G10 or Micarta survival/chopper handles?

J

JBradley500

Joined
Dec 23, 2015
Messages
210
I really like g10 handles on everything I own that has them, but in a large mini-machete that will be used for chopping mainly but with possible defense use is micarta noticeably better? Price being equal made me want g10, but I see most of the large knives I see people posting are micarta. Thanks.
 
G10 is Micarta by definition (laminated fiberglass sheets).

Micarta is more a process (than a product) of lamination of multi layers of sheet mat with resin.

Canvas Micarta is canvas sheets laminated with resin.

Linen Micarta is linen sheets laminated with resin.

Paper micarta is paper sheets laminated with resin.

G10 is fiberglass sheets laminated with resin.

For the most part laminated fiberglass is stronger than the others, structurally, more water resistant, etc.

I believe the original specification for G10 may have called out epoxy resin specifically (vs say for example polyester resin).

Epoxy or polyester resin can be used to make micarta using any sheet material desirable by the maker including fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.

Fiberglass is relatively inert in color typically. Micarta can use any color sheet mat (old Levi's make really nice micarta that disappears against a pocket or pant-leg. Likewise canvas micarta can disappear on a background of canvas (like a military pack).

Regards,
 
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For a chopper I'm going to take a canvas micarta all day long. Give it some light texturing and you'll never have to worry about losing your grip.

Textured G10 starts to hurt after a while.
 
Think of it like the difference between holding onto something covered in suede and something covered in Lego. The lego is heavily textured, but still pretty slick.
 
gsx-rboy750 said:
Burlap micarta. My favorite hard use but somewhat shock absorbing handle material.
Click to expand...
+1 on Burlap Micarta on a big blade. Other end of the spectrum is also every nice Linen Micarta.

JBradley500,
Didn't realise my post got so lengthy. So many times, it seems folks talk about "micarta" as if that term alone means something specific without a qualifier.

Regards,
 
Spey said:
+1 on Burlap Micarta on a big blade. Other end of the spectrum is also every nice Linen Micarta.

JBradley500,
Didn't realise my post got so lengthy. So many times, it seems folks talk about "micarta" as if that term alone means something specific without a qualifier.
Regards,
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with a long post. I'm here to read and learn. Thanks again.
 
G10 is one of my favorite scale materials but I would take burlap or linen micarta over G10 any day of the week.

The micarta just seems a little more comfortable in my hand. Don't really know why.
 
G10 is most resistant to wear in my experience. Canvas and linen micarta are the most comfortable and feel softer and warmer to me. Paper is in between but closer to G10 for me. In my experience Canvas and linen have been tougher than G10, but all are tough, even paper micarta is tough. I'd like to see some burlap micarta, sounds interesting. I think the finishing is more what I concentrate on. I like them all.
 
Cobalt said:
... I'd like to see some burlap micarta, sounds interesting. ... I like them all.
Click to expand...

Burlap Micarta LS (a little lightening strike mixed in).

3a897963b271c7b5842cdcdf4eef8dd2.jpg


A W.I.P. that I am struggling with finishing. Just not very motivated with this project any more :-(

Regards,
 
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