Outdoor Knives-"Soft" Handle Material or Hard/Solid

David From NC

David From NC

Joined
Dec 31, 2007
Messages
445
And no jokes! Keep it on track! :p

I have a SERIOUS question here regarding everyone's preference for USER outdoor knives.

I personally can't decide which I like better. For USE and nothing else...I probably like soft grip materials like kraton or the like. Every time I have one though...even if I like it and feel comfortable with it...eventually I'll find myself looking at it and bemoaning it's lack of "character" for having "mere" rubber grips... :barf: So then...almost by script...I will start looking for something with micarta, G10, or the like. Then I'll use or carry THAT for a while...then start wishing I could get a better/stronger grip on the blade for touch cutting chores or bushcrafty things!

Is this Acute Knife Bi-Polar??? :D

Anyone else suffer these fits over handle material???

Random thoughts:

Almost always I "feel" like have more blade control with soft grips like Kraton...

Almost always I "feel" like solid materials have more "character" and last longer (much longer)...

But wouldn't a knife that I like and use well and often by definition have it's own "character"...???

Is this "character" crap even relevant...??? :yawn: :cool:

In SOME usages I think the soft grips *could* cause MORE blistering (heavy cutting or chopping) than a smooth hard but well-shaped micarta (think L T Wright Genesis) but this is only a theory...

If I DO use a knife with with a hard, non-cushioned grip, I STRONGLY prefer thumb scallops...

I REALLY REALLY want to try a Winkler Knives II Operator with the horsestall rubber for a grip...


Thoughts?
 
Most of the knives we all buy are factory, but we like knives that are made of materials that could have been used by a custom maker. Custom makers do not use injection molds that produce finely textured Kraton parts.

Kraton is a fantastic grip material. No matter how much better it is than G10, it won't get treated that way.
 
I understand your dilemma. I think this is a great place for the two knife solution. Get one knife with your choice of soulful materials and another with kraton (and if you're a real heathen stainless steel and an ugly but functional sheath :) ) See which you prefer or just enjoy both :)
 
I think handle shape is more important for a strong grip than exactly what the handle is made of.
 
Hard/solid is the way to go, I think.
Wood comes to my mind.
During some tasks you may use gloves - that gives you the "soft" feeling.
If it has to be Kraton (or thelike) I think of Fallkiven - but then - you started with the lack of "character thing"....
Hope this helps.
red mag
 
I've used everything from birch, micarta, grivory and g10 handle scales. But there's a reason I carry the Fällkniven f1, instead of all the beckers and my scandis.

I live in the arctic, so not only is grip a factor, but the cold is a factor. Grabbing a kraton handle is much easier on the hand than gripping some hard plastic. Kraton does not transfer cold as fast as most other common knife handle materials . Kraton has plenty of traction as well, so when it gets wet, it's still grippy, same goes for usage with gloves and mittens. I've heard some knife reviews say that the kraton grips will wear off or deteriorate over time, and I'm sure they're right. But I doubt it will happen with my knives within the next 10 years, cause I've used my kraton handled knives hard for 5 years now, not a single sign of deterioration. But as they say, even the Mona Lisa is falling apart.

Character can be many things, reliability and good design is also a part of the knifes character IMO.

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