school me on handle types/ materials

P

pazzo

Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Messages
144
first of all, i have another knife w/ a micarta handle. so i know what that is. but i'm having issues understanding what the G10, or Canvas handles are (cause i just ordered my first Busse, and i have never seen one prior).

thx :confused:
 
Canvas is micarta, it can also be had in linen and paper. G-10 is another composite that I am not nearly familiar enough with to even comment on it. Go to badmojo.tv and there should be an excellent bit Jerry wrote on Micartas. Also, you may want to give this a read. It actually might be the same info from badmojo, I can't remember.
 
thanks Progunner. i read that already, and it says nothing about G10 or canvas??
 
Canvas micarta is what is meant by canvas. As the thing says micarta is made of layers of material (canvas, paper, linen). The layers can vary in color and such like is done with the Snakeskin Nukarta (Jerry's play on words). As far as tactile aspects are concerned, the paper is the "slickest" followed by linen and then canvas. I love canvas on my users. I have a few blades with the new G10, but something about it makes me nervous. I can't help be think it will be way to slick to hang onto when I am sweating (believe me, if I am swinging away with a chopper, I am sweating). Perhaps Jerry needs to update the page with some factoids about G10 since he is putting a lot of stuff out with it these days.
 
mark, good reading. thanks

Progunner, so you think the G10 is too slick? the option to order the Magnum Black Canvas was an option, but i figured that because it was cheaper, it wasn't as good... i can change my order still, so should I. do you have close up pics of both?
thanks

*edit* i forgot i ordered the OD Magnum G10 handle w/ the Black blade. therefore i'm stuck w/ it... i like the OD w/ black. if they have an OD Canvas handle, i'm in but i didn't see one :(
 
the canvas micarta is grippier because it is porous. pourous. porice. IT HAS PORES. and it is semi absorbant.


the g10 tends to be not as grippy. it is like a very hard plastic, but its fiberglass.


did i help.?
 
Both Micarta and G-10 are composite materials which are materials made with fibers, often woven in a cloth, embedded in a matrix. (The fibers or pieces of cloth can be layered with the fibers/ cloth layer fibers oriented to maximize the strength of the finished piece for the anticipated load directions and points of application or simply layered to give the desired thickness for the finished piece.) For Micarta, the fibers used are cotton canvas, linen cloth or paper and the matrix is a material known as phenolic resin. For G-10, the fibers are fiberglass and the matrix is epoxy resin.
A comparison of the two handle materials leaves me with the personal preference for canvas micarta as a rougher, "grippier" material, suitable for actual use in a wide variety of conditions. The smoother surface of linen & paper micarta, and G-10, while initially more appealing in appearance, can be compensated for by milling in a more roughly textured handle surface which can be further enhanced by the swells and troughs of the magnum style handle, as was done with the recent Ganzaaa Hell Razors. Otherwise, a (para) cord wrap can give sufficient grip to a too smooth surface on a blade handle.
In a nutshell, canvas = grippy, all others = pretty. Pete
 
pazzo said:
mark, good reading. thanks

Progunner, so you think the G10 is too slick? the option to order the Magnum Black Canvas was an option, but i figured that because it was cheaper, it wasn't as good... i can change my order still, so should I. do you have close up pics of both?
thanks

*edit* i forgot i ordered the OD Magnum G10 handle w/ the Black blade. therefore i'm stuck w/ it... i like the OD w/ black. if they have an OD Canvas handle, i'm in but i didn't see one :(
Click to expand...

Hi, pazzo! Welcome to the world of Busse! It can be a bit confusing at first. :D

The G10 does feel a bit more slippery to me, but I think the way bigger knives (FBMs and FSHs) are configured, they won't tend to slip from your hand when chopping. So I believe the G10 can make chopping easier on your hand if not wearing gloves.

I also prefer the grippier feel of Canvas Micarta on most of my knives, although it depends a lot on how the pattern is cut into the surface. And just because micarta is a little cheaper doesn't make it second rate. It's some seriously tough stuff. :thumbup:
 
All good info here. :thumbup:

As for preference...

Canvas & linen micarta for users...
I prefer canvas to be smooth or hand shaped and linen to be patterned.
The hand shaped canvas is grippy enough without being too rough on the bare hands...
and on the linen, the pattern gives the grippyness (sp?),
as the linen is a much finer weave and fiber in the cloth.

As for G-10 and paper micarta... well... they have a great look to them,
just not my preference for users.


.
 
pasayre153, great explanation. Greg, M67 and the Foo, thanks as well ;)

so to sum it up, what do i do? i really love the black blade/ magnum olive drab handle look (which i ordered), and nothing else (like the OD canvas) is offered this time around...?
 
pazzo said:
so to sum it up, what do i do? i really love the black blade/ magnum olive drab handle look (which i ordered), and nothing else (like the OD canvas) is offered this time around...?
Click to expand...

No. If you want an OD handle, you have to go with G10. You could go the other direction, OD blade with black canvas micarta handles.

Rick
 
G-10 is fine for me, the CNC cut handles generate more than enough grip.

I also have a couple "hand shaped" G-10 (including an ASH-1) which are less secure but still 100% usable.

If G-10 didn't work, Jerry wouldn't use it no matter how pretty it is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top