Does anyone honestly enjoy the look and feel of non-natural scales?

H

Houlahound

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Aug 2, 2017
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Pure artistic knives excluded from this discussion.

Yeah I get the superior physical properties, performance, hygiene .. etc of your modern materials and all my latest acquisitions do not have natural scale materials but does anyone actually prefer any of these modern synthetics on aesthetic grounds?

Gives knives a cheap feel imo.

No offence, you like what you like.
 
It’s depends... l am don’t like the CF in general. G-10 and micarta I like in most cases, how awesome was “crocodile” G-10 scale on ZT 200-300 models! And I am for sure will prefer G-10 scales then wooden for Spyderco Military :)
But from other side traditional folders with modern materials looks quite weird for me :)
 
Yes.

Bushbaby2_6.jpg
 
I prefer very specific (colour and grind) mammoth ivory scales the most. My hunting knives are wrapped in mammoth ivory and I love everything about it. After that in order I would take sambar stag and sheep horn but again a very specific matched set of scales, ground a certain way. I also like carbon fibre a lot.

In my reality though, aesthetics and function are linked because I use all of my knives and certain uses require micarta or G10 and I’m fine with that. In a way their rugged utility makes them aesthetically pleasing.
 
I much prefer man made handles. I really dislike bone, especially jigged. Stag is also a real non starter for me. I love the look of nice wood but it has no place on a knife I’ll carry and use. I actually just sold a ebony knife to purchase the same knife in carbon fiber, it’s so much better. I prefer Micarta ( and now carbon fiber) over everything else but will also be perfectly happy with g10 or even delrin before natural.
Now with all that said I will still trade a kidney for a mammoth mnandi!
Oh and I can assure you there is NOTHING cheap feeling about this knife. View attachment 1396435
 
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miso2 said:
Yes.

Bushbaby2_6.jpg
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What model or make is this? Classic look.
I like the look of CF but so far I am not enamored with the slick feel. Can CF be made to give it a bit more grip? I really like canvas micarta, and it does have an appeal knowing it is for utilitarian purposes. Someone said above that it has its own aesthetic appeal.
 
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cbach8tw said:
What model or make is this? Classic look.
I like the look of CF but so far I am not enamored with the slick feel. Can CF be made to give it a bit more grip? I really like canvas micarta, and it does have an appeal knowing it is for utilitarian purposes.
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That one is done by Stefan Diedericks, and he calls it "Busbaby".
It is with G10.

I actually prefer Micarta, particularly canvas Micarta, for the look and feel.
But some G10 and linen Micarta are as good.

Rotation.jpg
 
Coiloil37 said:
I prefer very specific (colour and grind) mammoth ivory scales the most. My hunting knives are wrapped in mammoth ivory and I love everything about it. After that in order I would take sambar stag and sheep horn but again a very specific matched set of scales, ground a certain way. I also like carbon fibre a lot.

In my reality though, aesthetics and function are linked because I use all of my knives and certain uses require micarta or G10 and I’m fine with that. In a way their rugged utility makes them aesthetically pleasing.
Click to expand...
miso2 said:
That one is done by Stefan Diedericks, and he calls it "Busbaby".
It is with G10.

I actually prefer Micarta, particularly canvas Micarta, for the look and feel.
But some G10 and linen Micarta are as good.

Rotation.jpg
Click to expand...

I do like the feel of my g10 on my Manly Comrades. Very good texture for a good grip.
 
The G10 on the first generation spyderco yojimbo was so good I sold the knife a decade ago and can still feel the texture and shape in my hand. I've had some natural handled knives but none have really come close. My first knife was a jigged bone ulster and while I cherished the knife the natural handle material didn't make much of an impression.

I think part of the issue is that G10 & CF are now synonymous with cheap knives because of the $4 walmart specials and $15 ganzos that flooded the market in the mid-2010s. Prior to that FRN was cheap, G10 was mid/top tier and CF was top tier. Now it seems like all the normal materials have suffered downward drift and unless they're implemented in a brand new style, feel cheap and cheesy.
 
Handle material is generally down the list of boxes to check for me.
I know what I'm getting if I get man-made materials.
My Weakness is wood. If I get wood I want wood! Not laminated wood byproduct. I don't turn away from a knife over it , since handles don't play the major role , but it is a disappointment when Cherrywood is only a colored laminate.
Over Xmas I bought 2 Bucks and a Native for the steel. S30v and S35vn . All had man-made handles and I didn't give a second thought .
 
I find I'm enjoying titanium and the regular weave CF less and less. I've moved along a lot of knives for that reason. Micarta has always been my favorite, especially on high end pieces where "Liberace materials" like mokume are the norm. I also enjoy the tactility of stag and jigged bone, but those are hard to find on modern folders.
 
Wood is the only natural material I'd really consider on anything other than a traditional. Even then, you give up a lot in terms of durability if the wood isn't treated properly. Micarta can give you that "warm" feel of natural materials without the downsides. In my entire collection, I only have one knife with natural scales, a low-end traditional with wood scales (it was a gift).
 
Quickest way to answer, I love how Emerson's rough g10 scales feel and look.
Spyderco g10 is a close second.
Best of both worlds, epoxy soaked, cord wraps ftw.
 
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