"Squishy" Knife Handles

Pritch

Pritch

Joined
May 3, 2006
Messages
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I'm curious what everybody thinks of the "squishy" handle treatment like on the old Gerber BMF/LMF? I've owned both and always liked how they felt in my hand. Are there other survival or hunting bladesknives that have similar grips.

I guess the downsides would be durability of the foam material and/or absorbing smells and blood and such.
 
I don't have a lot of experience with them. I carried a SOG NW ranger back in my teens that had a rubber handle. I liked it, however it ripped. I coved it with a small bike tire tube and gave it to my Brother who still has it and carries it to this day (along with a Frosts Clipper I gave him) As far as foam, I could see it being a problem when, or if you used it for skinning. Not the grip necessarily, but with bacteria growing in the pores.
 
Never used a *squishy* handled knife, but do like the feel of the handle on the Mora 2000. Very ergonomic and sticky in the hand.
 
I've had a few knives that had rubber molded handles. The material on the older LMF/BMFs was more like the foam tape on an aluminum baseball bat or some tennis racquets.
 
I have a CS Master Hunter with the Kraton handle; also a Frosts Clipper. I wouldn't call either one of them "squishy", they do have a rubber grip with a solid and positive non-slip feel.
 
I have had a Gerber BMF for about 10 years. I believe the handle is made out of neoprene, if I remember correctly, but it's unlike any neoprene I've ever seen.

Personally I like it a lot. I find I can cut all day with it without a problem and it's relatively durable. I think I'm missing a small chunk out of it and that's it. Not bad for all of the abuse it's survived!
 
I remember one forum member leaving his bloody Kabar with Kraton rubber handles in a tool shed over night. The next morning it was much chewed over. One Kraton handle I find objections to is the Kershaw Antelope Hunter. The grooves are way too deep and gather crud.
 
Hmmm... soft grips... now what do I... OH YEAH!




That particular flier ony illustrates five of the series. There were actually seven, and three folding lockblades. I have the whole set in a mint display, plus another set of users. They indeed are good users with good ergonomic design. Grippy when cold or wet.

From the Schrade catalog: “Old Timer Safe-T-Grip, designed by outdoorsmen, for outdoorsmen, offer the most efficient locking, skinning, and fillet blade styles with ergonomically correct “Safe-T-Grip” handles. All blades are constructed from Schrade+ Stainless Steel. All fixed blade models are “full tang” construction for superior strength. The textured handles are crafted from non-slip TPR (thermoplastic rubber) which allows a sure grip in any weather condition. The Safe-T-Grip lockblades offer some of today’s most asked for features including one hand opening and closing for righties and lefties! All Old Timer Safe-T-Grip knives are proudly made in the U.S.A. and feature a limited lifetime warranty.”
What is TPR? From Engineering News -- Design News trade magazine:

After scouring the market for material that offered processibility, quality, appearance, and durability, the companies settled on thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). The winning material: the DYNAFLEX© line of KRATON©-based TPEs supplied by GLS Corp. The material, according to Mike Funk, CPC president, adapts readily to the company's multi-shot (two material) molding machines.

147OT Pro Fisherman - The 147OT Pro Fisherman listed for $29.95. It had a 12 5/8" overall length and weighed 4.5 ounces. The blade was a flat ground 7 5/8" Schrade+ stainless fillet. The standard green molded TPR handle was the same component used on the 141OT. The sheath for this pattern was 11 5/8" long overall. The tangstamp was SCHRADE+ over U.S.A. 147OT. It was produced a total of twelve years. This pattern is one which may be found with the black handles and 147OTB designation. It was also sold in a clampack as the 147OTCP, and was used for several SFOs (Special Factory Orders), including Ducks Unlimited, NWTF, RMEF, and I am sure several others, both in sets with other Safe-T-Grip patterns, and individually.

More than you wanted to know, probably, but there it is!

Codger
 
Codger-
Have you noted any edge chipping issues with those green handled Schrades? We had two of them break last year while skinning deer- just slicing skin. The fillet blade broke clean in half, and the "Outfitter" blade lost a huge chunk out of the primary grind and cracked nearly in half. They were more brittle than glass.
 
As well as a couple of Cdger's Shhrades there, I also have a Buck mordel 620 (I think) which is a Fraton Handled General Model. It's probably been in the back county more than any other knife I own.

I also have the 602 (Kraton Handled Woodsman) that is used all the time in my kitchen.

Kraton good!

Clint Hollingworth
The Wandering Ones webcomic
http://www.wanderingones.com
 
the possum said:
Codger-
Have you noted any edge chipping issues with those green handled Schrades? We had two of them break last year while skinning deer- just slicing skin. The fillet blade broke clean in half, and the "Outfitter" blade lost a huge chunk out of the primary grind and cracked nearly in half. They were more brittle than glass.
Click to expand...

My son-in-law just broke a fillet knife dressing a buck. Wrong tool for the job. The blade is meant to slice, not pry and scrape a tough skin like deer hide. The chip in an outfitter could have been a poorly tempered blade. They are also purposely ground thin near the edge for better cutting.

Here is a pile of factory returns from the Schrade closing. Each showed some sign of misuse as a whacker or prybar. But heck, they were and still are inexpensive.


And here is the one I usually use, or did for every deer last year as an experiment. I am back to my older Delrin and Carbon Old Timers this year.


The 140OT Trail Boss.

Now, understand that I gave less than $25 for almost all of these. An excellent value for the money.

Michael
 
Codger_64 said:
My son-in-law just broke a fillet knife dressing a buck. Wrong tool for the job. The blade is meant to slice, not pry and scrape a tough skin like deer hide. The chip in an outfitter could have been a poorly tempered blade. They are also purposely ground thin near the edge for better cutting.
Click to expand...

:confused:

There was no prying or scraping involved. I had used this knife for a year or two before, and the edge would get milimeter deep nicks just from slicing veggies on a cutting board. Both knives had serious heat treating problems- about the worst I've ever seen. I do not consider their edges to be very thin at all- I've used thinner edges far harder with no ill effects. Hope ya understand I'm only dumping on the knives here- not you or your opinions. But I would not consider them a good value at any price. I'm not surprised by the knives in your picture.
 
In the picture, only the knife on the left shows damage other than what indicates prying. I don't doubt you got a bad blade. Schrade would have sent a free replacement if they were still a going operation. Buck still will. I've used that Trail Boss for going on fourteen years and not broken the blade nor chipped it. It is the only one that I have that MSRP was paid for. It was a $40 Christmas gift from a friend. The fillet knife that broke I had used for well over a year in the kitchen cutting meats and vegetables, not to mention filleting huge catfish, with no damage. He should have grabbed my 165OT and Sharpfinger. I keep them sharp and where he can find them now.

Michael
 
I've got a Buck Diamondback Guide with a rubber handle, it really stays in the hand well. Great little knife for the price, too.
 
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