Transparent or clear folding knife handles: Yea or nea?

I like it, and I'm waiting for the new Spyderco Manix 2 with translucid blue handle
 
I like it! I agree that it'll get scratched up over time, but so do titanium scales, and that doesn't seem to bother a lot of folks. :)
 
They look cool. Is the material thick enough to sculpt like some of the 3G G10? Maybe some inside frosting, outside sculpting?
 
I vote "yea." :thumbup:

Stunning! I'd carry one for light EDC; perhaps in a soft pouch like the ones that come with some Benchmades. Even if the handles don't wear very well, I think they could look cool all scuffed and scratched. I'd be very interested in seeing some 'after' pics, if the OP chooses to carry one for a while.

But if these knives are destined for display only, the OP certainly scored full points on aesthetics. Very unique, very beautiful! Well done! :cool:
 
If these are made out of methyl methacrylate (Lucite), they will degrade in UV light and/or the dishwasher. They can also be affected by solvents, heat, and abrasive substances. Polycarbonate is even more sensitive to chemicals than Acrylics are. P/C has better impact resistance and is used for helmets. If the knives were mine, I would carry them in a sheath and avoid the adverse substances and circumstances mentioned above. They would make a great store display.
 
I carried these home from OKCA in the bags shown below, without issue:

04-16-2011bagsforclearfoldersBM001.jpg


Thank you for the kind words.
 
I guess it depends what "usefullness" you are looking for. In daily use, I don't see a use for it other than the cool factor, but is there really a "use" for the whole spectrum of colors that are available for handle scales on many knives? Personally I love seeing how things work, so this is pretty cool, and if you have kids or friends who are curious how a knife works, i.e. locking mechanism, this is a great way to teach them something. It really comes down to how well you like it. If you think it looks good, then use it, and heck with the minor scratches & wear.
 
I look at it this way: Say a non-knife person sees this clear-handled knife laying closed on the workbench with no other cutting tools available. They have some difficult cutting work to do right now. With the clear scales they have some idea of how much torq or effort they should apply to the cutting work given no locking folder is perfect. They can how the lock works. They can see if the lock is broken. Their eyes are more open to the risks involved with lock mechanisms with clear folders vs hidden-lock folders. Clear is better in this case IMHO.

Zog the Troll said:
I guess it depends what "usefullness" you are looking for. In daily use, I don't see a use for it other than the cool factor, but is there really a "use" for the whole spectrum of colors that are available for handle scales on many knives? Personally I love seeing how things work, so this is pretty cool, and if you have kids or friends who are curious how a knife works, i.e. locking mechanism, this is a great way to teach them something. It really comes down to how well you like it. If you think it looks good, then use it, and heck with the minor scratches & wear.
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Interesting, but impractical. Those handles will start to look 'ratty' after a week of use.
 
I do not think they are really useful but I'm pretty sure they are beautiful. The classic blade in a modernistic setting reallly works for me. I'm very much impressed. f you have one of the "non finger groove" specimens for sale please send me a PM.
 
Spoutz said:
just a question. are these glass or plexi/lucite material?
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Bulletproof glass is the scale material. I don't know the specific composition other than what I can take from results of googling. I would like to be more knowledgeable and appreciate any assistance offered here. My guess is that the ingredients of any bulletproof glass would be proprietary information of the manufacturer and not available in a particular case. I don't know who the manufacturer of the exact BP glass used for these handles is.

Link to some BP glass info: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/75576/bullet_proof_glass_chemistry_at_its.html
 
oregon said:
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 don't see anything useful about clear handles. I do not find them attractive, though I do find it interesting to look at the mechanism.
 
The technical title for bullet-proof glass is "polycarbonate". It's pretty indestructible and very scratch resistant. I've been playing around with it recently. I made this:

invisibleweb2.jpg
 
oregon said:
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.
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If your talkin''bout Polycarbonate than this link might answer some questions Click me for Polycarbonate info sheet
 
oregon said:
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.
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I have used bullet proof lexan extensively. I am assuming that is what you have there. Strong plastic stuff?

If it is actually glass then ignore me.

If it is bullet proof lexan, I have about 5 years experience using it. We used it at a factory I worked at where we made diamond cutter bits (for the oil and natural gas drilling industry).

If it is lexan, it will scratch pretty readily. It will take on a scuffed scratched dirty grey appearance. Not as quickly as where I worked (place was covered in silicone carbide grit, diamond grit and all kinds of scratchy stuff).

We used lexan in sheets to drill out and hold the parts to sand blast the cans off the parts (clean off the cans to expose the diamond layer).

Strength wise, it is resistant to high speed impact to an extend. You can dent it, cut it etc. It has some flex in longer pieces.
 
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