How do inlays hold up for EDC?

[Mchad65]

I’ve decided to add a CRK to my meager collection of Spyderco‘s, Microtechs and Protechs EDC‘s. I typically clip to my jeans and have way too much stuff on my keyrings, including a UTX-70 or a stainless Ladybug (yes, I said lady - I like it as a keyring knife!).

Anyway, I’m wondering how the various inserts hold up to contact with pocket contents. My EDC’s are all scratched, but it gives them character IMO. But I’m worried about the wood or micarta inserts. Do they wear/nick/chip easily?

My preference would be a plain handle but as I’m likely getting one from the classifieds here I may end up with something with an inserts If I don't feel like waiting too long.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Micarta is tough as nails and usually my first choice for any knife handle. If you hunt or fish, blood and water tend to make micarta grip tighter. I’ve got micarta inlays on my inkosi which don’t do much but the ones on my large 31 are great. I also have a spalted beech inlaid 21 and they’ve held up fine but I don’t drop my knives so I don’t know how it does with drops, I’d assume not well.

 

[Mchad65]

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like micarta would be the best choice. I don’t think wood would be a good choice for me.

 

[KrisNZ]

They're all fine to use, they will mark and age, but that's the best part,

 

[Modernflame]

Like anything else, I think the inlays will be scratched by your keys, but I doubt they will break. They certainly will not detach. On a side note, to anyone who carries keys in the same pocket as your knife, how do you keep the keys from riding in between the handle scales and harassing the cutting edge of your blade?

 

[Peter Hartwig]

Micarta are the toughest of the line. All will hold up well under normal use.

 

[Mchad65]

Like anything else, I think the inlays will be scratched by your keys, but I doubt they will break. They certainly will not detach. On a side note, to anyone who carries keys in the same pocket as your knife, how do you keep the keys from riding in between the handle scales and harassing the cutting edge of your blade?

I always clip to the pocket. Keys ride at the bottom of the pocket. Besides, it would really be a stretch for a key to rise up and find its way inside that space. Hasn’t happened to me. Ever. And I have carried lots of keys and always, always have a knife clipped to my front right pocket.

 

[Modernflame]

I always clip to the pocket. Keys ride at the bottom of the pocket. Besides, it would really be a stretch for a key to rise up and find its way inside that space. Hasn’t happened to me. Ever. And I have carried lots of keys and always, always have a knife clipped to my front right pocket.

Must be my superpower. Somehow my car key gets in there from time to time and butt rapes my cutting edge. Now I holster carry. Sorry, I didn't mean to take your thread off topic.

Back to inlays. I have to say that, despite my confidence in the integrity of the inlays, there is something liberating about a plain titanium handle. It's impervious to nearly everything.

 

[KrisNZ]

Like anything else, I think the inlays will be scratched by your keys, but I doubt they will break. They certainly will not detach. On a side note, to anyone who carries keys in the same pocket as your knife, how do you keep the keys from riding in between the handle scales and harassing the cutting edge of your blade?

Re keys : you can't,

 

[sailfish]

Like anything else, I think the inlays will be scratched by your keys, but I doubt they will break. They certainly will not detach. On a side note, to anyone who carries keys in the same pocket as your knife, how do you keep the keys from riding in between the handle scales and harassing the cutting edge of your blade?

Could always get one of the leather slips and use it in conjunction with the pocket clip, where you would have the clip riding over the slip and your pocket. But to me that's too much piddling. I clip my keys to my belt loop with a carabiner and tuck them in my back pocket so they don't jingle around.

 

[TrainedBullets]

I’ll second the use of a pocket slip to avoid scratches or key contact. I use one that also holds a pen/glass breaker.

 

[CHNeal]

I know a guy that just might have some onsite into this…

Dcdavis please pickup the white curiosity phone.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

As much as I love the look of my inlaid 21, the pocket slip would make me not want to use it. If they offered it with an ulti clip I’d definitely use it. I’d take off the pocket clip and put on the filler tab. But it’s too much work to use the slip. I use it when the knife goes away for the night though. The wood in normal use holds up fine but as I said, if you’re clumsy or using it in tight spaces you may damage the wood. The micarta is bombproof and if it gets wet gets tackier.

 

[353]

Like anything else, I think the inlays will be scratched by your keys, but I doubt they will break. They certainly will not detach. On a side note, to anyone who carries keys in the same pocket as your knife, how do you keep the keys from riding in between the handle scales and harassing the cutting edge of your blade?

 

[Mchad65]

Yeah I ended up with this beauty but I don’t think I’m going to keep it. It’s just too nice to risk ruining the wood. I’m hard on my EDC’s and will do better with a plain or micarta.

 

[brock stewart]

What are you saving it for? I’m happy to use nice tools. There was a time when I had to use junk. Now I’m in a better place and like to make my life easier using the best tools. Just my .02

 

[Mchad65]

What are you saving it for? I’m happy to use nice tools. There was a time when I had to use junk. Now I’m in a better place and like to make my life easier using the best tools. Just my .02

It’s not a matter of “saving” it. It’s the point that the wood will get torn up in my pocket due to the giant key ring I carry (think George Costanza’a wallet, only keys). To me, it’s a beautiful piece of work which I’d rather not destroy. Plain titanium might get scratched, but it won’t gouge like I expect wood will. So I’d rather sell it for at least close to what I paid now, while its pristine, and buy a PJ titanium. As we are all here talking about $500 pocket knives, we can all assume it’s not a matter of having the means. It’s the principal, at least to me.

 

[blanex1]

I own three Sebenza 21's , one wood, one plane titanium and the other with with black Micarta inlays, the Micarta douse a munch better job agents scratch and dings, the stuff is almost bullet proof I wood say.

 

[kidcongo]

Here’s some pictures of my Tamboti wood L21 that’s been extensively EDC’d, sharing the pocket with keys, and used for everything under the sun. For sure it’s a used knife, but by no means damaged.

Of note, I recently replaced the screws so the hardware is new. The old screws were from the era where CRK screws were all goofy and off-center so I swapped them for the better quality new screws.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Here’s some pictures of my Tamboti wood L21 that’s been extensively EDC’d, sharing the pocket with keys, and used for everything under the sun. For sure it’s a used knife, but by no means damaged.

Of note, I recently replaced the screws so the hardware is new. The old screws were from the era where CRK screws were all goofy and off-center so I swapped them for the better quality new screws.

Yup! My CF knifeart had the same screws. They were ugly as sin. If I remember correctly it was the chamfering.