Over molded/injection molded handle appreciation thread

jux t

jux t

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2018
Messages
2,904
Sorting through my knives today, I realized I have a bunch of fixed blades with over molded or injection molded type handles. These are often viewed as inexpensive alternatives to nice riveted style handles made of natural materials or micarta.

While they are usually inexpensive, I’ve always liked the isolation from vibrations they give between the hand and the tang. Also appreciate that when done right, they seal the tang from water or anything that can seep between a handle and tang to potentially cause corrosion or harbor bacteria.

Anyone else a fan of this type of handle? Any pros/cons you’d like to share?

Snapped a quick pic mine:
5CE5C124-1905-46A7-9B59-003CAFC8DD31.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Quite a few of my fixed blades have this construction.

Skrama
Jääkäripuukko
Peltonen Sissipuukko
Mora - many models
Sykco reseprine-c
Hultafors GK
Cold Steel Pendleton lite
Cold Steel Finn Bear

While some of these are inexpensive, not all of them are. Although the hard plastic handles of the Cold Steel budget knives do not wow me, the reseprine are some of the best.
 
Last edited:
Most of my FBs are overmolded, because I like 'em cheap, as long as they get the job done
IMG-2022-03-19-15-43-16-942-2.jpg


Dogstar
Cheapskate Club #1
small-Cheapskate-Logo.png
 
These type are also often contoured to fit the hand very nicely and have comfortable non slip grip. I like them.
 
I prefer over-moulded handles in cold weather ( Fallknivens , Moras, CS , etc.)
Plus there are no mechanical fasteners to fail , normally no tang gaps if the overmould is good ,
and if there is a protuding tang ( Garberg , F1) all the better.
Never broke any over moulded or one-piece handles in over 50 years , including Moras.
I like Fiskars axes for the same reason.
 
Alberta Ed said:
I'm not sure the Cold Steel Kraton handles are injection nodded. They work, though.
Click to expand...
As far as I can tell, and I just spent way too much time looking into this, Kraton/Kray-Ex (Styrenic Block Copolymer) materials are injected molded when used in this sort of application.

If that’s actually not the case, then they still fall into an over molding category as the title of the thread suggests.
 
For me there is nothing wrong with overmolded handles. The two Falknieven (F1 and S1) that I own work great and they feel nice in the hand. Same with Moras.

They are not cold to the touch as Micarta or G10 could be and somewhat shock absorbing.

I wish I could get anything with a Resiprene C handle from the Busse family! Any Basic would do, I promise.

Mikel
 
I think they are an excellent handle solution and I own many.
 
jux t said:
As far as I can tell, and I just spent way too much time looking into this, Kraton/Kray-Ex (Styrenic Block Copolymer) materials are injected molded when used in this sort of application.

If that’s actually not the case, then they still fall into an over molding category as the title of the thread suggests.
Click to expand...
Good point. I think they slide onto the tang after being molded, then fixed in place with the brass lanyard tube, rather than being molded around the tang like Benchmade's Puukko 2000. CS's Kraton grips work really well, especially under trying conditions -- wet, cold, slippery, etc.
 
I have had these kind of handles before, and they work fine. I can appreciate their utility. Theyre just so ugly though... I see the utility in something like a Kraton handled Kabar, but I would still rather have the stacked leather because its just nicer. Plus, I dont like cold plastic or squishy grips. Sorry lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top