grip preference--bead blast or polish?

[b9wayne]

After seeing such strong consensus here for Satin finished knives over bead blast, i asked my friend why anyone would even buy bead blast--just for non-reflective surface?

My friend said people buy bead blast cause it gives texture to the handle, better grip. He said some makers even Satin finish the blade and bead blast the handle.

Do you have a finish preference for your knives's handles? (bead blast or Polished)

 

[richard j]

i have a few customs with a glass beaded finish on the blade and polished antler handles. i also have a beadblasted bowie with a neoprene handle which looks good. the bead blast finish can hide some marks and if you have a beadblast booth you can touch up the finish easily. i put a satin finish on most of my knives i make to hide fingerprints and scratches from use. i like a polished finish on a non user but for a user i like a satin finish or beadblast finish.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

My preference for synthetic handle material is polished canvas Micarta. I find it to be naturally grippy, with no need to be bead blasted.

 

[Jon Brand]

I think John W Smith bead blasts his bolsters and then gives them a satin finish. I have a folder of his with a "satin finish" on the bolsters but they really appear to be blasted underneath. I like the look of a bead blasted finish for bolsters and this Smith folder is nice because the the finish is easier to clean then a regular bead blast finish. Normally I find that a bead blast finish gets finger prints and grease and is very hard to clean.

 

[b9wayne]

My preference for synthetic handle material is polished canvas Micarta. I find it to be naturally grippy, with no need to be bead blasted.

thanx for your post Keith.

I've heard there isn't much difference in feel/grip between synthetics with polished handles. It's a bead blast that creates different feel.

You notice canvas gives you more grip than others (say G10) even with a polish (Satin Finish?).