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Hou2008

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Nov 28, 2008
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Among these three handle materials: frn, carbon fiber, micarta, which one is the toughest and most scratch-free, and which is most prone to scratches? Thanks.
 
Carbon fiber probably has the highest surface hardness of those. If peel-ply CF scratches (and I'm sure it does) it doesn't show. Smooth CF would probably be a whole different story, but I have no experience with it. For impact toughness, FRN would likely be the winner. I've dropped FRN handled knives from as high as the roof of a two-story house onto asphalt with no damage. Again, I know that FRN scratches, but it is usually textured so scratches don't show.
 
The one I've abused the most is micarta. Bought a burgundy micarta Jester a bit over five years ago and it has been on my key ring ever since. In spite of contact with all the other stuff on the ring and my having dropped the ring at least few times on asphalt and concrete, it's still in darn good shape. Other materials may do as well, but have not treated any of them like that, so I can't say.

Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
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Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
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Hou2008 said:
Among these three handle materials: frn, carbon fiber, micarta, which one is the toughest and most scratch-free, and which is most prone to scratches? Thanks.
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Um.... I love CF as the toughest, and most scratch free, but I haven't tried scratching my CF T-Mag (smooth). FRN would probably be the easiest to scratch, as micarta is G-10 except made with linen or canvas instead of fiberglass polymer. ;) However, I haven't had any scratching problems with any of my knives, even the ones I use hard.
 
Josh K said:
Um.... I love CF as the toughest, and most scratch free, but I haven't tried scratching my CF T-Mag (smooth). FRN would probably be the easiest to scratch, as micarta is G-10 except made with linen or canvas instead of fiberglass polymer. ;) However, I haven't had any scratching problems with any of my knives, even the ones I use hard.
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Micarta originally used phenolic resin and some of it still does, although some now is made with the same sort of epoxy resin used for G-10 and CF laminates. So, at least in theory, from a "scratch and chip resistance" point of view CF and G-10 should be very similar while Micarta may or may not be.

Don't know if anyone ever uses it for knife handles, but there's also something called G-3. One could consider it to be "fiberglass micarta" since it combines phenolic resin and fiberglass cloth.

Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
I would think it would depend on the finish of the scales.
I have had best wear out of rough finished micarta.The satin and peelply CF is also very good.
 
I do know that my Micarta Calypso handles show scratches on their smooth surfaces about as much as my SS handled knives do, while my beater peel-ply CF and FRN knives do not show such marks. But then, the latter don't have any smooth surfaces to show such scratches. Not that scratches bother me at all. ;)
 
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