New Kopas

W

Westflorida

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I am so excited about the new Kopas. I really like the turquoise, although I am not sure how well it would hold up as a handle material. Does anyone have any experience using it as a handle material? How does it compare in durability to other handle materials?

Thanks in advance, Steve
 
As far as in a knife goes, I have no experience with turquoise (I'm also excited by this kopa). But you should consider, the tons of jewelry that is EDC by many many women in the west (and everywhere really). They love it and have no problems with durability. From what I understand coral should be less durable than turquoise...but we need a real stone nut to confirm that :) Other than the odd piece that fractures, (of any of the exotic natural specimens used in Kopas, I'm certain they will all hold up to reasonable use.
 
Better than the coral, not as good as the micarta.

Turquoise is pretty hard, not sure what it registers of Mohs scale, but it's definitely not going to shatter like glass. It may develop chips, as would any stone handle, but I doubt it will crack or break completely.

Semi precious gems were a hobby of mine when I was younger, but I'm by no means an expert.
 
nevermind...didnt know you had to download it...i took the liberty of copying it for everybody
1.jpg
 
cognitivefun said:
off-topic slightly, but what is Micarta anyway? And how are the Micarta scales in terms of durability?
Click to expand...


Micarta is a laminate of either linen or paper set in epoxy. Same concept as G-10 or carbon fiber, just a different material. (G-10 is woven glass, carbon fiber uses teeny tiny graphite threads.)

I can't really speak for durability. The only knife I have with Micarta is a Calypso, and she stays in the box. However, I've seen micarta used in some top quality "extreme use" knives. I wouldn't think they'd use it if it wouldn't hold up. Recently, I found an old carbon steel cleaver in an antique shop that had a micarta handle (I think.) Cleaver was beat to hell, but the handle still looked good.
 
I gotta admit it: the new Kopas do nothing for me. Would've been good to keep one wood/Micarta/otherwise manly-man version.
 
Micarta has a rated use life of about 200 years. I would use it for every handle on every knife I make, if I could (well..I guess I could, but it doesn't fit every knife). There is no more durable handle material, IMO, except maybe G-10 or Carbon Fiber, but G-10 isn't nearly as pretty, and carbon fiber is hard to find in the right thicknesses, without jacking the price of the knife through the roof. It's pretty and it's strong, but really only great for folding knives. (Just my opinion) Micarta is, to me, the ultimate knife handle material. Polished, it's gorgeous, durable, and interesting. Bead-blasted or sanded, makes a non-slip handle beyond compare. I bent over backwards to get a Kiwi, and I like the Kopas a lot better. Now I don't have the money to buy a Kopa. C'est la vie....my knife addiction has kept me broke for a while.
 
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