G-10 vs. Micarta

T

Tsme

Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
101
I see a lot of the better knives being offered with micarta scales and a smaller number being offered with G-10. From a practical standpoint, is there any difference in usability and in particular in how slippery the handle gets in field use? Thanks!

Bill D.
 
I don't think there is, provided that the handles are textured. Micarta is porus while G10 is not. Smooth micarta will be slippery when wet although a coat of surfboard wax takes care of my needs.
 
G-10 is stronger than Micarta, but I have found that Micarta holds up to anything I put a knife through. You can't go wrong with either one.

I personally have never had a problem with Micarta being slippery. As the unhappy hound mentioned, a little texturing really helps in this department.
 
I have always preferred G-10 to micarta. I almost always get a good grip with it and I have always found them to be reliable. But then maybe I just have not had enough experiance with good micarta handles.
 
I personally prefer Micarta over g10. It provides good grip even when wet and is plenty tough, not to mention stylish. Micarta does absorb water but that's why it's still grippy when wet. G10 will be more slippery because it doesn't absorb water. Unless you plan to have your knives rolled over with tanks, both materials should last beyond lifetime.
 
I guess both materials will hold up longer than the knife steel itself. :D
 
g10 is a million times tougher than micarta. i've re-shaped both with various files & grits, and micarta almost feels like air-hardened clay when you're filing it down; i was actually astonished at how easy the stuff breaks & abrades. on the other hand, is super tough & flexible - sheesh, virtually indestructible. i've used the butt of a g10 handle to pound a steel part into place once. as far as grippiness goes, textured g10 is comparable to canvas micarta. linen micarta & certainly paper micarta are much smoother. what micarta has over g10 by far is aesthetics - g10 is missing that rich woodlike grain. if i were to nitpick (it's a given that they're both tough "enough"), g10 would go on my beaters/users (it's also lighter than micarta), and micarta would go on my customs & light-use-admiration types.
 
imho depends on the maker/model of knife, either one is good, mic is a LITTLE slippier imho but not enough to really matter, some mic is slippier than others, just like some G10 is slippier than others, i like the mic on emerson spec war knives like my CQC6 its not finished as smooth as some is and is 'grippier' if that a word lol, have a spydie ayoob w/mic (i think??) and its smooth as heck and is a little slippery,
 
There are actually a few types of micarta... some of it very smooth, almost slick. Linen micarta has some fine grain to it while canvas micarta is rough. Of course, checkered or otherwise textured G10 is much stronger and much grippier than any micarta. As a matter of fact, it's a common practice for Strider and Buck-Strider owners to sand down the G10 on their folders cause they were ripping through pants and chafing hands.
 
I find few differences between Micarta and G10.

You take G10 and Micarta to 220 grit and they're both at 220 grit.

Both have the same same wood grain like lines when ground and contoured.

The real differences I've found is that G10 is heavier and is easier on the belts when grinding. I go thru more belts with Micarta.

Al P. :)
 
G-10 before Micarta. G-10 can be quite grippy (even rough sometimes), while Canvas Micarta is still fairly smooth.
 
IMHO,
I think handle shape and contour comes into play.
Micarta handles I think are normally thicker and rounder , and more coutoured to the swells in ones hand.
G -10 is usually flat, and thinner. I think of tach knives when I think G-10.
For example, my wife likes micarta on one of our kitchen knifes. she uses it to cut the veggies , its her favorite. She uses it cause she says it feel good in her hand.
Now I am quite sure that G -10 feels good to other people in thier hands.
Its really up to you and your preferances.
Good Knife hunting
Jack
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top