Handle material boredom

[Sharpski]

Hey keyman Are the scales for the barrage available somewhere? They look sick love to order some?!

 

[Keyman]

Keyman,

That ivory snake is beautiful! Is that composite material? G10?

It's called Juma.

JUMA is a high grade, modern raw material for the manufacture of components and works of art.
JUMA consists of a mixture of different mineral base materials compounded with a resin component.

The essential characteristics of JUMA are:

- excellent mechanical machinability i.e. for drilling, milling, grinding and polishing,
- minimum breakage risk due to high coefficient of elasticity and homogenous structural composition,
- high-quality surface due to high surface hardness and minimal abrasion losses.
- resistant to all conventional substances such as cleaning agents, oils, greases, weak / medium acids and bases.
- very low water absorption (hydrolysis resistant).
- can be polished or lacquer coated to manufacture polished or matt surfaces.
- pleasant to the touch due to good thermal properties.

 

[22-rimfire]

Handle material is not the primary focus when I buy a knife although I do like Canvas Micarta, Stag, and G10. I am not fond of some of the plastic or rubber-like handles on some of the fixed blades and will pay more for one of the previously listed materials if available. I am more flexible and choosey with slip joints as to scale material. But I tend to like the traditional looks.

 

[T.K.C.]

I am personally digging Moku-Ti, Timascus, blue & silver twill G10, & Fibermascus.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Thanks.

Any idea why manufacturer has not started using it for mass production? Cost?

 

[getridone]

One day our hands will be the material handles are made of.

 

[Keyman]

Thanks.

Any idea why manufacturer has not started using it for mass production? Cost?

?
I do not know.
There could be all kinds of reasons; that have nothing to do with it's performance.
Availability, expense, ignorance......the list of possible reasons is endless.
Heck a year and a half ago, I didn't even know it existed.
All I know is that I've used it multiple times, including on my own knives and it's an excellent material.

 

[The Mastiff]

1. Comfortable
2) durable and long lasting without much maintenance
3) not slime green.


joe

 

[Rapt_up]

The exact material doesn't matter to me so much as its function. And function includes, ergonomics, rear resistance, durability, and aesthetics, in that order.

When considering durability it doesn't have to be the ultimate in strength/or whatever resitance. It just has to be sufficient to the task.

 

[Franciscomv]

I'm not a huge fan of FRN, but it works well for light weight knives. When it comes to G-10, micarta, etc. it's not so much the materials themselves that bore me, it's the lack of colour variety. Almost every single modern folding knife seems to have black handles. I'd like to see some more options.

 

[bdmicarta]

I like G10 or Micarta for user folding knives, with some texture for grip. For custom knives I like polished micarta or any number of different fine woods. Ivory is wonderful but I'm not sure I rate high enough for that.

 

[Big Mike]

Antler, bone, horn and non-stabilized woods are my favorites.


I find them beautiful and functional,

...and I find that the natural pores in these materials add grip when the going gets bloody.









Big Mike

 

[Bob W]

When modern style first started appearing I was attracted by the new styles and materials. By 1995 though I was pretty much sick of black plastic. FRN, Zytel, micarta, and all the rest.

Truthfully though, when it comes to a using knife, I don't care. Give me whatever is the lightest and most durable. But since I rarely buy knives to use, but rather for lookin' at, I rarely buy synthetics.

Funny thing, I'll never get tired of the brown sawcut Delrin used on the Schrade-USA Old Timers.

 

[Rapt_up]

Delrin or Acetal (non tradename version) is actually a quite low co-efficient of friction material.

ANd yes I get tire dof black on blakc, COlours are good. although I tend to like iunderstated colours like one of th enices handle colours I have seen in along time is blue jean/carhartt micarta I got on a custom knife.

Not a fan of high polish usually, would rather have a blasted matte or sanded matte finish.

Truthfully though, when it comes to a using knife, I don't care. Give me whatever is the lightest and most durable. But since I rarely buy knives to use, but rather for lookin' at, I rarely buy synthetics.

Funny thing, I'll never get tired of the brown sawcut Delrin used on the Schrade-USA Old Timers.

 

[draggat]

I agree with the OP. I'm sick of G10 and for the most part I won't buy any knife with FRN. Weight isn't an issue to me. I also think that good ergonomics have more to do with a good grip than a rough handle texture. Several months ago, I started making my own scales, and I'm slowly moving through my collection. If anything, it's almost more fun than buying new knives.

 

[bobusx]

I like a large variety of handle materials. Unlike most here, I actually really like FRN handles. They are functional, and as long as they have liners and are not too hollowed out, feel good. The large variety of color options is pretty cool too. G-10 is my favorite though, almost as many colors, and feels nicer than plastic. I really like how it looks when 3-D machined as well. Titanium and Aluminum are good materials too. I like them in gentleman knives. Titanium feels a little better in hand, but I am not bothered by aluminum. Not a fan of Steel handles at all though. At least Titanium and Aluminum are lightweight, steel is heavy. Bone and Stag are really nice for my slipjoints, but I wouldn't want them on a work knife. Good for fondling and looking at though.

My least favorite handle material is wood. It is strange, because I used to think wood handles looked really good, and felt good too, but sometime in the last few years I came to dislike it, and now I can barely stand it at all. Happened right around the time I got my first stag knife.

 

[bobusx]

Oh, and for the OP, have you ever owned a knife wrapped in human skin? That could be interesting....

 

[Minibear464]

I just saw some ray skin knives, and they look amazing. Probably going to make one with ray skin in due time.

 

[Rapt_up]

Some of these are really spectacular, great job!

I agree with the OP. I'm sick of G10 and for the most part I won't buy any knife with FRN. Weight isn't an issue to me. I also think that good ergonomics have more to do with a good grip than a rough handle texture. Several months ago, I started making my own scales, and I'm slowly moving through my collection. If anything, it's almost more fun than buying new knives.

 

[mfi]

For looks I like wood, for use I like G-10, for indestructibility..Zytel..