Kirinite for handles, looking for comments.

NC Biker

NC Biker

Joined
Apr 8, 2014
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I've read on these forum that a lot of makers are not paticulary fond of Kirinite as a handle material. Some think it looks cheap. I have mixed feeling as I love a nicely figured piece of wood, but for kitchen knifes I wonder if it's not a good choice as it's certainly easier to maintain.

Below is a knife I just finished up and I have to say I really liked working with the material, it's easy to shape and sand, more so than micarta and not as toxic as G10.

So, please let me know what you think, do you like, or cheap looking mother of bowling ball?



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I think it looks great on that knife. I put it on a santoku I made and it has held up great. Still looks brand new.
 
I like the MOP and the Ice patterns, but don't care for the others. I had a piece of Brown Ice that really had a burl look to it, unfortunately I don't believe they make that anymore.
 
I think the more options, the better. How good a handle material looks on a knife depends mostly on the makers use of the material. I've used Kirinite on several knives and prefer to keep the surface finish just below a full gloss to avoid that plasticy look. I do think you could have classed up your use of the Bengal Tiger by using it in conjunction with a black G10 bolster in the area of the two small pins. I can't tell if you have it on a liner but, I would have added a liner as well. Just suggestions; it is a nice knife.

Bob
 
Personally I'm not a fan of the kirinite, that looks like a very fine knife and I think it would look better with something simpler. With kitchen knives especially, I tend to like more matte, functional handles to compliment a finely finished blade (as a user/outisder, I don't make kitchen knives). IMHO Kirinite gives off a cheapish quality, like a gaudy belt buckle or hawaiian print shirt.
 
I think it looks like a throwback to the days with the cellulose handles and the mock pearl folders of the 70's and whatnot... on the right knife, it can look fantastic but it's definitely not for everyone on every knife IMHO.

p.s. you pulled this one off really well.
 
RangerBobTX said:
I think the more options, the better. How good a handle material looks on a knife depends mostly on the makers use of the material. I've used Kirinite on several knives and prefer to keep the surface finish just below a full gloss to avoid that plasticy look. I do think you could have classed up your use of the Bengal Tiger by using it in conjunction with a black G10 bolster in the area of the two small pins. I can't tell if you have it on a liner but, I would have added a liner as well. Just suggestions; it is a nice knife.

Bob
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You're absolutely right, it would have looked better with black bolsters and it was originally designed with the intent of having SS bolsters and wooden scales, but you know about the best laid plans of mice and men. The knife has a tapered tang and in that process I gouged the tang in the area of the bolsters and didn't think I could get that area flat enough for a good fit of the bolsters without getting the tang too thin. So, I decided to experiment with the Kirinite and yes, it does have black G-10 liners. Black epoxy filled the slightly uneven area on the tang and it came out looking good, but not as originally planned.

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I'm not a fan of how kirinite looks in general. How durable is it? Will it scratch or dent easily?
 
I think as Ranger Bob said, the more options the better--to me some Kirinite looks plasticy and some looks pretty darn good--I think that tiger pattern you chose looks pretty darn good, and it does make for a good using handle on a kitchen knife--I don't know which types I prefer, it's kind of like pornography, to each their own, I know it when I see it!! Nice knife BTW, I like your blade pattern.
 
S.Alexander said:
I'm not a fan of how kirinite looks in general. How durable is it? Will it scratch or dent easily?
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It's an acrylic based material and from what I can tell it seems pretty tough and has the same approximate weight as a typical hardwood. It has a good grip even when polished, so good for a kitchen knife. I'll have to put it through it's paces to see how well it holds up before I can judge the durability for sure.
 
Fish30114 said:
I don't know which types I prefer, it's kind of like pornography, to each their own, I know it when I see it!!
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Very well stated.

I like it in dark colors, as a bolster or spacer. Sometimes the whole handle jobs remind me of the glittery wavy acrylester stuff from some of the 80's Case knives. That gold stuff.... I think it was Case anyway.

But I honestly like it here. I think it would look right as a flair piece in a conservative modern kitchen setting. Nice blade pattern. Cheers!

-Eric
Overmountain Knife and Tool
Overmountain.us.com
 
I like it, and yet I could see how some might see it as a cheap pearly looking plastic. a little bit of mixed emotions on the material itself. Great looking knife though, and the handle scales do seem to fit well with it.
 
Alpha Knife Supply said:
How is G10 toxic?

Chuck
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Well, considering I buy it from you, I'm guessing I'm about to be schooled and I'm sure "toxic" was a poor choice of words, maybe I should of said "hazardous". My understanding from these forums is that sanding G10 creates tiny glass fibers which are a especially hazardous when inhaled.

If you're going to tell me that G10 dust is no more hazardous than any of the other dusts found in a knife shop, I'd be glad to hear it.
 
I don't recommend breathing any dust. G10 and other dusts are bad for your lungs. The smoke from grinding metals is also bad. IMO, the worst dust to breathe is carbon fiber.

Do everything possible to protect your lungs. Take this warning from a guy who was stupid and permanently scarred my lungs breathing bad stuff.

Chuck
 
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