Does any one else like plastic handles?

C

camo kid

Joined
Sep 3, 2002
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329
For some reason I find that I prefer plastic handles on my slip joints. I have tried bone, and wood, and for some reason they just don't do it for me. I love how Cases dark red bone looks, and various bone stags, and jigging patterns, but when I grab a knife to use I rarely grab bone. I think it might be because I grew up on old timers, imperial, uncle henry's, and case with plastic handles. Also my pockets get filled with dirt, metal chips, black beauty sand blasting media, and god only knows what else and I feel bad subjecting nice bone to that. Ether way 9 out of 10 times when I buy a knife I find myself buying a model with a plastic handle. Does any one else prefer plastic?
 
camo kid said:
For some reason I find that I prefer plastic handles on my slip joints. I have tried bone, and wood, and for some reason they just don't do it for me. I love how Cases dark red bone looks, and various bone stags, and jigging patterns, but when I grab a knife to use I rarely grab bone. I think it might be because I grew up on old timers, imperial, uncle henry's, and case with plastic handles. Also my pockets get filled with dirt, metal chips, black beauty sand blasting media, and god only knows what else and I feel bad subjecting nice bone to that. Ether way 9 out of 10 times when I buy a knife I find myself buying a model with a plastic handle. Does any one else prefer plastic?
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I have some productions with plastic,or whatever it is,Derlin etc.,and I have a few customs,micarta,G-10.I agrre,for harder usage,these synthetic materials are probably your best bet.
On the other hand,some nice jig bone sure has a warm comfortable feel to it.
As a completely obseesed knifenut type,I flip flop back and forth.
I've been on a jig bone kick lately,but you are right,the crunchy stuff in a workmans pockets doesn't agree w/prettier handles (bone& stag etc)
And,I'll add,& it kinda has nothing to do with your question,but I have found G-10 to hold up better than micarta in the kitchen with a lot of exposure to water
-Vince
 
I have to admit that as much as I love stag and jigged bone, if I am going to use the knife as a work knife and throw anything at it I like synthetic handles. My Yellow Case and Eye-Brand sodbusters were some sort of plastic, and they held up great. I used the heck out of them with no worry. And in 1967 I bought a Buck 301 stockman at an army PX, and for the next 20 plus years threw everything at it. The black delrin handles are still on it in one piece even though the blades are badly worn. The knife is still a decent using knife 40 years later. Uncle Mike got a Camillus stockman in 1943 when he was in the Navy, and though the blades are badly worn like my old buck, the brown plasic handles are still all there. My dad's peanut though, had a badly cracked handle for the last 15 years he carried it that he epoxied up. I later had Case refurbish the knife and repair the handle.

Plastic can be some tough stuff!

But it doesn't make my heart skip a beat like well aged stag!
 
I like synthetics, metals, and wood for handles on pocket knives.

I do not own any horn or bone handles because I think they're kind of creepy. :(:o
 
I've had several knives with various types of synthetic handles that I liked, but I've never had one I loved...bone on the other hand, is my favorite. I don't care what you guys say about those SIN thetics...I worked a filthy job for nearly a decade and all the grit and grime only made the bone look better:D
 
Durwood said:
I've had several knives with various types of synthetic handles that I liked, but I've never had one I loved...bone on the other hand, is my favorite. I don't care what you guys say about those SIN thetics...I worked a filthy job for nearly a decade and all the grit and grime only made the bone look better:D
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Durwood definitely has a point,you tumble some good looking bone in the pocket,the knife gets a real cool pocket worn look to it.
Just look at any older bone handle slip that is used but in good condition.It has wear,but if it's owner/owners over the years did not abuse it,it still has plenty of life,and has a look all its own.
-Vince
 
I am working on Getting My first Slipjoint Folder , But for Me it is Natural handles all the way. Wood , Bone , Stag , it's all Good:thumbup:
 
I generally don't like plastic handles, especially on traditional style knives. Odd though, the knives that I semi-seriously collect are the Schrade Old Timers, and most of those have plastic (delrin) handles.
 
I have been EDCing a Case CV pen knife with yellow handles for a month now.
I know only a month, but a month-so far. I let it mix with my keys and change at the bottom of my pocket. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted it all "scratched" up. But instead it has a nice "buffing" going on as it dances with my keys and loose change. I like that the yellow handles are inexpensive and seem to enjoy "mingling" with other objects.
Bone, stone and stag are classy but the yellow handle is like comfort food; feels good.
Bill
 
My name is ahgar and i'm addicted to yellow handled knives. Bone is nice and looks better on some patterns but i keep coming back to good old case yellow. it just feels right.
 
There's nothing wrong with synthetic handles as far as I can see. They certainly take the guff and it's a material you wouldn't get too upset about if it were to become cracked/broken. They definitely have their place but as far as aesthetics, plastic looks better on a toothbrush :)
 
I love the look of bone (smooth or jigged), sheeps horn, and stag. I have an old Case stockman with bone. The bone has a good pocket worn look. The main blade has a nic in it, so it has become my work knife. For some reason I tend to shy away from derlin or plastic. Anything that is saw cut derlin, has to go. I replace it with some kind of nice wood. My next project is to replace the scales on my Buck 301. I just have not found the scale material I wanted to replace it with.


John
 
All I think of when I see a plastic knife is how much nicer it would look with some natural scales.
 
Ya know, now that I think about it, the very first knife my dad gave me was a Camillus scout knife with a plastic/delrin handle with the emblam and motto "Be Prepared" molded into it. No shield to fall off, and its still in good shape.
 
mjolnir74 said:
All I think of when I see a plastic knife is how much nicer it would look with some natural scales.
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Same here, especially when the plastic is jigged :barf:. One of the main reasons I could never appreciate the newer Remington bullet series.

I do appreciate some nice canvas micarta and other highspeed synthetics, though. They serve a real purpose in a working knife, are aesthetically pleasing for the most part, and just plain neat. Have two customs in the works with green canvas micarta and one with carbon fiber.
 
Dr. Mudd said:
What would a Sodbuster be without its black or yellow plastic scales?!? :D
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It could be a Queen or German Bull with STAG scales:D

Plastic can be very OK if smooth and not trying to pretend to be jigged. CASE yellow handle, Moore Maker and Camillus Yello Jaket are all very desirable.

Micarta in linen looks very good on fixed blades, too bad you don't see this on production folders.

Celluloid looks very good on older knives but I've heard it can deteriorate badly in the light or even give off toxic fumes:eek::eek:Maybe that's why it isn't used now? Tortoiseshell (not faux) would be nice to have!
 
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