Favorite Scale Material for EDC Folder

CDHumiston

CDHumiston

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Feb 17, 2009
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Just wondering what everyone's favorite scale materials are on their EDC folding knives? I'm looking mostly for opinions on Carbon Fiber, G-10, Aluminum and Titanium.
 
3D G10. They are amazing to hold when done right. after that, regular checkered G10. it will perfectly compliment a handle with good ergos, and give lots of good grip in an practically indestructible package. I do not have a ton of experience, but i love the aluminum on my blur. I think it comes down to ergos more than handle material.
 
Call me silly, but I like glass-reinforced nylon. Companies like Spyderco, Benchmade, and Cold Steel (and many others) do a great job with it. Light, nearly impervious to drops or scuffs, and inexpensive--it never hurts! :D
 
I really like the peel-ply Carbon Fiber on my Sage 1. It has just enough texture to add a little more grip, but not so much abrasion that you're going to tear up your pockets from clipping/unclipping.
 
Stag has always been my favorite but since the embargo on Sambar stag from India you just don't see quality stag on a reasonably priced folder anymore.
 
FRN is light, durable, inexpensive, and fairly grippy, but it feels cheap. Aluminum is light, but it's not that strong and it dents easily. Titanium is fairly light and very strong, but it shows marks easily and isn't the grippiest. G-10, carbon fiber, and micarta can be grippy, but they can also chip and rip your pockets. Of the last 3, I like carbon fiber as it's done on the Spyderco Gayle Bradley the best. But every material has its advantages and disadvantages.
 
Tsujigiri said:
FRN is light, durable, inexpensive, and fairly grippy, but it feels cheap. Aluminum is light, but it's not that strong and it dents easily. Titanium is fairly light and very strong, but it shows marks easily and isn't the grippiest. G-10, carbon fiber, and micarta can be grippy, but they can also chip and rip your pockets. Of the last 3, I like carbon fiber as it's done on the Spyderco Gayle Bradley the best. But every material has its advantages and disadvantages.
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Hard to go wrong with the woven CF on the GB. It's a really interesting texture.
 
Textured G10 is my favorite by far but I really do like the ALOX scales on SAK's. Prolly my second favorite.
 
I really like carbon fiber, G-10, and titanium, but if I had to name a single favorite it would be CF (especially woven CF as found on the Gayle Bradley).

I have to say, though, that my ideal EDC folder scales would actually involve a combination of materials: titanium framelock on one side, CF or G-10 scale on the other.
 
Micarta and G10.

G10 gives the mindset of an extremely sturdy grip.

Micarta gives the mindset of class.
 
For a rough and tumble EDC knife, I will pick FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon) every time and Spyderco's FRN in particular. Spyderco uses a higher concentration of glass in their FRN.
 
I like the G-10 that is on my Spyderco Military and ZT 0350. For fixed blades I have been partial to Micarta.
 
MICARTA!

Just wish more folders came with canvas micarta handles. Otherwise FRN is great as long as its done well and is the higher density or has liners. I despise hollow handles, like noryl gtx on the grips and mini grips.
 
Tsujigiri said:
FRN is light, durable, inexpensive, and fairly grippy, but it feels cheap. Aluminum is light, but it's not that strong and it dents easily. Titanium is fairly light and very strong, but it shows marks easily and isn't the grippiest. G-10, carbon fiber, and micarta can be grippy, but they can also chip and rip your pockets. Of the last 3, I like carbon fiber as it's done on the Spyderco Gayle Bradley the best. But every material has its advantages and disadvantages.
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I've done a fair bit of materials science, and I've come to associate the feel and sound(when rubbed with a fingernail, or set on a table) of various materials with their physical properties. Thus, FRN doesn't feel cheap to me, it feels and sounds like a strong, durable composite. Polypropylene and simpler polymers do feel cheap, since they feel like "plastic."

My favorite all-around EDC handle scales are G10 and FRN.
 
FRN as done by Spyderco. Grippy, and low profile, barely know that you have one in (clipped to) your pocket.
 
Another vote for G10 or Micarta... same goes for 1911 grips. Although there are so many variations, it has to be 'just right' in the aggresiveness of texture.
 
gomipile said:
I've done a fair bit of materials science, and I've come to associate the feel and sound(when rubbed with a fingernail, or set on a table) of various materials with their physical properties. Thus, FRN doesn't feel cheap to me, it feels and sounds like a strong, durable composite. Polypropylene and simpler polymers do feel cheap, since they feel like "plastic."

My favorite all-around EDC handle scales are G10 and FRN.
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Materials science is one of my majors, too. I know FRN is a great material, but it just doesn't have as refined of a feel to me. If you can get around your prejudices about the feel of the material, though, as you seem to have, it's a great performer. Especially when coupled with SS liners, since FRN tends to flex a bit on its own. Such is the price of ductility and toughness...
 
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