linen micarta?

mott

mott

Joined
Aug 6, 2001
Messages
166
I'm working on my model and am considering handle alternatives.
can anyone fill me in on linen micarta, what are it"s good properties,what are it's bad properties, how durable is it, so on and so forth?

after studying Terry's model of the M43 the only real differences I can find are that the belly on my model is slimmer, there is a little less curve along the spine, and the handle on mine is designed to fit my hand in several different positions.

:p :rolleyes:
 
I saw a pic of a Randall Made Knives khukuri with such a handle! It looks nice to me.

Linen micarta is tough and takes a very smooth finish if you want. It also shows a grain, which is beautiful. Paper micartas will not generally show a grain. Linen shows a grain, canvas varieties are the "coarsest" looking. I believe that the linen varieties are the toughest as well. Just sand to 400 grit and buff!
 
Micarta is a good material for handles, and can be worked much like wood. The paper varieties ("aged ivory", etc.) can be the fanciest, but the linen and canvas are toughest. Think of the paper, linen or canvas as the rebar in a piece of concrete. Like paca wood, it is layered in resin under heat and pressure and formed into a dense solid. It will even take an oil finish :D but the color will change. One of my old A.G. Russell boot knives went slowly from a dark green to a deep walnut brown in the oil finishing.
 
Reading in the shop talk forum there's many things that come to the fore on knowledge about a lot of different materials.
It has been said that the micarta resins can be hazardous to your health if a resperator isn't used when grinding micarta.
Not something we want to expose the kamis too I believe.
And that's something the average person wouldn't necassarily stop to think about. I know I never did, but now wehn working with micarta which I do rarely I will be much, much more careful than I ever was before.
Even the brass that is copper alloyed with zinc can throw off a toxic substance from the zinc when brazeing. I know it smells to high heaven and I never thought about its toxicity until I read about it in the shop talk forum.
I just thought about that when looking at the pix of Bura making the Banspati handle.
There could be many of the materials the kamis work with that are or could be causeing sickness and the kamis would probably never consider the source to be the materials they make a living with.

Not to say that Mott was thinking about sending some micarta over for a khukuri handle, but just a general caution for everyone here to remember when working with materials we know nothing about nor are familiar with.
 
In addition to all you've said, I had once asked Uncle Bill about the possibility of sending some Cocobolo to BirGhorkha - The problems of gettin it through customs make it "not worth the effort", for many things we might wish to send in. Besides, it just ain't that hard to be satisfied with Saatisal and horn :D
 
This is just IMHO, but wood ( possibly stabilized ) and horn, bone, or teeth ( which can also be stabilized ) just seem appropriate.

Stainless steel, and micarta are appropriate to stack removal and high tech tempering, etc., and other kinds of knives. Khuks should be hand forged carbon steel,have cho's, and be differentially tempered in my mind. And have natural handle material.

I may be acting like an old fuddy-duddy, but the stated methods just seem to give the ones out of Birghorka a spirit that is important to me.

Then again, you pays your money and you get to make your own choices. If you like it, ain't nobody else's bidness.
 
I have several large pieces of canvas micarta...in the form of impact weapons! Most folks think they're some type of wood, at first glance. Then they pick them up! :D

While quite heavy, my 74" bo has so far proven indestructible. A much thinner piece, carved to match a EDMF tanto-style knife, did not meet the expectations of its creator. :( (Broke it first day I trained hard with it.)

The advantages on the very (relatively) slim handle would be negligible.

OTOH, maybe I can fit a canvas micarta handle to my bancharo!
 
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