"Rubber" handles: do they hold up???

H

Hoodoo

Joined
Aug 18, 1999
Messages
2,355
My Fallkniven, Cold Steel, Buck, Gerber etc. all have some kind of rubber handle. Busse uses rubber, so does Mad Dog. The question is: will this stuff endure for years and years? Will it take the heat of the sun, the cold of winter, etc and not check, split, dry out and crumble away? Is some "rubber" material better than others? Which will hold up to DEET or other chemicals like gasoline and which won't? I prefer micarta handles for endurance but should I continue to buy "rubber" handled knives? Busse and Mad Dog knives aren't cheap. Are they really worth the money if the handles are rubber? Is there really enough data out there to make an informed decision about the durability of these rubber materials? Do rubber handles require special care and treatment? Etc. etc.... Enquiring mind wants to know whatcha think.



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Hoodoo

No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Lao Tsu
 
I have the same questions and would like to add a few to Hoodoo's list. I imagine eventually that the handles will wearout, can they be re-done? Can you have a different material put on (say micarta, G10, etc.)? (another inquiring mind)
 
Allen, thanks for the quick reply. I just wish you would come out and say what you're thinking. I hate ambiguous replies.
wink.gif

Seriously thanks.
 
I have heard that some rubber handles dont hold up well. I have read where Cold Steel handles have come loose. This might be due to kraton not keeping its stability in extreme conditions (very hot or cold temps). I think Busse handles are a much more rigid and stable form of rubber that wont shrink and expand in different conditions. In your post, I think you mentioned Maddog as having rubber handles. I think that maddog uses G10, or something like that, which is more stable and should not pose a problem. I have owned handguns in the past with kraton grips. One of them did start to crack/tear towards a thinner spot. I just think the kraton has to much "give" in it to make the best knife handle on a hard use knife. I think G10, Micarta and such are more stable and are more suitable for handles. These are just my opinions.

Richard
 
My handle on my Cold Steel mini Tanto came loose and squishey. The kraton insert on my spyderco spur became gummey. In addition, under hard use they can wear some nasty blisters.
Tom
 
Hello,

Ok i`ll Talk, 8-)

my Opinion only remember,

But I think Rubber handles just dont have a Consistant performance level. Every handle i have ever seen made out of rubber, or like substances in hard use,just look bad afterwards.

Big Ole Scratch and gouge marks, Seam seperations, DEET degradation, Food and animal body fluids stuck between Handle and Guard pommel junctures, handles twisted on the TANG from use .

And the Worst of all!! No way to Refinish the handle back to new condition if it gets beat up in use.

I think a knife in use, should get to a point to where it is "Broke in" sorta speak,
and then AGE gracefully, and if it get`s looking to Dang Ugly,be able to be refinished
to a like New apperance.

With a Rubber material handle this doesnt happen ,because you cant take out imperfections,and they just get worse with use.

anyway thats my thoughts on Rubber handles.


Take Care,
Allen blade

PS..if ya want to start a THREAD on HORN material i`ll reply to that one for sure!!
LOL 8-)
 
:
I have a CS Trailmaster that is still waiting for it's new micarta handle.
I bought some black linen micarta especially for this project.One reason is that I haven't really decided on what to use for a new guard.Probably a single guard of 1/4" steel to make it more usable.

The Kraton® got cut and came loose and developed a bit of rust under it,as well as what the others have said about it.
I don't like the Kraton®

I have a Busse 9" and so far I like this material,but I haven't used it as long or as hard as the T'mer.I believe I would like the Battle Mistress better for the long run with it's Micarta handles.

One nice thing about the material Busse uses is that it is repairable if its cut.It's my understanding that it can be heated and will seal back into itself.

I don't care for looks as much as I do function in a user.
I believe it will do as Mr.Busse says it will do and for the difference in price I am willing to take that chance.


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

If you mix milk of magnesia with vodka and orange juice do you get a phillips screwdriver?

Khukuri FAQ


 
First off refering to such a wide variety of materials (Kraton, Resiprene C, G10) etc., as "rubber", is misleading as they vary widely in performance. G10 is very difficult to abrade, very inert chemically, and as a handle very impact resistant. Kraton on the other hand will wear quickly, can even tear, does not resist fire well and does not like common chemicals like Deet. However not all Kraton handes act the same, the Fällkniven grips are much more durable than the CS ones for example.

Yvsa :

One nice thing about the material Busse uses is that it is repairable if its cut.It's my understanding that it can be heated and will seal back into itself.
Click to expand...

Yes, I have done this with mine. You can also fix impact dents, tears and such the same way.

-Cliff
 
Cliff,

I wasn't intentionally trying to mislead. That is why I put "rubber" in quotes and also asked the question is some "rubber" material better than others.

More specific information like your post about the types of "rubber" materials out there and their durabiltiy would be helpful.



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Hoodoo

No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Lao Tsu
 
One thing that would be nice it to see the makers give information about the grip materials being as specific as they are about the steel in the blade. They can be described by standard material properties.

-Cliff
 
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