G10 and Customs - Anyone else feel this way?

Undefeatable

Undefeatable

Joined
Feb 28, 2015
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371
I'm going to start off by saying that I think G10 is an awesome material for function. It's lightweight, strong, and grippy. I think for a user knives and the like, its hard to find a better material.


But does anyone else hate seeing G10 in custom knives? I have always felt that it almost "cheapens" the knife when your paying $400+. I understand you can achieve colors in G10 that are hard to attain from other materials, but I still have this strange distaste for it when looking at high-end knives/customs.

I am interested in hearing other peoples opinions about it.

Thanks for reading!
 
I like really nicely done G10 for high end knives, polished and rounded. Titanium is too overused imo and CF is great as well. I guess handle materials are limited for knives, but it would be nice to have moon rock handles.
 
Well I have to say G-10 is fine, all my knives are users so a good handle is critical.

If we're talking about some sort of 10K art knife then maybe it could look out of place among all the bedazzling.
 
I'd take titanium over plastic any day. Titanium feels like it has a nice heft to it. G10 is awesomely made, but at the end of the day, its plastic. And plastic feels cheap compared to titanium
 
Yes, I won't consider purchasing any custom which is scaled in G10, dymondwood, kyrinite, artificial composites, dyed wood or carbon fiber. Plenty of choices for those in production knives.

Just my personal tastes, no more or less.
 
The Burgh said:
Yes, I won't consider purchasing any custom which is scaled in G10, dymondwood, kyrinite, artificial composites, dyed wood or carbon fiber. Plenty of choices for those in production knives.

Just my personal tastes, no more or less.
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Im actually the same way. I have started to look at knives without carbon fiber. I used to love the material, and I still do think some knives look and feel great with carbon fiber, but for some reason, I no longer purchase carbon fiber scaled knives.

Also on the subject of material choice and customs, does anyone else feel like if your spending $400-$500+ on a knife, you should be getting blade steels better than S30V/S35V/CPM154?
Don't get my wrong, these steels are great, but I feel like when I see makers or brands that are setting the price of their knives that high, you should be getting a better steel than what is really considered standard on a lot of much less expensive knives.

Im not going to name name's, you can do that research on your own, but there are makers that charge $2000+ for a knife and use S30V/S35V/154, etc...
 
If your custom knives are >$400 plus, then that does not leave much room for "premium" handle materials. That price is on the low end of custom knives, particularly folders, unless you are talking part time makers and fixed blades.

Also G10 is not plastic. Plastic by definition is "moldable" which G10 is not. G10 is machined into shape.

Personally, G10 is a good choice for any knife that will see hard use.
 
The title wasn't literal. It encompasses midtechs/semi customs/etc...

And I agree 100%. If i was purchasing a true hard use knife, G10 would be my preferred material.
 
Depends on the overall knife what material suits it best.
The entire package is more important than any one component.
 
I don't have any customs, but I generally prefer G10 scales on my knives, and I generally do NOT like all metal handles.
 
I like to see exotic and new things. But G10 and Micarta are tried and true for a working knife.
 
I'm just the opposite. I think well done G10 is amazing. There are an awful lot of customs out there where it's just two titanium scales, a stonewashed blade, and a $800+ price tag. What? Thanks, I'll pass.

I prefer G10 or another natural or synthetic material that took some actual artistry to make the scale look great. Anyone can cut out a scale shape in titanium, and chamfer the edges. Just my two bits.
 
I like titanium, G10, CF, horn, micarta, wood, aluminum, bone as knife handles. Each has it's place in different kinds of knives at various price points. Try to picture a gorgeous, traditional Stockman with G10 scales?

What I AM getting sick of are square, shapeless slabs of titanium that make up the handles of so many knives these days. That may work on a Sebenza, but it's turn off on a knife that's supposed to be a new "style".
 
Love reading the responses. Some of these really make me think about my own opinion. Keep them coming!
 
brownshoe said:
If your custom knives are >$400 plus, then that does not leave much room for "premium" handle materials. That price is on the low end of custom knives, particularly folders, unless you are talking part time makers and fixed blades.

Also G10 is not plastic. Plastic by definition is "moldable" which G10 is not. G10 is machined into shape.

Personally, G10 is a good choice for any knife that will see hard use.
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G10 is plastic. More speficially, G10 is made from fiberglass, which is plastic with glass fibers. Research it :thumbup:

Plastic is an extremely broad category of materials though, I can see where the confusion could happen.
 
Cutlover said:
G10 is plastic. More speficially, G10 is made from fiberglass, which is plastic with glass fibers. Research it :thumbup:
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It is a fiberglass and resin laminate, yes.
It has many engineering uses, and is very strong and chemical resistant.

From a purely subjective standpoint, it feels much different than many other plastic-type materials in use, even when not textured.

I like the feel and look of well-done G-10...you obviously do not.
I also like titanium.
Therefore, I like the combination of G-10 and titanium on many of my knives...once again, you probably do not.

Which is fine, because they're my knives, not yours. :D
 
stabman said:
It is a fiberglass and resin laminate, yes.
It has many engineering uses, and is very strong and chemical resistant.

From a purely subjective standpoint, it feels much different than many other plastic-type materials in use, even when not textured.

I like the feel and look of well-done G-10...you obviously do not.
I also like titanium.
Therefore, I like the combination of G-10 and titanium on many of my knives...once again, you probably do not.

Which is fine, because they're my knives, not yours. :D
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Ti and G10 sounds like a sick combo, gotta say. And yeah, I know G10 is some great stuff. To me though, even carbon fiber wouldn't roll with an expensive knife, because I like that luxurious weight that only metal can provide. I can't say I have experience with G10 Ti knives, since I only have 1 knife (Full Ti and steel), but Titanium with inlays is a solid way to go
 
Cutlover said:
but Titanium with inlays is a solid way to go
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That does work pretty well.

Of course, a lot of our choices are going to based on highly subjective things like looks and feel, because once you more than a few knives, you have the need based choices covered.

I mean, once you've got a small, medium and large knife, with maybe an axe, a machete and a saw as well, the rest is really about wants, for the most part, right?
 
Until very recently, I felt the exact same way OP. I'm a custom fixed blade collector & I've always stayed away from G10 for the most part, but I recently obtained a great Ryan Weeks custom that is bolstered in Manzanita and scaled in black G10. I almost didn't buy the knife solely because of the G10, but I'm so glad I pulled the trigger!

And maybe black is an exception? It certainly works on this knife, for me anyhow....ironically, it elevates the class/elegance instead of robbing from it.
EDT-1.jpgEDT-2.jpg
 
Cutlover said:
To me though, even carbon fiber wouldn't roll with an expensive knife, because I like that luxurious weight that only metal can provide.
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Because carbon fiber is such a hideous material...

IfO0fHd.jpg


Especially on knives...

kreEAji.jpg
 
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