Custom pack knife - what handle material

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
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Guys,

Nick Wheeler is making me a great pack knife - i.e., a camp knife one can carry around when actually backpacking (which realistically precludes the traditional, huge, camp knives). It's a WIP, but it's looking good.

I have a question for you all. I'm hesitating reg the handle material between canvas micarta and a bright orange G10. The advantage of the orange G10 is that it's highly visible, and I'm less likely to loose the knife. The problem is that it's ... well rather ugly - plus, it might attract attention from a tight ass Park Ranger.

What do you guys think? I want a synthetic material. The guard is black micarta...

JD
 
Hey Joss,

For long term use and durability, I'd stick with the canvas micarta...

But if you want something a little "brighter", yet still knifely enough (couldn't think of an apropos word!), go for Ivory Linen Micarta... As it ages, it can act a lot like ivory or meerschaum in how it colors over time - as well as being great for scrimshaw if you want to make it real pretty...

And all should be okay even in the presence of the sheeple!
 
Joss,

I think that green canvas micarta for the handle with a black micarta guard would be good looking and tough. Mosaic pins would be a nice touch too.

Desert ironwood burl is pretty tough stuff. Nick is making me a utility knife at some point and I am considering this material. It isn't synthetic, but is tough and would look great with a black micarta guard.
 
G10 is much more durable than micarta. Try cutting both.

If you want something very durable, grippy and nondescript use bead blasted black G10. Orange G10 would also work well but it is However, I'm a wood lover so I would have Nick use a stabilized wood.

Joss, what steel is on your knife?
 
Chuck-

I've got a bowie block of black G10 from you that would work great. In fact, there's enough width in that particular block, I could get the guard out of it as well.

That would work really well Joss.

BTW- It's W2, clay-hardened. Quenched in Park #50. It WAS a straight back blade, but took almost 3/4" downward set upon quench! :eek: Good thing Joss was also interested in a spear point... because it's closer to that now than a straight back!

I'll post some pics here as work progresses. I think I might have some pics on my camera of it clay-coated before quench and such as well.

-Nick-
 
Where can I see a picture of this knife? I looked at your profile Nick and didn't see a web site listed.

Orange G-10 sounds the most practical, very hard to lose. Canvas Micarta is one of my favorite handle materials in general though. I guess for me it would depend on what kind of places I thought I would use it. If I was going to use it around water very much, or dense woods with little light, I would go with the orange for a back packing knife.

I am waiting on a Spyderco Pacific Salt and I ordered a yellow handled one just because I know there is a chance I will drop it in the surf or while snorkeling. I just had to be practical on a knife like that, and I'll have to learn to deal with carrying around a big, yellow knife.
 
Joss -- go with the color that you think will look good on it. It is a Wheeler blade -- you ain't gonna lose it. ;)
 
Here is what it looks like so far:

WheelerPack2.jpg
 
Cool knife Nick! I am amazed the point dropped that much, it looks great though :).

I'd say green canvas micarta and ss furniture. Black g10 would look good too. I'm not so sure about the brighter hues :).

Matt
 
Is that bright orange G10 on the Cronk,(naked beauty on the couch,engraved blade/fileworked spine)knife?Nice drop point blade,Joss!
 
If the orange G10 is too intense, maybe you should consider amber micarta. I bought a small spearpoint user bowie from Greco at the show that had amber micarta and I actually thought it looked really nice. It seasons well too.
 
Joss said:
I've decided to go for the canvas micarta.
Click to expand...

Now that I have seen pictures of the nearly finished blade I think the micarta is the way to go. It will look classier than the orange G-10.
 
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