Preferred “beat it up” handle material? (fixed blade)

Sharp & Fiery

Sharp & Fiery

Leatherwork - Canada
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So I was thinking today about the fixed blades I own, use and carry.

If I buy two of the same knife, different handle materials, I will always, always use the micarta version for my user. Wood, bone, pearl and other “exotic” materials usually are the ones I look at.

The micarta could even be rare or phenomenal and I’ll still use it. I came to the conclusion that subconsciously I “value” micarta the least when it comes to beauty, but value it most when it comes to usability. That being said, I do find micarta scaled knives to also be attractive.

Am I the only one who does this?

Does anyone else have a handle material preference that they would use in a heartbeat over another?

Do you have a handle material that is “show shelf” only?

Photo’s welcome and thank you for listening to my thoughts.
 
For the knives I beat-on?...either G10 or Micarta.

I have some large knives, that are clad in Desert Ironwood and Bocote, that I've used surprisingly hard. However, there always seems to be that little voice in my head telling me to take it a bit easier on 'em.


At the end of the day, if I buy a large/hard-use knife, I'm gonna' USE it, whether it's clad in wood or not...damaged scales be damned.
 
shinyedges said:
Micarta or g10.

On a similar note, slightly proud tangs that take the beating from a baton or fall are a plus for me. I know they are polarizing but I like a small extended pommel and proud tang.

Like this:
Click to expand...



I completely agree with this.

I don't have too many knives (*hardly any) with a proud tang, but do absolutely prefer an extended pommel...especially when using a hardwood-clad knife.
 
im not that picky but yep micarta or g10 as a user. prefer micarta. just works. although I also kinda like leather washer handles for users too....for the feel of them. not the maintenance side. I also like Buck phenolic and various rubber type handles too for a user.

on natural material side only stag/elk really as a user.

wood, bone, etc I tend to just look at them more than use. will use them though.
 
Good topic.....
This is My beater knife for over a year, pushing two.... It's Osage. No issues.im Hard on it, All extreme weather conditions. Not stabilized.


I've been wanting a Nicer knife for edc since my skills have increased. I tend to give away or sell my good stuff, and I think it's about time I have something decent..... :D

For the record, I like everything except g10. It feels Cheap.
I like woods, terotuf , Vintage micarta, antler, some rubber.......

I'm thinking about a D2 blade, and ebony wood scales for my next "me/User knife"
I'm open for Other ideas.
 
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Crag the Brewer said:
Busse doesn't epoxy down their scales too?
Weird....Idk That.
Click to expand...

shinyedges said:
They do not.

Even knives with threaded fasteners mechanically attaching scales can shift when things get rough. Of course they can be adjusted easily enough though.
Click to expand...



I've shifted the scales while beating on ALL of these...



20211201_170816 (BF).jpg

20230418_191117 (BF).jpg

20230602_080632 (BF).jpg



Jerry Busse and his crew squared-away the Hell Razor 2 with ZERO questions, and a simple Torx or hex has fixed the TOPS knives right up.
 
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Alone said:
I've shifted the scales while beating on ALL of these...



View attachment 2253590

View attachment 2253593

View attachment 2253608



Jerry Busse and his Crew squared-away the Hell Razor 2 with ZERO questions, and a simple Torx has fixed the TOPS knives right up.
Click to expand...
Yep, you can shift scales on most knives.


Bending the tubes is covered by busse warranty of course. If you dig back 7? 8?years ago, I bent an SOB prying a chainsaw free from being stuck and it got covered under warranty. They stand behind their warranty 100%.
 
shinyedges said:
Yep, you can shift scales on most knives.


Bending the tubes is covered by busse warranty of course. If you dig back 7? 8?years ago, I bent an SOB prying a chainsaw free from being stuck and it got covered under warranty. They stand behind their warranty 100%.
Click to expand...



Yeah, Jerry and his crew don't give a single f*ck.

As his warranty states, they fully EXPECT you to beat the life out of their knives.


I broke the tip on a Mega Ratweiler. I reprofiled it myself. However, Becky told me, "If you ever want us to fix that for you, just send it in. We'll get you fixed-up."


When they say, "Busse Knife Group encourages extreme usage of our blades."...Man, they aren't kidding.
 
Alone said:
Yeah, Jerry and his crew don't give a single f*ck.

As his warranty states, they fully EXPECT you to beat the life out of their knives.


I broke the tip on a Mega Ratweiler. I reprofiled it myself. However, Becky told me, "If you ever want us to fix that for you, just send it in. We'll get you fixed-up."


When they say, "Busse Knife Group encourages extreme usage of our blades."...Man, they aren't kidding.
Click to expand...
I like the busse crew, one year I showed up to their meeting at bladeshow without signing up, and the dude at the door saw my swatmandu on my hip and was like come on in lol

Great crowd and knives. I still have a bunch of sw, busse, sy blades.
 
shinyedges said:
Micarta or g10.

On a similar note, slightly proud tangs that take the beating from a baton or fall are a plus for me. I know they are polarizing but I like a small extended pommel and proud tang.

Like this:
Click to expand...
That’s a concept I hadn’t heard before. It makes sense, but I don’t regularly beat on the handle. Mainly just the spine.

I absolutely despise the way proud tangs feel in hand. Apparently I’m not alone because back in the day if you found out your Busse had a proud tang you could send it in to be ground down flush with the handle for free. People bitched about it until they started grinding down every tang before it left the factory. That’s why the spines were bare all the way around on lots of coated OG Busse blades.

Here lately they’ve been marketing the sh!t as a “feature”. Lmao, ahhhh how the turn tables.
 
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