Micarta or Wood Handles?

Lucky Dog Knife Co

Lucky Dog Knife Co

Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Sep 19, 2019
Messages
150
Do you have a preference between micarta or wood handles on your fixed blades? When I had David build these pocket fixed blades for me, I had originally requested all micarta handles but he suggested I do a few in wood as well. I think they turned out beautiful!Lucky-Dog_3-Knives-1_9.12.24.jpegLucky-Dog_3-Knives-2_9.12.24.jpegLucky-Dog_3-Knives-3_9.12.24.jpeg
 
Same as above, it depends more on use. I like the look of wood but if it isn't stabilized or the laminate wood then I forever worry I'm going to ruin it. Otherwise I'm a growing fan of micarta and G10 for their nearly indestructible nature. I would add I also love the various antler or bone options. A while back everyone was popping up with giraffe bone or at least I'd not seen it before. I tried a set of 1911 grips and liked them enough.
 
I like both, but Micarta cannot go to the levels of beauty that is in certain woods. Also, some woods can be much more premium and rare than any Micarta could be. I think wood has higher highs. But Micarta is going to be more durable.
 
I don't inherently like micarta less , but there are so many different wood types and the natural variations of wood are endless so I'd probably have to say that I prefer it.
Micarta is perfectly fine and some like this GEC honey micarta ( is that what they called it ? ) are beautiful, but there will always be some kind of wood that's better looking than even the best looking micarta.
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I guess I should include some more wood options on my second run, seems to be the favorite. I have always liked micarta but I have recently been getting into more traditional knives and only have a a couple with wood handles.
 
I prefer G10 for its grippyness, especially on an outdoor knife, but wood looks sooo much better. Leather and birch bark are wonderful, too.

Walnut
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Leather
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Birch bark
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Wood is of course much more beautiful and I prefer it to look at, and to use in non inclement weather. In rain/snow and yucky weather I love Micarta.
 
Micarta says “I’m tough and potentially tactical” —in a genteel way. Far more civilized than G10, knurled metal, or some other synthetics.

Wood really *is* genteel. It’s also pretty much just as tough, at least, for the realistic uses of a knife handle.

I appreciate having a couple of micarta knives, but I far prefer wood and if I could only have one knife, it would be wood over micarta without a doubt.
 
As a rule I love natural materials as much as I dislike unnatural materials, with the occasional exception.
For me wood, bone, horn, ivory all come before Micarta etc.

I got an antler handled fixed blade for my birthday this year and have ordered a bone handled one from a custom maker for my next. Ebony is calling me next for a fixed blade.
 
I'm going against all the grain...Micarta :D However, I rarely use a fixed blade other than some beaten up puukko or Mora for dirty tasks....;)

Yes, wood is 'natural' and it looks good new but a lot of it (Birch less so..) has a habit of ending up a rather uninspiring turd colour, grain and burl can vanish with darkening.

I like Micarta a lot when well turned and polished- damp and wet impacts on it much less than on woods. Actually find Bone, Horn or Antler much more interesting looking on fixed blades too. So, wood is bottom, apart from the dirty job puukkot and Mora 🤣
 
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