Cut into this G10 and was shocked at what I found

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
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I picked this up some time ago and never needed it till now. Working on a beast of a chopper and thought this red G10 would work great. I did a quick grind on one edge and was shocked that it was cream/aged ivory color inside. Not that I'm complaining on the color as it as it still might work for what I need. But where did the red come from. Is it aging and turning red and should I not use it? At first I thought it might be painted but it's even on the cut side and when ground you can see the color is not just on the surface. I have a bunch of old green G10 and it does not change color. Like I said I'm kinda digging the surprise color but just concerned if I should use it. Thanks guys, oh and I'm not even 100% sure it is G10 but it is very hard like the green G10 I have and has a very tight woven pattern.

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It's a dark butter color, some quick reading reveals that old micarta was cream I think.
 
Well more research lead me to this dozer knife using aged white micarta. And after looking at it I just love the color. Also the weave pattern looks identical.

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Looks like black line gold micarta, likely westinghouse material. I'd say it's a much better score than it being G10. It will however, turn the same color as the outside over time.

Let me know if you want to sell or trade it.
 
Now I'm wondering if I should go down to the local antique store and buy a HUGE work bench that is topped with what I think is the same stuff. The table is around 4'x8' and the top is very thick.

What about black line gold micarta is good?
 
That color is beautiful, one of my favorites for all types of fixed blades. I am curious how long it takes to turn red again and why it happens.
 
I think when you see the blade I'm wanting to put it on you will like it even more.
 
It changes color over time because of the types of resins they used to make this material back in the day. Lots of speculation as to what causes it but nobody has been able to stop it that I'm aware of. I consider it a feature.

The old stuff is typically much better quality than what's available today, denser, more uniform, less prone to chipping, etc.
 
That g10 has clearly gone rotten... Why don't you just send it to me and I will dispose of it properly ;)

Looks like you could make some sick handles out of that stuff.
 
How much are they asking for the workbench at the antique store? Might be worth picking it up if it is indeed covered by thick Westinghouse Micarta. Think how many handles you could make.
 
buy the work bench!!! if it is micarta, you won't be dissapointed over time. I scored a bunch of what i thought was red canvas micarta years ago, and when i started cutting it i found that it was natural colour as well and it looks fantastic when finished. so much character. and you can certainly offset the cost of the bench by selling a few chunks of it on here and recoup some of your money.

P.S. that material looks incredible.
 
You talked me into it, we are going to visit the store and I'm going to look it over. It's a crazy heavy steel bench with the micarta top. I could put a wood top on it for use. I'm thinking she was asking $300 for it but I bet a little sweat talking could drop the price a bit. Looks like it's been there awhile.
Can't be gone to long though as a knife order just came in and want to ship tomarow.
 
bam! i love it when someone lucks into a great piece like that. imagine how much you would have had to pay for scale size pieces of that? save a fortune over time.
 
Vintage micarta is hot right now. Plus, it really is better stuff. I had a big chunk of black line natural canvas micarta that I made lots of handles from. The guy I got it from had two 4'x8' sheets of it, like 2" thick in the side of his shop that he'd hack chunks off of. Wish I could go buy some more, but that was on Maui... really tough stuff but had a real funky smell when ground, unlike modern phenolics.
 
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