Thoughts on the new 'tan' canvas micarta

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Sep 24, 2011
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I just received my new Jackmandu and Custom Shop Rodent 6, along with a 'new to me' Rodent Solution, all with tan canvas micarta handles. I ordered that colour on the JMD and R6 based on previous purchases of tan canvas on my TGLB, SOB and RMD which pretty much matches what's on the Rodent Solution.

Swamp_Rat_trio.jpg


Clearly they are nothing even close to what I was expecting. I get that there's going to be subtle variations between batches of micarta, or even if it has to be sourced from a new supplier, but this is such a drastic difference that I'm not sure it even qualifies as 'tan' anymore. There's even a significant difference between the R6 and JMD, which would have rolled off the production line within a week or so of each other.

Tan_canvas_samples.jpg


What do folks think? Love it? Loathe it? Don't care? Just interested.
 
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I like them all but it's weird that they're so different if they were sold as the same "tan canvas micarta"
 
I like em both! :thumbup:

The darker, newer iteration seems to showcase the handle pattern better to my eye...so I actually prefer the darker a bit, I suppose :)

The color of the handle would be largely dependent on the color of the canvas cloth that the handle maker sourced...so it's understandable that there is variation in batch colors.

But you're right, there's such a large difference in those two batches of "tan" they could almost be termed different colors...

You've probably also noticed the variations in the density / weave of the fibers of the canvas cloth from handle batch to handle batch...but as I earlier said: "Viva la difference!"
 
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Try some carb cleaner or starting fluid to clean the factory oil off and see how they look dry. ;)
 
I'm a big canvas fan and it's on all my users. Since we don't have a lot of canvas color options I like the variations in color in both the tan and black.

My favorite part is seeing what color the canvas becomes after use.
 
My RS in tan looks nothing like yours, in either shade or texture. And to an extent I agree that variety is the spice of life, I don't like having essentially zero idea what color I'm going to end up with.

Nevermind ballpark, those three examples aren't even playing the same sport.
 
The variations can be annoying since they are all "tan" but the knives look great to me regardless of variation, enjoy em! :)
 
I've seen many pictures of Busse's tan canvas that look like this so it isn't surprising to me. All of the recent photos of tan canvas that I have seen look orange and I am not a fan of orange canvas, which is why I always order black canvas, which looks like a nice neutral gray when it's cleaned. I agree that I have seen variation of color, but that is why I always avoided the tan/orange canvas from the beginning.
 
I think I like both, but it'd be good to know which you'd be getting for blade coating color matching.

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Looks quite nice to me :)

I have an R9 with tan handles and they're almost chocolate on colour. Very cool!!!

I love how the colours vary from batch to batch. Makes your knife that little bit more 'yours'.
 
Try some carb cleaner or starting fluid to clean the factory oil off and see how they look dry. ;)

And if he doesn't have that, I've found that dish soap on a scrubby sponge with some warm water works very well. :D
 
I did a thread on this very thing many many years ago.

Like most have said the batches vary and it adds to the uniqueness of your knife.

Very cool looking blades :)

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p.s.

The carb cleaner will get the oils out as will the dish soap.
But in my experience they are different colors, I still have all 3 of the TG's in the pics and the colors are different.
Some depends on how the micarta was cut out of the block, the way it is layered during the making and so on.
some tan canvas is more orange, some more dark brown, the canvas part is a semi natural material and it will vary.

Much like wood or Leather :)

My battle saw black canvas is awesome and very unique to any Busse black canvas I have gotten over the years, for a minute I thought "woo hoo it will all be this way" but the next knife was the same as it has been. And that is just fine :)

With all that said you can try the carb cleaner and the soap and water (try hot water) but I am pretty sure the difference will still be there.

p.p.s.

All of the TG's were freshly scrubbed before the pic, look at the dryness in the tube fastener holes and I remember scrubbing them ;)
 
not a fan personally...unless it happens to be dark in color like the knife on the left in Davids pic (above)
 
I'm not sure what I think. Most of these posts I read and say to myself "that's true".

I could see it creating a problem if you are very particular and know exactly what you want as the variation is a bit extreme.

That being said, if any of these issues contribute to us not getting tigerhide, snakeskin, or the like, then any negativity should be disregarded and those disbatched with extreme prejudice.

It it would mean a lot if we could get a snakeskin or the like as an option.
 
I remember the first black canvass I got, and I was like, "WTH is this green stuff?!?" But a little sweat and a little dirt and it worked out fine.
 
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