Plastic Rant

Steve-O

Steve-O

Joined
Jun 13, 2000
Messages
736
Hi everybody!

I'm pretty new here...but....at least I'm opinionated.
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I have more than a few knives, most of which are:

A. Folders
B. All metal

Although most of these knives are what I would consider 'working knives'. (And I know that some have the odd bit of teflon in them, and I am trying to get away from this!) I still consider most of them beautiful, well designed, useful, pieces of machinery. I carry two or more to work every day.

Ok, that being said...

Here's the rant.[/b}

I do not like plastic!

To me me, carbon fiber, zytel, micarta, rucarta, G-10, delrin, etc etc etc, hold no attraction. If I want a tough knife, I will buy a steel knife, if I want a light knife - titanium or aluminum. Should I want a beautiful knife, there are so many scale materials that are more beautiful and age well....

Don't get me wrong, I am not a Ludite, I have nothing against advances in technology, but this plastic stuff reminds me of the 'mountain bike' craze. IE "Even though I only ride suburban streets for pleasure....MY BIKE IS LIGHTER THAN YOURS!". I welcome advances in blade metals, blades are what cut. Handle materials on the other hand are either durable, or beautiful...My vote is for metal...in both areas.

Rant completed

My first topic! Please be kind!

Thanks for the Forum!

Steve-O
 
I like that G10 is temperature nuetral. It always feels body tempurature.

A metal knife is uncomfortable to pick up in extreme cold or heat. G10 handled knifes dont have this problem.

Since most metal detectors work on the total metal principle, meaning its not the size of the metal object, rather the total amount of metal present, I appreciate the smaller magnetic signature of synthetic scales.

These are just a couple reasons my preferred ahndle is G10 scales with a titanium liner.
 
Nothing wrong with plastic (zytel) other than its ugly
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Anyways, I think the Zytel knives are great for some people as they may not be able to afford the steel, titanium or aluminum versions. I agree with you that many other handles are far batter looking, but when somebody can only afford 30 - 40 dollars and still wants a top quality knife, then the Spyderco Endura is a pretty good option.



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Richard
icq 61363141
Just some knife pictures
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=110070&a=4518795
UPDATED and REVISED
 
..Welcome to the forums..

I know what your saying.I hated plastic also...Bought my first Spyderco Endura years ago and it changed my mine..Mind you not all plastics are created equal just as all metal handles are not...For me the materials I dont like and will not buy are Carbonfiber,rubber and dymondwood...I love micarta,G10 and I just finished cordwrapping my new hobbit fang not 30 seconds ago....

Quack

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My blades,Family and sale items.

Support Bladeforums..Buy your gear here.
 
Well Steve-O, rants beget rants:
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Epoxy composites like G-10 and Micarta are extremely durable, lighter than metal, generally are less slippery than metal when gooked, and they are warmer. In other words, they are better.

I had a stainless steel handled Spyderco Calypso Jr. at one time, and it was so heavy and slippery, I considered it dangerous!

But don't rant at me, I'm just ranting.
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The weight factor alone makes Zytel one of the best handle materials out there. G-10 is better for strength. Micarta, when done right, can be one of the more attractive handles.
Metal handles are either to heavy, to hot, or to cold, and usually to slippery. Natural materials are the most attractive but not the most durable. Just my 2 cents.

Paul
 
I have always prefered cheap zytel to kraton. Have you held the sog seal knife--the handle is a rock! Impossible to break without power tools. I don't have a problem with G-10 either, but I can't really tell the difference when comparing the g10 on my axis to the zytel on the sog. Both are really hard and the zytel is even more aggressively patterned. I don't even know what the difference is between the two now that I think about it. Is G-10 a laminate held together with resin? Anyway the zytel on the seal has a really high glass content, and when you tap it against something hard it resonates like a ceramic pot.
 
Let not forget that metal handles scratch more easy in your pocket too. I like G-10 and micarta. The all zytel handles feel cheap to me and more flexible than micarta and g-10.

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Roger Blake
 
The stainless steel handle Spydercos don't feel as smooth on the opening as the Zytel ones....

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
I'll take micarta over just about all else. It can be durable without the weight and attractive without the fragility.

 
Steve-O provides yet another opportunity for me to extol the virtures of Chris Reeves Knives. This time, both the fixed and folders in one swoop.
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Hey......I ride a an aluminum frame Trek 820, and I don't live anywhere close to suburbia! I share your thoughts. I like steel, leather, and wood on my knives and guns as well. I guess you can't stop progress, but class always counts.
 
Hi Steve-O,

I've never been a big fan of Zytel as well, but do like other synthetic materials (such as G-10 and micarta) and do love great all-steel knives.

But, let me share a few high points of Zytel (some of which have aleady been shared).

  • Weight - This is one of the lightest handle material available and people are not always interested in carrying a "brick" in their pocket.
  • Strength - Zytel is glass reinforced plastic. Generallobster referred to a Zytel handled knife. I received one back were the user had dropped it about 100 feet while rock climbing. The blade was broken in two places and very chipped, but the handle was nearly completely intact! After nearly zero Zytel-related warranty returns I can readily recall in the last three years (warranty is one of my departments), I'm totally sold on its durability as a handle material!
  • Cost - This is a low cost material and not everyone has much money. I'm thinking of one specific knife that comes in Titanium, G-10, and Zytel handles. The Zytel model, being the same in every other respect, is nearly half the price. This will put great knives, with excellent steel, into a more affordable price range for people to purchase.
  • Texture - This is a manufacturing choice. Zytel can be textured to look like many different things, including, G-10 (and textured like G-10, it looks great! And from a couple feet away, you can't tell the difference!).

Welcome to the forums!
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No one bites here.

Ron@SOG

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Website: www.sogknives.com
Email: ron@sogknives.com

[This message has been edited by Ron@SOG (edited 10-12-2000).]
 
Steve..

Hello and Welcome....

I take it that you don't care much for synthetic sheathing like concealex then ???
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Once you open your mind to the world of plastics,, you'll enjoy the knives more....

Hmmm I guess cotton Linen Micarta is a plastic....
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ttyle Eric....

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On/Scene Tactical
Leading The Way In Quality Synthetic Sheathing
 
I case noneone else has mentioned it, a polished steel knife handle is VERY slippery when wet.
Nothing fun about cutting you fingers to the bone becuase your knife got a little blood or water on it.
I would like to see those who advocate stainless steel handles(like the Spyderco Police)address this issue.

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-Marine, Peace Officer, Gunsite EW1 Graduate.
 
I'll take my "plastic"-handled Cold Steel Folders over ANY "metal"-handled knives ANYTIME!.
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The "metal"-handled folders are TOO heavy (well, the stainless ones, anyway!), are TOO slippery, they scratch TOO easily, and generally have SHARP edges.

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
Well, synthetic handles look cheap and crap but some of us actually like them that way
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Seriously, i really like synthetics like G10 - hard to scratch, and any scratches are invisible in the texturing, isn't affected by chemicals, heat, or cold. My aluminium handled knives which have been in use for awhile have got plenty of dings and scratches. My Klotzi wimpff in G10 still looks like it did when i got it more than 2 years ago.

Having said that, I still love my Ti handled small sebenza...

Red

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"Praise not the day until evening has come;a sword until it is tried; ice until it has been crossed; beer until it has been drunk" - Viking proverb
 
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