Richlite as scales material. Thoughts ,experiences?

S

southpaw26

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Nov 30, 2018
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Richlite caught my eye as a scales material when I saw it on a Koch Corvid custom friction folder on Ft Henry knives . I am very seriously considering having a knife made with scales of this material by an English custom knife maker . He says he can get it in the colour I want . I've never had the stuff in my hands personally . I was looking for anyone who has any experience with it as a maker or user . It's also used in all sorts of applications from architectural cladding to kitchen benches so even if you haven't had any experience of it as a scales material it would be great to hear your thoughts about it in general. Thanks
 
I have a Grimalkin with Richlite scales from FortyTwoBlades FortyTwoBlades . He may be able to give you some good feedback about the material. I also have a couple of Buck knives with PaperStone handles, which is a very similar material.

It's very durable, and has kind of a unique hand feel. Really dense, hard and smooth, like G10... But with more warmth and a less plasticky feel, like linen Micarta. It handles water very well. Personally, I like it a bit more than G10, but not quite as much as Micarta.
 
I’ve never personally handled Richlite, but Ernest Emerson seems to love the stuff in some of the interviews I’ve seen. People who buy his knives using that material seem equally as impressed.
 
I like it a lot. Got this Birdvis in gray Richlite and it almost looks like a cross between G-10 and wood.

Uyxz74o.jpg
 
A couple years ago I saw LT Wright using it on a Camp Muk.....

I didn't buy it, but I kinda wish I did. Been always been curious how that knife felt?


Idk why I haven't seen Them use it more?
 
My Benchmade Saddle Mountain has richlite scales and I like them just fine. I think it's a fine scale material. Looks good, feels good, does the job of being a handle. What's not to like?
 
jlauffer said:
Redmeadow Knives Redmeadow Knives
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Thanks for the tag John.

I've been using it for a while and am a big fan. It has the warmest feel in hand other than stacked leather and is extremely lightweight. It's also a countertop material so it's really resistant.

Blue canyon is a favorite.
IMG_20211124_112750_530-01.jpeg

Blue canyon and Cabarnet have a slightly visible grain that has a really nice almost cloudy effect to it.
20200830_130233-01.jpeg

Black Diamond is like coal and lacks any visible grain, just a black void.
IMG_20210228_190911_314-01.jpeg

Another shot of blue canyon.
IMG_20210425_130443_147-01.jpeg
 
Martin guitars have been using richlite instead of ebony for fretboards on many of their lower end/introductory models for awhile now.

Here is a link about it from their website:

www.richlite.com

About

Is it really paper? Richlite is an incredibly durable, extremely versatile, and highly sustainable material made from resin-infused paper. Originally developed over 70 years ago for industrial tooling and pattern making, Richlite has expanded into a premium surface material used in the...
www.richlite.com

Basically paper micarta under a different brand name.
 
I own three knives with richlite scales, and surprisingly the smoothness of the material doesn’t mean they are slippery when my hands are wet or sweaty. Like any composite, they also look good with layered tones IMO.
 
I've been carrying a White River Sendero Classic, with black/maple Richlite handle, every day, for more than 2 years. Has a nice warmth. As was mentioned, even with a smooth finish, Richlite is not really a slick material. As far as wear, it's paper micarta, you just don't see it. I also have a Sendero Classic in green micarta. Feel in hand is similar, tho the Richlite is smoother. The Richlite and micarta both have a couple of similar gouges right at the butt of the handle, from getting wedged against the rear sight of my concealed Commander in the car. Neither shows any evidence of the flaws propagating, and I'm not worried about it.

To put it simply: Durable, comfortable, attractive, what's not to like?
 
As others have already mentioned, Richlite is Paper Micarta, and therefore an organic material capable of absorption (liquids, DNA, etc.) unlike G10 made of fiberglass which is inorganic (does not absorb and is stronger, stiffer, etc.). I typically prefer linen or canvas micarta vs paper micarta as these types of fabric micarta have a bit more surface texture. Occasionally find that micarta (vs G10) not to be stiff/strong enough to adequately hold shape (Example below: folding knife that uses scales to reinforce handle construction).

Richlite scales on Carver: (structural integrity of scales on a full-tang knife of less importance)
Emerson Carver-720Wide.jpg

Example: Warped Micarta Scales on Folder requiring handle reinforcement (minimal back-spacer reinforcement):
Owner says he can not get this Lil Native Compression-Lock to run right w/ the micartas installed. First thing I noticed is how badly scales are warped (have yet to dis-ass/re-ass situ as just came in). Notice, in pic, when I hold center of both scales together that both ends and both halves are warped. G10, in my experience, is much more structurally sound.
Warped Micarta Scales-720Wide.jpg

More importantly (in my mind) is the type of resin used whether micarta or G10 ..., epoxy vs. vinylester vs. polyester, with epoxy being far superior in many performance criteria spec's & applications.
 
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Really like looks of richlite too and asked manufacturer of knife I was going to purchase with richlite option about it. What they told me: It won’t have as much grip as the Micarta due to finer texture.
I’d already had to micro-textured my canvas micartas cause even they were too slick when bloody.
 
I only own this one Bradford with Richlite handles. I bought it strictly because of the color. I didn’t know anything about the material itself. It arrived and I have no issues with it. Looks awesome and feels great. IMO it feels the exact same as high quality G10. I still prefer the higher friction feel of micarta over G10 & Richlite.

BPKGVvY.jpg
 
sixplymaple said:
I only own this one Bradford with Richlite handles. I bought it strictly because of the color. I didn’t know anything about the material itself. It arrived and I have no issues with it. Looks awesome and feels great. IMO it feels the exact same as high quality G10. I still prefer the higher friction feel of micarta over G10 & Richlite.

BPKGVvY.jpg
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Love the looks of the Bradford DLC/Richlite. Wanted one. Still do. They look awesome.
Went with the Micarta for more grip though.
 
I had richlite scales on a BM Saddle Mountain Skinner I owned for a while and I really liked it. Feels and looks like a mixture of micarta and wood. Handled moisture great, light and comfortable in the hand, and did not conduct cold very much at all. I don’t necessarily seek it out in knives, but I’d absolutely buy one again with it if I liked the knife.
 
Thanks for everyone's feedback. I bit the bullet and have ordered a custom friction folder with Richlite scales from a maker in the UK . I'll post it up when it arrives and give my thoughts about it.
 
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