micarta or wood

B

benchmadebob

Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
756
Im getting an enzo for my birthday And im liking the look of wood but question it durability. So im going to bring it hiking/camping. I like the looks of micarta but i like wood better. And im leaning to 01 Anyway so what would you use and why?
 
you'll get a new knife before the wood wears out if that answers your question... I've had wooden handled knives for years.. If you like it go for it. Good choice on the enzo.. 01 is a great steel it stains easy.. but don't let that sway you.. it just make the knife look cooler..there's nothing I hate more than a shiny bush knife. LOL
 
I prefer wood handles myself. I think the wood handles will outlive you if you treat them right.
 
There are some pretty tough woods out there. Unless you have a battoning mishap I would think it will outlast you.
 
For a pure used, I like the Micarta. I love wood but I have to damage pretty wood. I make a lot of my own wood grips and put them on with screws or bolts so I can change them when ever I want.
 
Go for looks bro. I have many of each. A well made wood handle will last til you are tired of looking at it. Just be sure that you put a finish on it. Danish oil or something to seal it up. Bare wood gets pretty rough looking quickly. Unless it's a really oily wood. I like micarta and wood about equally . BTW You may want to smooth that blade a bit. Mine was very finely beadblasted. Why anyone would bead blast 0-1 I don't know, so I just hit the flats with a bit of 600 grit wet or dry paper first. Just my thoughts anyway.
 
I like my Micarta O1 Trapper - it's indestructible it seems. But I don;t see a problem with any of the wood scaled EnZos I've seen. It'll take a few dings that the Micarta will brush off easier, and it might develop a small crack here or there, but overall it'll just be part of the knife's character. Either one will do. Me? Wood.
 
If you prefer wood, go with a stabilized wood.
Scott
 
Wood has a soul. Every wood handle has a soul and you feel it when you put it in hand. Micarta needs the soul worked into it, either by the craftsman working on it, or through use. Sorry, didn't mean to become a metaphysical nut there. And I don't really mean it in a spiritual sort of way, but wood has character. And there's plenty of wood out there that can match micarta in the durability category. Heck, they used to make submarine shaft bearings out of lignum vitae.
 
The question is not whether or not wood is durable enough. The question is whether or not you are going to be going through extreme environmental moisture and heat differences. Wood moves as it absorbs and looses moisture. This could mean cracks or split pins. Micarta does not. If you are going to go back and forth from the jungle to the desert, get micarta. Otherwise, its a personal choice. Wood requires more maintenance. It needs to be kept oiled, etc.

I like wood, and was staunchly a wood guy until I got a micarta knife. I now see that both make great handles.
 
What FB said.

I'll add that it's harder to dent micarta if you drop the knife or lay it down on a rock you are less likely to scratch it up. But I like wood better aesthetically.:thumbup:
 
Both God and Man did excellent jobs.
 
God made man smart enough to make micarta. I prefer micarta for pure users, and you can get some beautiful phenolics. I am a woodworker by trade, but prefer it for furniture and such rather than tools.
 
i really like micarta... but tend to prefer the tradiitonal/natural look of wood scales...
 
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