Please help me decide on handle material for my folder.

W

wade

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Sep 22, 2005
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I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to materials that are being used for handles. However, I am getting new custom handles made for my lone wolf T2 and I think that I want Micarta because that is what is on my RAT7 and I love the feel of them. But when I contacted the custom maker he gave me the option of canvis, linen, and paper. What are the differences? I want something that will not get banged up, like the cocobolo it has now, and aslo not be slippery when wet, but still looks good. Is micarta still the way to go or should I consider something else? Any Ideas or opinions on the material would be very helpful. Thanks
Wade
 
Canvas micarta is very 'grippy' and coarse.

Paper micarta is very fine-grained, sometimes you need a magnifying glass to see the layers. IMO, this would look best on a small gentleman's pocketknife.

Linen micarta is sort-of in-between.

Is this knife like your's?
t2wood.jpg
If so, I think it would look great with stag or jigged bone. Micarta is a manmade material. Simply put, micarta lacks the "class" that natural materials present. IMO, micarta would be a step down from cocobolo.

Good Luck with your decision.
-Bob
 
Yeah, thats my knife. I would like to stay with natural materials but they seem to get ruined. The cocobolo on my knife is chiped, scratched, and dented. It is still functional and looks ok, but I see it getting much worse. I guess if I do go with micarta it will be with the canvis, maybe even textured, because the cocobolo feels slippery in my hand when wet or if I have sweaty palms. AmadeusM suggested G-10, what about that? Would it look ok? Grip is my first concerne, durability comes second, and looks last. So, what do you think????????
Wade
 
Anyone have anyother suggestions for the handle material that has not been mentioned yet? Very open minded at this point.
Wade
 
For grippy-ness and durability, disregarding aesthetics, my first choice would be canvas micarta or rag micarta. The finer micartas will be more durable than wood, but are very smooth.

I don't have anything in G-10, so I can't compare. But G-10 is a popular material right now and someone will chime in with a comparison any minute...

-Bob
 
For a user, green canvas micarta will give a good grip. G-10 will give a very good grip and it does come in some other colors than black. I've seen it in natural, blue, red and silver, and I'm sure there are even more colors. It can be left with a very grippy texture, or slightly bead blasted to help stop it from eating away your pockets, or it can even be polished up until it looks very slick.
 
wade said:
Anyone have anyother suggestions for the handle material that has not been mentioned yet? Very open minded at this point.
Wade
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YES!!!! If you like wood, and want TOUGH material, you could get Ironwood, or a stabalized wood, which is basically a wood soaked through with an epoxy like liquid.
Also, IMO, a two colored micarta looks GREAT!
G10 is great stuff, but it's about as strong as micarta, from what I've found.
For a really cool look, take a look at day-glow green G10, silver G10, and blue G10. The blue and silver G10 both have a "weaved" look to them, kind of like carbon fiber.
 
G-10 if textured properly would provide the best possible grip for a handle material, it is also very, very tough.
 
Emailed him from the other post just to clarify the details:

Sure Garret,
Well, what i'd like to see is if i have to do any milling on the inside of the scales. Sometimes one can't tell by looking at the knife. If they're just flat, then the 85 will rule, again if there isn't any OTHER hang up. If there are some fancy cuts i have to make, it'll run more like a 520 at 100-120, yet if they go like a breeze, and it's a hot mover, it could go down as low as 75+shipping. Let's do one at 85, and i'll stick to that cost no matter what, and the next one will show my fixed price, only moving in case of fancy materials or multiple piece scales. 85+sh is a pretty base cost and it ussually doesn't get any cheaper than that. Thanx brother, chase
________________________________
Please make any checks out to chase [or charles] axinn.
Checks made out to chax knives will be returned for exchange. Thank You!
CHAX Knives
website: www.chaxknives.com
Phone: 518-624-3889
Email (& for PayPal):
chase@chaxknives.com
Shipping:
HC 01 Box 49-4, North Point Rd, Long Lake, NY 12847-9707
 
well, I still have not decided what color I want. I think that I am going to go with Micarta but not sure if I want a 2piece or something of that sort.
 
wade said:
AmadeusM suggested G-10, what about that? Would it look ok? Grip is my first concerne, durability comes second, and looks last. So, what do you think????????
Wade
Click to expand...

G-10 will positively not slip out of your hands, and it also does well around chemicals.
 
Chemicals... had not thought of that. How does Micarta do with chemicals? Compaired to eachother which would be best head to head overall?
 
From what I understand, both micarta and G10 are a material encased in a resin. Micarta uses, as the names tell, canvas, linen, and paper as the material. G10 uses fiberglass I'm almost positive but Im sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Both are very popular and I dont think you will go wrong with either if you are looking for a tough man made material.
 
Wow, I was just looking at Chase's site www.chaxknives.com and he does fine work. I am for sure sending my knife to him. I like the look of the green and brown micarta. Especally the 'oiled' micarta. I think that I will go with the green but still not quite sure.
 
You could also try cocobolo whith a thick layer of laquer or ceramic clear paint over it. It will make the cocobolo last almost as a man made material.
 
Canvas or linen micarta are both great handle materials: very tough, easy to keep clean, and nice and grippy when wet.

Has anyone else noticed that micarta has a pleasant sweet smell?
 
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