Ideal handle material?

Sal Glesser

Sal Glesser

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Joined
Dec 27, 1998
Messages
11,753
Nakano says handles shouldn't be slippery.

What is your favorite handle material? An what handle material do you think is ideal?

(note, these two may or may not be the same)

sal
 
Favorite: Blue Almite (I love my Navigator
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)
Ideal for a user: G-10

I think slippery materials work well on small knives (like the Navigator which I love, did I mention that?) that fit completely in the hand, but do not give as "sturdy" a grip on larger pieces. I say "as sturdy" above, but I would say that I do not stress my knives as hard or in the extreme conditions as I am sure some people do. I, personally, have never found any material to be slippery, but maybe that is just me. Anyone else?

I like G-10 because it feels good, it is not slippery, hot, cold, etc. That and there are very few Almite knives. Am I crazy?

Ben


[This message has been edited by bengaiser (edited 09-29-2000).]
 
I like G-10, but find Zytel more than acceptable.
Handle shape, IMHO, is more important than material anyway.

Regards,

Leo Daher

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"Though the meek shall inherit the Earth, they won't keep it past Saturday night..."
 
For folder:
Fav.: Micarta.
Ideal: Micarta. (linen or paper)

Micarta is strong enough. I like it the way I have it in my spydercos - smooth that don't eat my pockets. It can be made coarse enough.
(G-10 is only one type of micarta to me. I'd love to see polished G-10 scales on spydercos a la Kershaw Random Task )

For fixed blade:
Fav.: stag and wood.
Ideal: cant make my mind.

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"Good tools to sustain life, or at least make life more convenient"
-James Mattis
 
this is a though one!
titanium
if you need it beefier add scales of carbon-fiber.
(there we have a custom-folder
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)

Greetings
red
on a daily basis: my fav: aluminium (C 15)
 
I like the G-10 handles very much, Like LeoDaher I can handle the Zytel handles as well. Don't like the Stainless Steel as I find them to be very slipery. I don't know about Micarta don't have a knife with this handle material. I don't know about Titanium or aluminum but I was wondering if they would be as slippery as the Stainless Steel handle material?
I have a fixed blade knife with leather wrap handle and it was comfortable wet, dry , and cold so maybe it was my favorite.
 
While I have more G10's than anything, the material I like the best is what Gerber uses on their Gator line. I don't remember what it is made of, but it has one quality that I haven't seen in any other material that I wish was on my everyday BM's and Spyderco's - after holding it for a minute or so, the oils from my hand give the material a slightly tackiness. If I use the knife for 20 minutes or so, my skin actually adheres to the grip. But, set it down for a few minutes, and it's back to normal - no sticky or wet feeling.

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Knowledge without understanding is knowledge wasted.
Understanding without knowledge is a rare gift - but not an impossibility.
For the impossible is always possible through faith. - Bathroom graffiti, gas station, Grey, TN, Dec, 1988

AKTI Member #A000831
 
I do like G10, God knows Ive got enough of em! But if its a handle which is on top of the liners etc, I perfer something called "Wood" Its a material my grandfather told me of once. said they used it on their knives
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But, like G10...Wood also feels good in hot or cold temps. And it sure looks much nicer too! I assume we are talking "Folders"? In fixed blades I like the same, but would lean to Stag or G10, Depending on the blades intended purpose.

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Keith D.Armacost
If The Women Don't Find You Handsome,
At Least Let Them Find You Handy. R.G.
 
My favorite handle materials are G-10, Zytel,
and titanium. Aluminum is alright if it has a Tufram finish or is done like the old Centofantes. I don't see anything wrong with a knife having a smooth finish. Some knives were meant to be pretty or dress knives and a smooth finish looks good on them. As for titanium, it's best when it is bead blasted or finished like the Kershaw Wild Turkey and Tri-hawk. Anodized titanium is pretty but it scratches too easily to be practical for regular carry without a sheath.
 
G-10 is the "ideal" for me on any knife I need to use.
Carbon Fiber is classy looking, but too slippery for me.
Titanium is nice but scratches up and slippery.
Stainless is my least favorite. It scratches up and is too slippery.
Wood is great but I don't feel it would be as durable in the long run on a daily use knife.
John Row
colobbfan

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I've had more paper cuts than cuts from knives, but the knives are QUICKLY gaining!
 
I like natural materials, wood and pearl best of all.

G-10 makes a nice, cost effective compromise.

If it hasn't become obvious, I detest FRN.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you."
 
Hello,

Like Brian Turner... I really enjoy Wood...

But G-10 is really an excellent materiel.

cheers,

JM
 
Favorite: Aluminum

Ideal: Aluminum w/Tufram finish or some other type of coating.

Reasoning: I really like the feel (and look) of a metal-handled knife. However, plain stainless (which I have several of) gets scratched too easily (and too heavy to boot), and titanium and carbon fiber are too expensive and slippery.

Aluminum with a good scratch resistant coating is ideal. The solid feel, but with the light weight, scratch resistant finish. I've got an aluminum handled Cricket that simply doesn't seem to get scratched. Even when carried in a pocket full of change. I've got an R knife that I carry occasionally. That also has a nice coated finish.

The first Sypderco I ever saw (and that hooked me on Sypdercos) was a stainless handled Worker. The metal handles look and feel like more of a "classy" or upscale product than the zytel. Speaking of zytel, did it make anybody's favorite or ideal?
 
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