Stability of Zytel handles?

[culter]

I'm wondering about the stability of Zytel (or similar materials) handles. Has anybody ever broken one? How?
I have a Zytel handle on my BM Ascent. Ok, I can slightly bend it but otherwise it seems really solid. I can't think of anything that I would want to do with a knife which would break the handle.
So I'm wondering if better handle materials like eg G10 are necessary or just a nice bonus for the average user?

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Seek simplicity, and distrust it.
Whitehead, Alfred North (1861 - 1947)

 

[Ron Andersen]

Personally, I like "nicer" handles (G-10, Micarta, Titanium, etc.), but Zytel is an outstandingly strong material. I've seen knives where tramma befell the knife and the blade may be chipped, broken and/or marred, but the handle was relatively unscathed. I remember a SEAL Knife 2000 that was accidentally dropped about 100' while rock climbing. The blade was in three pieces and badly chipped up, but the handle (injection molded Zytel) was 95% intact. I was seriously impressed, to say the least. The handles will flex a bit on a folding knife depending on model and construction, but you have very little to worry about. It is a hard-use material. Most people don't like it because it either looks cheap, or that it is not top quality materials (which I can understand). Personally, I don't have data for you, but I would guess that G10 is not a marked improvement over Zytel in strength.

Ron

 

[Steve-O]

Both are plastic...a resin/matrix material, I think zytel has less 'matrix' Although these materials may be very practical and tough, they do not have as much "charactor" as stag horn, bone, or even just plain metal. Perhaps time will tell, these materials are very new.

Stag and bone wear in ways that identify them as old, used, they gain something with wear. Metal handles also can show the same marks of wear with long use.

In fifty years....who knows...but I would bet that a Case Canoe in bone...or my "gray turd" Sebenza would have better worth than any knife that was not protected by a case.

Things will NOT get better...

Steve

 

[Paul Work]

I've never broken a Zytel handle. In all probability the blade will give way first. I like Zytel for the cost factor, but I've fallen in love with titanium.

Paul

 

[Bugs3x]

My Gerber LST is approx. 15 yrs old. Zytel handle can be spiffed up to look nearly new. It's flexibility bothered me when I bought it. Newer knives have a bit less flexible variety, or all mated to liners. It's my guess that 50-100 years from now, when the worms have gotten to the natural products, that Zytel will be hanging in there just fine.

Am sure that all the years in pocket with change, nail clippers, etc., would have Ti handles looking like survivors of great war.

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Asi es la vida

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