The cr*ppy rubber handle thread - Post Yours!

T

ThePeacent

Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
5,648
Hello. I'd like to start a thread, rant or discussion about these horrible inventions: rubber handles.

20150704_153145_zpsjrwpon5j.jpg


I've just stripped off the rubber handle of my SOG Tsunami. After trimming four or five 1/2in. branches the guard came loose. The handle started to move and the knife rattled. Had to use my mora the rest of the backpacking trip.

20150704_153200_zpsrbrstoyg.jpg


After this, took some pics, and I got rid of this monstruosity. I decided to never again buy any other rubber, plasticky, sh*tty handle like this.
My SRK had the same problem. My Aitor from 1985 suffered this problem and had to have its rubber handle taken out as well. And I've suffered this in other two lower quality camping knives.

20150704_153253_zpsefyqezvx.jpg


So, does anybody have experiences like this to share? Pics, comments or tales about your knives' rubberish handles coming apart, burning, or failing somehow?
I'd like to know, and suffer with you my fellow knife nuts, what you think about rubber handles in general.

20150704_154433_zpsoocudi8a.jpg
:thumbdn:

Thanks!
 
Not sure why you decided to destroy the handle. You could have sent that Taiwan made Tsunami into SOG and they would have repaired/replaced it. While there are definitely reports of synthetic rubber handles (kraton, Thermorun, etc) coming loose over time, and even going soft and sticky, such incidents seem rare enough that all manufacturers have not abandoned their use. And this includes
some knives used in military roles. The Kraton handles on my SRK (bought 1990) and MH (bought 1994) are still perfectly fine.
While there are quite a number of folks who simply dislike these "rubber" handles, and many go so far as to have them rehandled if
for no other reason than aesthetics, the reality is that they are very tough, comfortable for use, need far less care than traditional handle materials, and are lighter than just about anything else for carry. I own far more wood and micarta handled fixed blades than "rubber" ones so I'm just being objective about it. So...what are you going to rehandle that Tsunami with? Or does "I got rid of this monstrosity" mean that you threw the knife away?
 
I know I might get lambasted for this but honestly, I can only say good things about the few rubber handled knives I own. Mostly My Gerber *gasp* Gator knives, one of the few quality models I think they still make. I know the combination of the two is probably very unpopular. But the handles are nice and grippy and wide, both of which are great for my large hands and long fingers. I guess they don't feel as nice as some others, and I'm not using one every day all day... but honestly, no real complaints here about rubber handles.
 
Are you sure that the guard came loose because of the rubber handle or do you think grinding the front of the guard off may have generated enough heat to loosen it?
 
PURPLEDC said:
Are you sure that the guard came loose because of the rubber handle or do you think grinding the front of the guard off may have generated enough heat to loosen it?
Click to expand...

I didn't notice that before, you talking about the way the edge of that guard looks? It's an interesting question for sure.
 
RedLynx said:
I didn't notice that before, you talking about the way the edge of that guard looks? It's an interesting question for sure.
Click to expand...

yeah, usually this knife has a second notch that appears to be missing. If you look up a picture of a tsunami the front part of the guard is about twice as long. And when you look at this guard it appears to have been crudely ground on. The guard also looks like it was a friction fit as I see no traces of solder leading me to believe its just pressed on and then the handle glued. If the guard expanded due to the heat from grinding I could see that being an issue.
 
Bailey Bradshaw MS, Competition Cutter. Forged CPM 3V.​
I've used it, others have used it, NO problems, great grip and it ain't coming off.

large.jpg

large.jpg

large.jpg


Doug
 
Last edited:
PURPLEDC said:
yeah, usually this knife has a second notch that appears to be missing. If you look up a picture of a tsunami the front part of the guard is about twice as long. And when you look at this guard it appears to have been crudely ground on. The guard also looks like it was a friction fit as I see no traces of solder leading me to believe its just pressed on and then the handle glued. If the guard expanded due to the heat from grinding I could see that being an issue.
Click to expand...

Very interesting, good catch. I'll be interested to hear more.

All in all do what you like with your knives, but it might be an issue later on if your DIY mods affect performance.
 
So far I've owned two rubber handled knives, a Scrapyard 711 and a Cold Steel Trailmaster, and I prefer it to any other handle material for choppers. Can't argue with the shock absorption and tackiness.
 
PURPLEDC said:
Are you sure that the guard came loose because of the rubber handle or do you think grinding the front of the guard off may have generated enough heat to loosen it?
Click to expand...

Good catch. I only have a Seki Tsunami without the protruding guard so missed that completely.
 
PURPLEDC said:
Are you sure that the guard came loose because of the rubber handle or do you think grinding the front of the guard off may have generated enough heat to loosen it?
Click to expand...

That was the first thing I noticed too. It is either heavily modified or seriously abused. Not surprising the guard came loose. Also, it seems the OP has had 4-5 knives with rubber handles fail. Something tells me it is not the handles that are the problem.

I have a bunch of well used rubber handled knives and have had zero problems. One is Almost 20 years old and spent 10 of those years as my primary camp knife.
 
The tad rubber handled Winkler in 3v might be the most comfortable handle I've ever held. What handle material was your Mora? My Mora also has a rubber handle.

It would be pretty ironic if you used a rubber handled Mora to finish your trip then started this thread on how rubber handles suck lol
 
My seki SOGs (tech I & tech II) krayton is great, and much nicer than the zytel on the seal series. The rubber on my Gerbers is okay as well. If you want a nearly indestructible handle the phenolic on the bucks would be hard to beat.
 
Last edited:
I've had a trail master with a kraton handle for 7 years and someone else owned it before me and used it in the military. Have you gotten any petroleum products on it? That will ruin kratons integrity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top