Scale/Handle Materials You Don't/Didn't Like?

Boxer .45

Boxer .45

Joined
Jan 11, 2015
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I was wondering what scale or handle materials you dont or didn't used to like. Any you used to like but don't anymore or thought you might but didn't? Any you used to despise but really enjoy now?
 
For me I am not a fan of carbon fiber, love the material but its not a favorite for a knife. Ive owned a few but its not my first choice, but I'd own it if it was the only option on a knife I really liked.
I love G10 but not a huge fan of micarta.

I used to not like Stag, and although its still not my favorite I love it with the right look.
I used to not like Desert Ironwood but now its one of my favorites.
 
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Orange G10. Orange is a nice color but you either live with it getting dirty or pick a different color. The other one I don't like is plain Titanium, just plain gray looks really boring and doesn't feel all that great, I rather have some Ano, DLC or (mirrored) inlays. Which is why a whole lot of Kizer knives aren't on my "I want that" list, they have some good designs but the sea of gray is just not doing it for me. I might reconsider once I sat down and anodized some stuf myself. Nobody here really does that for knives, so maybe it's a somewhat untapped market?

/Add: And I don't particularly care for bone/stag inlays/scales.
 
Didn't care for FRN initially but really have come to like it, especially the textured Spyderco designs.

FRCP feels really cheap to me. Too plasticy. Don't expect that I'll ever really like the material. It always feels "cold" to me.
 
Plain metal handles because they tend to be slippery.

More subjective since I'm not a fan of the looks but carbon fiber gets touted as a super material yet offers minimal if any functional advantages in this application over FRNs or other plastics while costing much more. I totally understand that some people are willing spend more for their preferred aesthetics though. I'm a bit surprised there isn't more chopped carbon fiber (Boker calls it marble carbon fiber) handles since it's cheaper to manufacture also has its own unique appearance.
 
b00n said:
I might reconsider once I sat down and anodized some stuf myself. Nobody here really does that for knives, so maybe it's a somewhat untapped market?
Click to expand...

Titanium anodizing is easy. I wrote a post about it using AA and AAA batteries and less than $10 worth of supplies.

You can get bronze, purple, and blue with less than 30 amps total. Give it a try...
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/affordable-and-fun-zt0562-knife-mods.1613881/

tI5q2Kp.jpg
 
I don’t see the appeal of carbon fiber. It won’t stop me from buying a knife, but it’s not what’s selling it for me. I avoided aluminum scales for years. I didn’t like the idea. Now, I think aluminum is my favorite handle material.
 
Titanium, CF, G10 are the most appealing to me
FRN and micarta works fine too
Not a fan of aluminum or peliply-cf
 
I've never cared for CF. I used to be a canvas micarta guy, and didn't mind textured G10, but these days I like wood.
 
I used to ignore Real Stag. Then I got a knife by mistake with stag. It was supposed to be dark green and black bone. I kept the knife and used it; turns out it's a good practical handle. I ignored stag because I used to think it was a little too rustic or old time. Also I am somewhat repulsed by the gnarlieness of it; it is kind of grotesque. Other times I think it is very attractive, at least the colors (dies used ?).

That said my number one fav Trapper is Genuine Stag because the handle is so fat and pretty grippy compared to the other slip joint trappers. So now . . . I like stag.

I was all about getting a Case Trapper with the gun stock / diamond pattern texture. Once I got one I am kind of off it because it is no where near as grippy as I expected. I love to look at the knife though and I carried it today. Many regular jigging is grippier as is Frag pattern and Spyderco's Frag like pattern . . . squares are better than diamonds for a handle texture.

I was sure I wouldn't like the scale / texture of the Rat 1 and made big plans to texture it.
Turns out it works well for me because of the general design of the whole knife so . . . so far . . . I haven't changed the stock Rat 1 scales, they seem surprisingly good. I wouldn't call them grippy but they are not so slick I have any problem hanging onto the knife.

There are probably a few more but that's a start.
 
I'm not a fan of wood handle knives. Most anything else is fine.
 
not a fan of stabilized woods, or 'dymondwood' -- just too much like plastic
Real wood, like ironwood (north american type is american hop/hornbeam) is wonderful with just a bit of pure tung oil
...(I love desert ironwood also, but must be unstabilized) I've honestly had enough plastic in my life

I obviously own some g10, (who doesn't?) and it's great for what it is, but it's really fibreglass soaked in epoxy
 
Boxer .45 said:
not a fan of carbon fiber, love the material but its not a favorite for a knife.
Click to expand...
I carried my 940-1 for the last few days (with my Case Trapper with diamond pattern ((I wasn't lying)). I actually like it just fine. It is about like I expected it to be. I might not like it if it were slick and covered over with a clear layer of epoxy like some knives I have seen but the carbon in the 940 is just right.
 
Pendexter said:
Titanium anodizing is easy. I wrote a post about it using AA and AAA batteries and less than $10 worth of supplies.

You can get bronze, purple, and blue with less than 30 amps total. Give it a try...
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/affordable-and-fun-zt0562-knife-mods.1613881/
Click to expand...

I plan on giving it a shot over christmas when I have some time off. I pretty much just need the phosphate and some Titanium Wire, since I have access to everything else from work/can borrow it.
 
Aluminum = slippery, in my experience.
Can’t say I dislike any others. I have a love/hate relationship with copper - beautiful/heavy
 
I like G10 but not the premium cost over FRN or micarta. Not worth it at all. I like micarta better except for the limited colors.

I love the look of wood but a polished wood handle is a bastard in the drier months when my hands are dry and I can't hold onto the knife anymore. Fine for the kitchen or EDC but a SOB in the woods.

Stag is one that I really struggle to like the looks of consistently.
 
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