anyone know anything about this material... ive read a little but i have the chance to buy a blade that i really want but the butt cap and hilt are made of micarta... what is the strength of this material and is its inclusion on this blade going to shorten the life of the hilt on the whole? has anyone had any problems with this material or know of it breaking? thanks
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Micarta
- Thread starter asoul
- Start date
Micarta is made from layers of material saturated with plastic. There's quite a bit of variety too, depending on the material used. Canvas micarta is rather coarse, which gives it a 'grippy' feel and is most often found on large tactical knives. Paper micarta is very fine and smooth and often used on small gentlemans' knives.
-Bob
-Bob
http://www.rosarmsusa.com/catalog/p...d=112&osCsid=c9ce085364d43b1ddd8f13bd3f94a540
hopefully this link works.. there is another one that is micarta... i can get now but if i wait a month i can get the aluminum one... thanks
hopefully this link works.. there is another one that is micarta... i can get now but if i wait a month i can get the aluminum one... thanks
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
- Messages
- 1,617
Bob Loveless calls canvas micarta the best handle material ever invented.
It won't chip or crack. It doesn't conduct heat or cold. It is chemically impervious to all solvents. It will hold screw threads better than most common aluminum alloys. It doesn't shrink or expand due to moisture heat or cold. It actually gets grippier (if that's even a word) when wet.
I used to carry a 1/4" thick x 1" x 4" piece in my jacket pocket. When someone would give me grief about the handle of the knife I just made being cheap plastic I would give them the piece of micarta and tell them if they could break it with their hands I would make them a knife for free. I've never lost that bet.
well toolsteel... no i do not think grippier is a word... but for the value of the information you have given me, you have my vote if you ever wanna have it submitted into the english language... this is the information i was looking for when i started this thread... still interested in what other have to say, but thanks again
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2006
- Messages
- 578
There is also a linen Micarta, which is very lightly "textured," IIRC and used on gentlemen's knives, as a rule. It's all very nice stuff and I prefer it to any other handle material, except Mammoth Ivory and bone. And Micarta is tougher than the others.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
Micarta has been referred to as the steel of plastics. It has a higher status or class look to it than FRN, and holds threads much better than G10. For the most part it holds its own with G10 in most everyway with the exception of ridgidity where both FRN and G10 seem to beat it out. However just because it is easier to flex Micarta in say a 1/8" thickness vs the other two mentioned materials does not make it any weaker. In fact in my own very primitive tests with all three materials I found the canvas micarta to be far harder to actually tear or snap as is the case with the other two materials.
Not only is it cheaper to buy Micarta than G10 (and most good hard wood or stabalized woods too for that matter) but its safer to work with also although its a good idea to wear lung protection with both (all) in the way of a good respirator.
The other point I see is this. Micarta seems to be more or less available in, how can I say this? Micarta comes in less trendy colors and shades than the other plastics. Yes, I think this is what I'm looking for to describe it and the available colors it comes in and has always come in. Its more sensible in color schemes to me with Micarta. G10 by comparison is available in some bright and unusual color schemes for those that want it.
This always reminds me of the early years when I started selling dental equipment back when dental offices were buying canary yellow, lime green, mauve, turquoise, and other such varioius brightly colored chairs, x-ray machines and wall paper; all colors I could not give away for a song right before I retired by the way. In other words the trend came and went and once it went the dentists had something they couldn't get anything for when it came time to upgrade. I'm not suggesting this will be the case with G10 handled knives in trendy colors but whenever I buy anything expensive, whether it be a good knife, a car, or a gun I prefer to think of resale value. Trends are too fickle and Micarta has lasted and appealed over time based on being sensible, both in color and choice for what it is.
Overall I much prefer Micarta to work with these days over any other handle material although I will on occasion drift back to my 'wood is good' days and on even rarer occasions even risk another asthma attack to work with G10 again. All these materials machine well, and work great but Micarta has remained on top for me.
STR
Not only is it cheaper to buy Micarta than G10 (and most good hard wood or stabalized woods too for that matter) but its safer to work with also although its a good idea to wear lung protection with both (all) in the way of a good respirator.
The other point I see is this. Micarta seems to be more or less available in, how can I say this? Micarta comes in less trendy colors and shades than the other plastics. Yes, I think this is what I'm looking for to describe it and the available colors it comes in and has always come in. Its more sensible in color schemes to me with Micarta. G10 by comparison is available in some bright and unusual color schemes for those that want it.
This always reminds me of the early years when I started selling dental equipment back when dental offices were buying canary yellow, lime green, mauve, turquoise, and other such varioius brightly colored chairs, x-ray machines and wall paper; all colors I could not give away for a song right before I retired by the way. In other words the trend came and went and once it went the dentists had something they couldn't get anything for when it came time to upgrade. I'm not suggesting this will be the case with G10 handled knives in trendy colors but whenever I buy anything expensive, whether it be a good knife, a car, or a gun I prefer to think of resale value. Trends are too fickle and Micarta has lasted and appealed over time based on being sensible, both in color and choice for what it is.
Overall I much prefer Micarta to work with these days over any other handle material although I will on occasion drift back to my 'wood is good' days and on even rarer occasions even risk another asthma attack to work with G10 again. All these materials machine well, and work great but Micarta has remained on top for me.
STR