The appearance has a 3D sheen to it, which is nice to look at, but doesn't do much more than that. I think the scales are light weight, but It doesn't give any grip benefit. For an EDC user knife, I wont go that route again. I prefer G-10 or micarta. I don't think it is very durable, but I have not knocked it around too much.

I guess I would say that carbon fiber is purely a visual thing, with little weight/durability benefit to justify it on a heavy use knife. It looks cool on gentleman pocket folders.