Official Micarta Thread - Rats and Hogs!

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I have been collecting various knives with micarta scales for a couple years now. In fact, one of the things that attracted me to Busse & Kin is the beautiful and unique micarta handles found on these blades.

So I thought maybe we could start a new thread to get some photos up and help identify the different variants of micarta that one might order, or we might come across on the exchange or wherever. Could be a useful database for newbies. As you know, I am kind of new here and I really don't know all the names and styles myself yet, especially on some of the older offerings that might pop up for sale.

Last time I checked, I don't think I saw where Swamp Rat or Busse even has a page on their site to help buyers actually see the basic colors of canvas micarta (black, tan, green, maroon)???

So please grab your cameras or smart phones and snap some nice CLOSEUP DETAIL SHOTS of your micarta (or other people's micarta)

Best examples would be close up shots of the scales in natural daylight (sitting on a table next to a window for example or in the sunlight would be great). Side-lighting is going to be best to highlight the awesome textures that have become part of the signature of the Rats and Hogs.

—and please describe what it is your posting; canvas, tiger hide, snakeskin, paper, etc.

I'll get things started with several of the most beautiful examples I have ever seen. And these are not mine; I picked up the image from an old thread (I think these belong to Jaxx) — I'm pretty sure the two in the center are probably standard black canvas (FSH and ASH), with the second example from the left being like what I am expecting on my new 5/16" Fusion Steel Heart when it arrives, right?

But I gotta say, the example on the far left is my favorite, and I have no idea what that one is but it really is gorgeous. I would really love to see some of these more unusual colors offered on the BG lineup!

Anyway, feel free to embellish and add more images as you see fit! :thumbup:

 

Here's a decent reference pic of some old school micarta;
I think this is black micarta, it's on my 2nd Gen Ratweiler...

 

In the foreground is a closeup of the latest black canvas micarta on the new CG Ratweiler.
I would say this nice diagonal texture has become the new "standard" for many of the SW knives; although there are still some other variations offered and we have seen some variations in the beveling around the holes in the scales. It should also be noted that there will be variations in the contour of the different generations of micarta slabs as well, although it's not easy to see in every photo, some of the old school scales were more flat and less curvy in the hand.

 

Howdy HK,
Yep you're right - but you know what's funny is the Busse handle page only shows two canvas colors, but when I ordered my BGFSH last month I was offered 4 different colors of canvas; and the green and maroon isn't even on there.

http://www.bussecombat.com/handle-options/

Plus I am hoping to get some more insight into those older colors like the ones in my OP; any idea what that one on the left is?

 

Yep, I think that snakeskin on the left/top is the best lookin micarta ever. :thumbup:
I wonder when was this made and why on earth is Busse not still offering this material?
I can't believe we don't have more pics on here yet.

 

Micarta Scales Tutorial. Pretty basic but kinda cool, found this on YouTube...

[video=youtube;nwtz6o7ltj0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwtz6o7ltj0[/video]

 

More detailed video, much better...

[video=youtube;BM2H_IPWjBY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM2H_IPWjBY[/video]

 

Beautiful, isn't it? And I love the way it feels in the hand, too.
I've got micarta on my Tops, my RD-7, my Becker too.
But nobody does micarta like the Bussekin does micarta.

I'm wondering how does Busse make the patterns on these handles, is it molded that way when they lay up the material/resin or do they carve the patterns after the micarta is done?