Micarta vs Grivory

BaldingEagle

BaldingEagle

Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
810
Hey,
I am all for the looks of Micarta but I also like the looks of the factory Grivory handles. I know that Micarta is tough stuff, but has anyone actually had a Grivory handle break or fail?
Thanks in advance
Cheers
Balding
 
Coming over from ESEE(the darkside!) I am really used to micarta, but after handling the bk2 and a friends 7 I am in love with the grivory. Feels amazing in the hand.
 
I have never had my grivory fail on any level. I only went with micarta for aesthetics. I kept my grivory scales around though because I like to have options!!

Either way, we're talking great materials. It's all about preference!!
 
I have 2 micarta ESEE's (3 and izula II) and really like the micarta on them - so much so that I thought I would end up getting some micarta scales for my BK2. The more I use the grivory, the more I like it. Even though I have average hands, the large area on the BK2 is really comfortable. I have used mine quite a bit with no hotspots or other issues. It feels a little slick at first, but even when my hands get a little wet/sweaty the grip is still good - I think part of that is the 3-D aspect of the scales(vs flat micarta like on ESEE knives.) Don't get me wrong - I am looking at picking up another ESEE - it's just that for my BK2 I think I will stick with the grivory. I have banged it off some pretty good wood, with no damage to the grivory at all. Very tough stuff. If you want to upgrade, get Moose to make you a leather sheath - I just got mine 2 days ago, and it is a beast - if I lose the BK2 I can just use the sheath to beat through whatever I would have used the knife on!
 
Grivory is a thermoplastic synthetic resin of the polyamide (nylon) family that is used to replace metals in high temperature automotive applications, as the housing for high temperature electrical connectors and multiple other uses.

That's from Wiki.

It's also popular in saltwater areas as a replacement for metal in high corrosion situation... such as nails and screws.

If someone breaks their Becker handle, then they went out of their way to do it. I mean, they make NAILS out of the stuff. It's designed to be beat on.
 
If someone breaks their Becker handle, then they went out of their way to do it. I mean, they make NAILS out of the stuff. It's designed to be beat on.
Click to expand...

Nice. Literally Tough as Nails.

I like my Grivory handles with inner tube. I LOVE the look of the stripped BK2's with the micarta scales, but currently have zero performance or ergo gripes with my setup.

-Daizee
 
I say it depends on the knife. My BK9 has micarta, my BK2, 7, RBK, and 5 have grivory.

I like the micarta for shock absorbsion. I chop with my 9 alot, but for "bushcrafting" stuff, where I will be using the knife for a long period of time, grivory beats micarta everytime, IMHO.

No failures of the grivory that I have heard about, even with the being thrown into trees, handles handled it well. See what I did there? I do know that EXTREME COLD TEMPS make them more brittle, but I have had mine out in below freezing and never really noticed anything.

Moose
 
After a couple hours of carving w/ on my Feb. challenge fork, I don't have any blisters from the Grivory handles. I thought that was awesome. Now the hand holding the carving is a different story...
 
so, i put some of the new KaBar micarta on the relatively new BK2 (second gen, second gen sheath, not the latest sheath), and they fit as you'd expect, pretty darn well. edge to edge they're quite flush and good.

there's an odd ridgeline on the top the micarta though, that is not present on the grivory handles (which are a new style from the Camillus if nobody has notice before ;>) i don't recall this ridgeline on earlier KaBar micarta, in particular the ones on the BK77 and from when i saw them at Blade 2009, and will have to compare soon. in many ways, i used to really like how smooth and finished the Camillus micarta was. they felt... machined somehow, perfect. the KaBar versions are of course machined (CNC ya know), but have a completely different feel, more like the factory handles, but MORE solid feeling...

i'll leave them on for a while, and see where that leads me. they feel substantial and good. they probably affect the forward balance a touch, but that's okay, the BK2 is not a mainline chopper for me.

now, in a fit of amusement, i got out my EDC Machax, #20 written on the inside handle (solid tang, thank you very much). this one features SOLID EstaLoc material handles, a lot like cutting board material, very dense, very heavy... put on the micarta - hole for hole perfection, what else did you expect?

alas, though, the belly of the tang, has a TOUCH more beer in it than current Beckers, and it's not flush. there's a little tang extension on the bottom side too that sticks out - will take pictures, but it's one of those things that's really hard to see. feels pretty good though, and we'll see how that plays out with use, with or without gloves. mmm.

so, if any of you all have older Beckers, Patrol machetes, all that, try out the micarta.

i'm also pondering what it might be like to fill the factory handles with resin, to completely make them solid, sanded flush and possibly get some slightly resilient liners, and put the whole shebang together. should make an interesting experiment.
 
Hi,

I own a Becker BK-2 and haven't had any problems with the durability or quality of the original grips. Although the grips are comfortable and durable, they are fat, smooth and slick; they are also very well-rounded, making it easy for the knife to rotate within you hand, and making a secure grip difficult.

The popular Canvas Micarta replacement grips are available from several sources, including the Kabar/Becker. While these grips are a clear improvement, when you consider that the grips are about $50 delivered, they nearly double the cost very inexpensive BK2. They are also still fat and well-rounded.

Rather than spending $50 for a replacement handles set, a more cost-effective option is to roughen the surface of the original grips. I can think of a number of ways to do this including: sanding paper or marking a pattern on the handles and then using a rasp of Dremel tool to make clean-looking griping lines across the handles.

Personally speaking, I took a piece of 5/16" (.3175") Micarta stock that I had on hand and fashioned a new grip set for $15. worth of material. The new handles are more rectangular and less rounded on the shoulders, so the handle doesn't rotate within my hands.

If you don't want the hassle of the modifications, for the combined price of the Becker BK2, the factory Micarta handles and a sheath upgrade--you could just buy a new ESEE RC-5 that already has the issues resolved. A Swamp Rat "Rat Man Du" with a Kydex sheath would also be a nice upgrade for about the same price.

Cheers
 
plato1963 said:
Hi,

I own a Becker BK-2 and haven't had any problems with the durability or quality of the original grips. Although the grips are comfortable and durable, they are fat, smooth and slick; they are also very well-rounded, making it easy for the knife to rotate within you hand, and making a secure grip difficult.

The popular Canvas Micarta replacement grips are available from several sources, including the Kabar/Becker. While these grips are a clear improvement, when you consider that the grips are about $50 delivered, they nearly double the cost very inexpensive BK2. They are also still fat and well-rounded.

Rather than spending $50 for a replacement handles set, a more cost-effective option is to roughen the surface of the original grips. I can think of a number of ways to do this including: sanding paper or marking a pattern on the handles and then using a rasp of Dremel tool to make clean-looking griping lines across the handles.

Personally speaking, I took a piece of 5/16" (.3175") Micarta stock that I had on hand and fashioned a new grip set for $15. worth of material. The new handles are more rectangular and less rounded on the shoulders, so the handle doesn't rotate within my hands.

If you don't want the hassle of the modifications, for the combined price of the Becker BK2, the factory Micarta handles and a sheath upgrade--you could just buy a new ESEE RC-5 that already has the issues resolved. A Swamp Rat "Rat Man Du" with a Kydex sheath would also be a nice upgrade for about the same price.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Pics or it didn't happen.
 
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