Kraton one more thing that damages it!

S

sdt11670

Joined
Nov 12, 2005
Messages
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Kraton is one of my personal favorites in a good using knife and we all know that touching it unknowingly to the wood burner (as i have done) will damage it as well as the lantern! Also using it to hammer with or falling on sharp rocks! But one thing you might not know is that after using it to dress game make sure you get all the blood off! I left mine in the shed overnite after dressing rabbits, i rinsed the blade off but didn't get the blood all off the kraton handle and a rodent found his way into the shed that night and made a tasty meal of my buck's kraton handle! I learned never to leave my knife in the shed and to always get all the blood off.
 
If I am not mistaken, Kraton is also susceptible to being affected by foreign chemicals. Even some chemicals commonly used in the outdoors, like DEET will affect it. I'm pretty sure long term exposure to solvents and oils will degrade Kraton.

Even so, I have a CS Trailmaster and a CS SafeKeeper II, both with a Kraton handle. I've been contemplating replacing the handle on the Trailmaster for some time.
 
A good point about cleaning your knives, but probably not a problem unique to Kraton. My guess is that a leather handle would fare even worse. I'm not sure that even some harder synthetics or micarta would escape without a few nicks...
 
Sorry I messed this up, I was trying to cancel it and write the second post.
 
Back in 1990 or 1991 I bought an Almar SERE (small) folder with the black rubber type is this kraton? handle. It started to deteriorate after about 2 years of daily in pocket carry. I have written and e-mailed them many times with no response. Is this normal?? Other than that I just loved that knife, it was, at least for me, a perfect carry blade. Good size and easy to sharpen. Shame I can' carry it anymore.
 
Sorry to have messed this up, please see my other post ref Almar rubber handle
 
I hate kraton, or any other rubber handles, They are not very durable at all, and are ruined by insect repellant. (something all too common where I live)

Resiprene C is the only rubber type material I like, it suffers from none of kraton's faults.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
I hate kraton, or any other rubber handles, They are not very durable at all, and are ruined by insect repellant. (something all too common where I live)

Resiprene C is the only rubber type material I like, it suffers from none of kraton's faults.
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Insect repellents will also destroy the fine oil finish of a firearms stocks and it even opened up the grain considerably on one of my walnut stocks, but still i prefer wood stocks over plastic ones. I just love the way Kraton feels on a knife. What is Resiprene c ?
 
sdt11670 said:
Insect repellents will also destroy the fine oil finish of a firearms stocks and it even opened up the grain considerably on one of my walnut stocks, but still i prefer wood stocks over plastic ones. I just love the way Kraton feels on a knife. What is Resiprene c ?
Click to expand...

I do prefer the feel of a nice checkered wood stock, myself.:thumbup:
One reason people go for synthetic stocks is for the added durability (well- low maintenance), but the reverse is true about kraton- it is a synthetic, but is not very durable.
I won't deny that some kraton handles will feel good in the hand- I just think it is a little fragile. Plus, I live in mosquitoville USA. I stopped wearing a plastic faced digital watch because of Deet, as well.

Resiprene C is the handle material used on some Swamp Rat knives, and the discontinued Busse Basic series.
 
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