Transparent or clear folding knife handles: Yea or nea?

oregon

oregon

Joined
Jan 12, 2005
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These three lockback folders have clear scales, made of scrap bulletproof glass in this instance, and I wondered if you thought that transparency was useful or not so much (metal parts are from recycled Buck 110 Hunters from 1988 & 1989). Thank you for looking and for your opinion.

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I can't really see a use for it besides looks but I have always liked see through stuff.
 
Although they look nice now you will be surprised just how junky they become once you can see all the pocket junk inside the scales.
Been there before
Richard
 
rycen said:
I can't really see a use for it besides looks but I have always liked see through stuff.
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I like to see what is usually hidden myself. For example, I prefer the utilitarian interior of a diesel submarine (where the machines/systems/structures are obvious vs the decorated interior of a modern jet liner where you can see none of those things.

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How easily does that material scuff and scratch? Clear stuff looks great new but it does not age well in my opinion. When you have a clear material the idea is to be able to see through it and that can only get worse if you use it. Unless there is a desirable plexiglass patina I'm not aware of =p These seem like the type of knives you'd want to keep pristine.

As far as "utility" I don't know. I guess on the off chance something goes wrong with the internals you could see the problem without having to take it apart? But prior to that you'd be stuck with a scratchy, scuffy looking mess. This is all a long way of saying I think the utility factor is negligible.

Edit:
I suppose I can see some utility for something with more complicated internals (i.e. not a basic folding knife)
 
Tinbasher said:
Although they look nice now you will be surprised just how junky they become once you can see all the pocket junk inside the scales.
Been there before
Richard
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Yup. Dirt, dust, sweat, blood, lint and stuff always seems to get into where you don't want it. I use compress air in the can indoors and from a compressor in the garage to clean things with hard to reach places. I'm not gonna put any oil or other lubricants on these as they don't need it so maybe they won't attract the usual amount of filth into the mechanism/insides.

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Appletz said:
How easily does that material scuff and scratch? Clear stuff looks great new but it does not age well in my opinion. When you have a clear material the idea is to be able to see through it and that can only get worse if you use it. Unless there is a desirable plexiglass patina I'm not aware of =p These seem like the type of knives you'd want to keep pristine.

As far as "utility" I don't know. I guess on the off chance something goes wrong with the internals you could see the problem without having to take it apart? But prior to that you'd be stuck with a scratchy, scuffy looking mess. This is all a long way of saying I think the utility factor is negligible.

Edit:
I suppose I can see some utility for something with more complicated internals (i.e. not a basic folding knife)
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I can't predict the future looks of this material because I have no experience with it. Has anyone handled/used bulletproof glass to the point that they can explain how it reacts to wear and tear? I sure don't know. Time may tell but you see these as useful, as I do, as show pieces at least. Keep em safe, keep them clean and put them on display.

The two finger grooved knives were made as hard-use knives. The non-finger groove one as illustrative of the iconic Buck backlock/110.
 
They look beautiful, especially the three in the top picture, but I'd be concerned about scratches and dings from pocket-carry.
 
Didn't think they would look good...but, I was wrong. Just like anything else I still prefer black but clear is nice looking too.
 
Do not care for the transparent effect... it's kind of like wearing a t-shirt that shows real time cross section picture of your visceral mass...

But the fact they're bullet proof glass is cool enough.
 
those look great! :thumbup:

im a gear head and i enjoy seeing mechanical parts. depending on the price, i would buy one of those. are you selling any?
 
"bulletproof glass" is polycarbonate resin. It is used for everything from safety glass to drinking cups. It will scratch from use and will probably look beat-up and worn over time.

I like how they look right now, but I don't think it would age very well after riding in your pockets and regular use.
 
Useful? Perhaps, it's nice if you need to know when to clean it or if you have some gunk stuck in the handles.
Cool? Definitely.

I would go for something partially transparent. Perhaps a fogged version of the handles so you can have some texture, plus it would mask wear marks better than something as fully transparent as glass.
 
CWL said:
It will scratch from use and will probably look beat-up and worn over time.

I like how they look right now, but I don't think it would age very well after riding in your pockets and regular use.
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i wouldn't mind polishing the plastic every now and then.
 
Noctis3880 said:
I would go for something partially transparent. Perhaps a fogged version of the handles so you can have some texture, plus it would mask wear marks better than something as fully transparent as glass.
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you could sand or frost the inner side of the plastic.
 
if you frost the inside of the handle it will look frosted and glossy and you could always polish scratches from the outside, while the frosted side stays untouched. if you want the outside frosted, i would frost both sides so no matter what, both sides are frosted.
 
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