??????????? For Owners with Ivory Scaled Knives /// Horse Stall Mat Scales ??????????

BloodGroove4570

BloodGroove4570

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Jul 25, 2010
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Hi Folks,,,
I have a question for those of you who own, have owned or have used ivory micarta scaled knives.
Do they get anymore dirty than regular canvas or linen micarta? I know of course it may look dirtier on white, but is it something that would or did make you shy away from a getting a knife in white again????

Also does anyone have a knife with horse stall mat scales???? If so whats your likes / dislikes? Is it really grippy, does it dry rot, make any hot spots in prolonged use???

Thanks for any and all input.... :thumbup:
 
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I saw that Man Knife with the horse mat scales and although I liked the grind the scales turned me off. I just don't care for rubber scales. I like the looks of nice wood, the durability of micarta, and nothing about rubber. Not the looks, the feel, and in this case, not the price.

I have one white scaled knife, a Hiking Buddy, and it hasn't been an issue getting it dirty yet. Just wipes off. We'll see how it goes over time, but a quick wipe down should keep it looking good. I would buy another one.
 
Real Ivory handled knives are not usually made as "users" due to the value of the knife (rarely used on low to mid range knives, mostly collectors and show pieces). Although not a synthetics fan, I have used different micartas on customer request. Most whites and off whites will eventually stain or patina from regualar use. Hand oil will soak into anything. I have a small fillet knife with linen micarta scales that has held up incredibly well but now looks like very aged ivory....dirty yellow. Not a problem for me the knife is 30+ years in moderate to hard use and still slipping through fish just fine. It's even visited the bottom of Ochclotnee Bay a few times (saltwater), with no ill results.
The horsemat handles have great "grip" as you say, look a bit like fido's butt, but give great utility and service in the right place. They do smell a bit like horse excrement when grinding to shape, it goes away (or you just get used to it). For heavy users in wet, slippery, slimey, and chopping situations I don't think they can be beat. If you really work a knife hard and a lot you owe it to yourself to try one.
As Andy would probably tell you, it'd be rare for you to see one of my knives with either due to my adversion to synthetics, but they do have a place and value. I'm still prone to go with a nice piece of black locust or hickory and a well shaped handle.
 
I'm kinda assuming you mean Ivory micarta here since I've never used real ivory on a knife. I've not had any dirtying of mine. Paper micarta's stay cleaner than the others I think. I just wipe mine down with acetone if it gets grimy. The re-oil.
 
I have a knife with rubber horse stall mat handle slabs. For an EDC user knife that is for use in humid/wet/dirty environments it is great. Hard but a little give and shock resistant. Tactile even when sweaty or wet but less durable than micarta.

I figured it was well worth the expense to have new slabs pinned and glued on every few years but opinions will vary.
 
I have a Bark River Mini Canadian with Antique Ivory Micarta scales that I carry almost every other day ( my Fiddleback Bushboot with Mesquite gets carried the rest of the time). Both knives see lots of use in my dirty little hands and the BarK River looks just fine. I just clean it up with Flitz over the whole knife (The Bark River) when it starts looking funky and it come right back. The Micarta now has a nice satin feel to it that I like very much.

BTW The Bushboot has also held up very well with just a little cleaning and keeping it wiped down with mineral oil once in awhile. Love,Love,LOve my Bushboot!
 
Horse mat scales, kinda defeat the object. Horse mat handles on stick tangs (big thick stick tangs) are great, where you use the knife hard and do a lot of chopping. The lack of looks is offset by the handle comfort. On a full tang though, not much point as impact transfers through the steel. It may even make it more noticeable as the rubber deadens the rest of the impact shock.
 
unit, the handles on k II are neoprene which is a lot different than horse stall mat. what do you think of them?
 
richard j said:
unit, the handles on k II are neoprene which is a lot different than horse stall mat. what do you think of them?
Click to expand...

I like both materials with a slight edge to the horse mat. Reason being that both materials offer some "give" for comfort but the horse mat is a composite that has bits of fiber (perhaps canvas) that seems to help it remain grippier when moist or wet.

Here is a photo of the two materials side by side.
 

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The rubber may be ok if epoxied down, but the thing I learned from Schrade putting those Kraton scales on my knife design was that if it is just bolted on and isn't epoxied down it will pull away from the steel at the edges which is annoying.

I'm still waiting to see how the ivory micarta wears. I really do love how it looks, but I'm not sure I'm a good candidate for a white handled knife.
 
Rubber causes friction which leads to hot-spots or blisters. Fine on a big chopper, no thanks on a small knife.
 
I guess "dirty" was not the best descriptive......still looks clean just yellowed with age. Now remember, that handle is as old or older than most of you guys and has out lasted two Rapala fillet knives used along side by my brother. It has "ridden the river and seen the varmit!" That kind of use will patina just about anything.
 
crex,
Any chance of seeing a pic of that aged beauty?

Thanks
Ray

Lots of good info here guyz, much appreciated......
 
I'll try to remember to, but it's buried in the bowels of my boat right now. I'm kind of tied up prepping for the Guild Show in Louisville at the moment.
 
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