What does G10 handles feel like ?

J

JDMiller

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Jul 3, 2015
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What does G10 scales feel like compared to canvas migarta?

Is it non pores , feel more like hard plastic, not as grippy as micarta ? Or what?

I imagine it as fiberglass .
 
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I would attempt to describe them as being a mix between hard brittle toy cap gun plastic and HDPE. If you have felt HDPE, then you probably have felt G10 since that is more common than thick slabs of HDPE.

HDPE= high density polyethylene, it is the stuff that they make laundry detergent bottles from.
When melted solid, it turns Really slick, but can be textured and is near impervious to just about anything shy of acids and High heat, like 275°+ high.
 
Wow, G10 is like "hard brittle toy cap gun plastic and high density polyethylene"

Doesnt sound too good


.
 
Not really, it would be a cross between them.

Very tough, doesn't stain, chip or ding easily, doesn't hold onto odors, can be sanitized.

But when buffed it can feel similar texturally.
 
G10 feels denser than Micarta, since (disclaimer: my knowledge is not complete, not by a longshot) G10 is glass fiber/epoxy resin, whereas Micarta is a mix of resin and layers of some other material (canvas, linen or paper being the most common). G10 is pretty grippy, IMO. I have an ESEE Junglas w/ G10 scales and I love that thing. Texture from G10 comes from the machining or molding of it, whereas the texture of Micarta, while it can come from the machining process, usually comes from the exposed fabric layers. The discussion of "grippiness" has caused a few laughs (and a banning or two, lol) here, but you can't go wrong with either material if the handle design is good to begin with. Which brings me to this: I like canvas Micarta, I like G10....but I also like wood and I like the standard Becker Grivory. Probably I like Grivory the best - 'cause it comes on some of the best handle designs in the business, and there's no cost to upgrade. Would I have Micarta or g10 on all my knives? Sure.....if they were free.

One last thing I did just think of: VERY important difference between G10 and Micarta, especially canvas Micarta - G10 will not absorb water or oils from your skin, whereas canvas Micarta (at least the stock Ka-Bar stuff) most definitely will. I don't know if I can describe the feel of them, since it is a bit subjective. Best bet is try them out yourself if you have a local knife shop.
 
Go to the local sporting goods store and ask to feel a Tenacious or other spyderco. most are textured G10
 
Which G10 handles are you guys discussing? G10 in general, or an aftermarket I don't know about? I thought most of the afters were Micarta?
 
The g10 I have on a few of my knives, believe it or not, actually feel a little like stone to me. The set on my 5 and on my 14 anyway. Not so much the ones on my 17. Micarta feels more 'organic' to me as well. But it will mark, as in colouration. I was watching the tele eating some chips one afternoon and decided to fondle my ESEE6. Was pretty engrossed in the show and wasn't really paying attention to the knife (apart from subconsciously trying to not accidentally stab my wife in her knees) then, during an ad break, I decided to ogle it a little. Lo and behold there's friggin oil marks on the scales. Butthole.
 
The g10 VZ grips from kabar are what I'll refer to, as they make sense here, and are quite different to other g10.

The VZ's are smooth except for the textured patch in the middle. The smooth parts are nearly indistinguishable from other high density polymers, not too dissimilar to the stock nylon. The textured part is just that- the same material, carved into a very, very aggressive grip, only to be used on knives whose handles don't move in hand during normal use.

If you're talking textured g10, like a spyderco (and I assume the tkc's, though maybe they're smooth?), then the feel isn't too dissimilar to, say, nylon that you'd taken some coarse sandpaper to. Hard to describe, I suppose.

But yeah, it's essentially just strong, hard, dense plastic, and all depends on the texture of the specific grip you're looking at.
 
Have you felt a Corian counter top?

That is a reasonable approximation in density, though Corian can get smoother polished (afaik) and can chip easier.
 
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