POLL, man made scales versus price on custom slips

[ken erickson]

I would invite folks here to take this poll whether you have, or have never purchased a custom slipjoint. I am wondering how most folks feel about man made scale material on premium priced custom slips. Man-made materials are established and accepted on single blade custom slips but what about multi-blade knives with a premium price? Would you consider something like Micarta on a multi-blade slip on the higher end of price? For example let say a 3 blade stockman that has great fit , finish, walk and talk is just right. Would you consider Micarta or G10 scales?

 

[CAD]

I'll keep this simple:

Micarta...yes :thumbup:
G10...no :thumbdn:

Chris D.

 

[abcdef]

My personal preference on the higher end would be stag, ivory or bone.

 

[kidwholaughs]

No, I would not. Unless it's a shadow like Tony Bose's shadow stockmen. When shelling out major mullah, my preferences are on natural materials . UNLESS, the prices can be dramatically reduced to something that would other wise be unaffordable. Hope this helps.

God Bless

 

[sunnyd]

Ken,

I'm for natural scales myself. Prefer Stag, Bone, Ivory, Pearl, and such. Although on the other hand, some of the newer Micarta is attractive and quite durable.

I voted for option #2.

Hope my .002 cents helps in some small way.

Anthony

 

[kamagong]

I prefer natural materials for slip joints, but synthetics wouldn't automatically preclude a knife from consideration. Depending on the knife a synthetic may be just the thing. For example a custom fish knife would be one in which synthetic scales are desirable.

 

[ken erickson]

I'll keep this simple:

Micarta...yes :thumbup:
G10...no :thumbdn:

Chris D.

Thanks for the quick responses so far!

I have worked in many versions of Micarta and have jigged Micarta also. Worked a bit in G10. Chris , is there something about G10 or the fact that it is the least traditional of materials for slips? Thanks in advance for your input.

Ken

 

[The Government]

Even though I am just getting into traditional slip joints, I feel tradition is tradition. That may change for me, but what really makes these knives appealing is their traditional look, feel, smell, touch, etc.

After I have a good sized collection that will probably change.

 

[Peregrin]

I like natural materials on slip joints. My preference is nice stag, mammoth ivory being second, jigged bone third. I've owned a few with man made scales (micarta) but have sold all but one of them.

 

[LarryM]

I voted No . If I am paying a premium price I want a premiun handle material. Why pay a premium price and get $3.00 worth of handle material. Larry

 

[wagglebee]

Personally I'm not a fan of the man-made scales, even though I know they are more durable than natural materials, so I probably wouldn't buy a custom knife with G-10 or micarta. However, I think that if someone wants it on their knife they should get what they want.

I might add that I love the single-blade shadows in micarta that a bunch of the great knifemakers here have been making.

 

[CAD]

Thanks for the quick responses so far!

I have worked in many versions of Micarta and have jigged Micarta also. Worked a bit in G10. Chris , is there something about G10 or the fact that it is the least traditional of materials for slips? Thanks in advance for your input.

Ken

I like G10 on my spyderco knives etc...just have not seen any as nice as...let's say ivory linen micarta or some of the old Westinghouse colors!


Thanks for asking,

Chris D.

 

[Mark J]

I'll keep this simple:

Micarta...yes :thumbup:
G10...no :thumbdn:

Chris D.

+1 on the G10 - no way

Micarta only if it's paper micarta.

I would prefer carbon fiber in manufactured materials, although natural materials would still be my overwhelming choice,

- Mark

 

[sakranicz]

I vote micarta for edc shadow versions and natural materials with mirror polished bolsters and springs.

 

[VCM3]

I voted Sure,why not.

Unless I am understanding the poll incorrectly,I want,what I want,when I order a custom,unless I'm in the mood for letting the maker have creative opinion & want him to surprise me.
Go take apeek,at jackknife's shadow thread,I posted a T Bose stockman in there.
Now if he were to make one in bone w/ bolsters & one like that,a shadow,and told me,I could pick one.Well while I love the pretty ones,I need,the tough ones.
Sorry for the long winded post
Bottom line though,IMO,why get custom built,if you can't get what you want
-Vince

 

[4ever3]

Yep, man made materials on Shadows only... No Carbon Fiber though, but that may be just me...

 

[randomlooker]

Sure. Micarta and G-10 can be had in lovely colors, patterns and textures. Just look at Bark River's handles for some great examples of what can be done with the materials. Just plain single color G-10, now... maybe not.

 

[Ice Tigre]

Well, given my general hatred for man made materials on any knife, factory custom or modified, it comes down to the individual combination... IE; if its the perfect knife for the material or vise versa, yes I'd take it, but it would be 100% dependent on my choosing the knife specs and the material.

G.

 

[Fred Sanford]

I say heck yes as long as it's a nice material.

Carbon fiber, yes.
G10, yes.
Micarta, yes.

Corian, No.
Plastic (like what is on a Sod Buster), No.

 

[RobbW]

I like natural materials on higher-dollar knives not just because they look more traditional and more "proper" to my eyes, but because IMHO they age better. Stag, ivory and bone gain character and authenticity as they scratch and scrape during the normal course of use. I really like kitchen counters made of soapstone or limestone. They are soft as stone goes, and show wear quickly, but to me that is beautiful and reflects the imperfections of nature and of use. Formica on the other hand looks worse with wear.

To me, man-made materials tend to look cheap as they scratch and wear. I tend to think of natural materials as "wearing in" and man-made materials as "wearing out" as they age.

That said, I do have kind of a soft spot for micarta if it's done well. I have a couple of micarta Doziers and like the use they are showing.