Issues with Cold Steel's Kray-ex/Kraton Handles

[Squeakymoose]

To start, I absolutely love Cold Steel. Coming from a martial perspective, they are the only knives that I own and carry at this point. Say what you want about their material, but there is no doubt that they are the toughest factory blades out there. However I have had some issues with their fixed blades recently, not in quality, but in my ability to get a secure grip on their Kray-ex rubber handles...It seems that in any condition I'm always slipping and sliding everywhere, and considering that it seems to be the trend these days to have relatively shallow minimalist finger guards (usually an extension of the kray-ex itself, giving it very little stability, I.E. the guard moving because it is made of rubber), I'm not comfortable doing much with them because I'm terrified of my hand slipping up. I have talked to a few of my friends who are also big Cold Steel fans, but they don't have the same issue. According to my one friend, he gets excellent non-slip traction in almost any condition with Kray-ex. However I seem to be the opposite. I would really like to know if anyone else has had this issue too, or it's just something unique to me and some apparent weird skin type I have lol?

As a reference point, for me G-10 provides a rock solid grip, and just locks my hand in like nothing else. Therefore I LOVE their folders. It would be the greatest thing to me if Cold Steel would make their fixed blades with G-10 scales instead of Kray-ex, and even better if they would have an actual cross guard on all of their fixed blades that have squishy Kray-ex finger guards like their SRK and Recon Tanto.

On a side note, why have knife companies drifted away from cross guards and actual deep finger guards on their fixed blades so much? To me the Trench knives of old, V-42 Stiletto, Fairbairn/Sykes style guards were perfect. Why compromise such a great finger stopper for something that only works if your grip is super tight? From a martial perspective it is literally the worst idea as far as I can tell.

 

[Gaston444]

I love Kraton handles, and I think they can be the most appropriate material for a military or fighting knife, because of the light weight and good grip, with intricate shapes and checkering. But I always had a problem with Cold Steel's handles...

The one Cold Steel handle I find the least functional is that of the Trailmaster: It is way too thin and so it slides around. Worst of all, it doesn't transmit the forces while chopping because of the slimness: Slimness is good for fighting knives, but not for knives intended for chopping!

My problem with other Cold Steel handles is more cosmetic than functional: The moulded-in guard will stop your hand, but such guards are so ugly it is unacceptable, especially on a fighting knife supposed to protect your hand from another blade...

Also: The handles are not designed to wear nicely: Kraton handles should never have "peaky" high spots, especially not near the pommel, and the peaky spots definitely should not have checkering going all the way in the exposed areas, to wear off from just carry friction...

Their Tantos had the nice feature of the Kraton being "framed" by metal parts, but for those they resorted to an extra-soft Kraton that just ruined the whole handle, the swelled middle portion just wearing off horribly...

To look at how a Kraton handle should be done, look at the Katz Alleycat Handle: Metal guard, not too hard, not too soft, not too swelled, and smooth receding shapes all over, especially near the butt.

Another example Cold Steel could emulate is the Kraton handle of the SOG Desert Dagger: Metal guard, and a very nice round metal pommel, heavily radiused all over, that "shields" the Kraton from wear: Excellent design.

Yet another example: The Junglee Waterloo: Metal guard, and again receding rounded shapes all over and especially near the butt: If the shapes are not rounded, then cap them with metal! Common sense really...

It is ironic that Kraton handles are among the most characteristic staple features of Cold Steel, yet almost every other maker designs them way better...

Gaston

 

[Squeakymoose]

Very true! I appreciate your perspective. And I would agree. The cornered checkering around the butt wears super fast. I guess for me, in general, the softer material, the less grip I get. Worst case scenario I just avoid such knives. I was just hoping for someone to sympathize with...But if it's just me, then that's probably a good thing, at least it works for everyone else and it's not a design flaw or anything!