Handles: Titanium vs Stainless vs G-10 vs Micarta

if i had to choose just one of them i would go with g10. can be smooth or grippy (just as most other materials) but it is also sturdy and it's warm compared to metal.
 
G10, Micarta (we need more options for this!), and FRN are my favorites. Titanium as an honorable mention.
 
I like the old school micarta like the black calypso japan definitely my favorite . Frn love my enduras keeps the weight way down super good user durable as hell,g10 is also good but after a while nice to have a change,aluminum is good just have to convince myself that a worn look is good- do not care for ss as a handle material ,too heavy,scratches easily.
 
carbonsteelfan said:
I wrap my Stainless steel handles in skateboard grip tape to avoid slipping. Do you care to try ? It is quite good.
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I've heard a couple of others over at the other Spyderco forum mention the skateboard tape option for extra grip on the handle>> I may just have to break down and get some of that tape for skateboards to try it out.

I'm also wondering if shot blasting might be a good option for making stainless steel more grippy? I used to work for a company that made railroad wheels at one time in my life and we used a shot blaster to prep the wheels for final work and it gave them a very nice texture and a satin finish as well. I'm wondering if any of you all have ever used that option before?
 
BITEME said:
I like the old school micarta like the black calypso japan definitely my favorite . Frn love my enduras keeps the weight way down super good user durable as hell,g10 is also good but after a while nice to have a change,aluminum is good just have to convince myself that a worn look is good- do not care for ss as a handle material ,too heavy,scratches easily.
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Brother I know exactly what you're talking about>> I had 3 of those first generation, C-54 Calypso models with the Micarta handles and they were great. The Micarta on the first generation C-44 Dyad model was also a great handle too. Also my older, original JD Smith model had a really nice grippy Micarta handle from that same time period.

Also the G-10 handles on the original, first run C-46 Lum Tanto folders was a truly great handle as well. Those Micarta and G-10 handles from that era truly were ahead of their time.
 
JD Spydo said:
I've heard a couple of others over at the other Spyderco forum mention the skateboard tape option for extra grip on the handle>> I may just have to break down and get some of that tape for skateboards to try it out.

I'm also wondering if shot blasting might be a good option for making stainless steel more grippy? I used to work for a company that made railroad wheels at one time in my life and we used a shot blaster to prep the wheels for final work and it gave them a very nice texture and a satin finish as well. I'm wondering if any of you all have ever used that option before?
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The custom knife maker , Jay fisher used to shot blast the stainless steel handles of his D2 folders. He even used to etch the American flag on the stainless handles. I have one of his folders. They do have a grippy feel. But l haven't heard from Mr. Fisher in 7 years.
 
JD Spydo said:
I've heard a couple of others over at the other Spyderco forum mention the skateboard tape option for extra grip on the handle>> I may just have to break down and get some of that tape for skateboards to try it out.

I'm also wondering if shot blasting might be a good option for making stainless steel more grippy? I used to work for a company that made railroad wheels at one time in my life and we used a shot blaster to prep the wheels for final work and it gave them a very nice texture and a satin finish as well. I'm wondering if any of you all have ever used that option before?
Click to expand...
Shot blasting the handle might work, but you'd need to protect the blade.
A fast, cheap, and permanent way to add grip to a knife with flat stainless handles is simply to lay it flat on a sheet of coarse sandpaper and move it around randomly until the surface is roughened to your satisfaction.
 
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