What is best handle material for hard use knife?

yoda4561 said:
The absolute best option as far as I'm concerned is Resiprene C. Previously used on Busse Basics and Swamprats and now only found on the Scrapyard series of knives. I don't know why it's not more popular. Super durable, impervious to almost all chemicals, absorbs shock from chopping, secure grip, the only downside is it's not "fancy".
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gotta vote for ResiC too ... my Scrapyard Scrapper6 and Dogfather have this handle...love the shock absorbancy and grippy texture :thumbup:
 
Micarta! or G-10. Personally I like the micarta it is lighter in weight, still grips the hand/skin when it is wet and just adds some life to the knife. G-10 is great stuff it is extremely hard, you really can't destory it but it is heavier, more smooth when wet and seems to add the utilitarian feel to the knife versus the lively micarta.
 
denverco said:
I'd say a paracord wrap. Not too fancy but theres no bolsters to loosen or break. No handle slabs to warp crack shatter etc. Paracord wrap can always be replaced for minimal cost.
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With this approach, you can say, that none handle material present at all is the best.
It won't crack, loosen, it is extremly lightweight :D, completly inert to anything and will always look the same :D

Actually when I think about it more, I think I'm probably going to start selling whole knives made of this "notpresentium" -> it is guaranteed that it will remain forever just the same as it was when you bought it :thumbup:
 
Topher said:

"Both G-10 and Micarta are made by almost the exact same process (in all honesty, you can think of G-10 as being a very specific kind of Micarta, made with glass fiber, instead of the linen, canvas, and paper used in traditional "micarta" (Carbon Fiber actually falls in the same subset, but using carbon fiber as it's fabric base))."

Thanks Topher, for a concise & very informative post, with extra points for the nested parens--you must be either a math or computer person.

Question for Resiprene C fans. Has anybody had a knife w/ it that has been used regularly over several years, and if so, how does it hold up? I think there is a case to be made for rubber handles, but of course the downside is, it's not going to wear like G-10 and the like, which is basically 'forever.'
 
It holds up very well, and the nice thing about Res C is that if you accidentally cut it, you can use a bic lighter to "weld" it back together, works great!
 
Micarta is grippier and more cushier than G10. G10 is hard and often relatively slippery. In order to G10 be grippy it needs to be very aggressively contoured. Strider has done a good job here. They have very good handles with G10. Contrary to common belief, they have have some very nice innovations for handles that are to be used with protective gloves.

Resiprene C is superior in comfort but not in grippiness (to micarta) in my opinion.
Grippiest and cushionest grips are polyurethane but they are not as durable as resiprene C.

Neither Resiprene C or polyurethane are pretty so you win no points in beauty contests.

Paracord is not good for a regular beating. It wears fast.
 
One difference is your use. Do you wear gloves or use the knife bare handed. If you wear gloves then aggressive G10 grips are best with micarta coming close second.

But overall micarta offers the best compromise in my opinion.
 
I've only had my Res-C for a year, but so far very good.
Pitdog uses his a lot, course he put para-chord over his (the pariah)
and I bet he'd say Maisy (his dog) told him to do it!
Maybe he'll chime in.
 
Res C for big knives ,G10 for small ones. I like skelly handles for EDC or concealed knives
because they are nice and slim. Stainless steel is nice as well on the slim spyderco folders.
550 cord has some advantages as well.

For wood hickory is incredibly durable ,up there with G10. It is not as nice looking as some woods but it's strength is 5 times that of it's closest competitor maple.
 
Unsub said:
Res C for big knives ,G10 for small ones. I like skelly handles for EDC or concealed knives
because they are nice and slim. Stainless steel is nice as well on the slim spyderco folders.
550 cord has some advantages as well.

For wood hickory is incredibly durable ,up there with G10. It is not as nice looking as some woods but it's strength is 5 times that of it's closest competitor maple.
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how on earth are you going to bend wood that is only 4-5 inches long. that kind of strength is far less important than hardness. Neither makes a good handle because unless stablized they have to have a finish and there are none that will stand up with use. osage orange is tougher than either but takes up blood, etc.
 
wutitiz said:
Thanks Topher, for a concise & very informative post, with extra points for the nested parens--you must be either a math or computer person.
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You are correct, Sir. ;-)

I am a computer guy, although I've dabbled in the math world a little bit at times (particularly back when I was playing at being a software engineer).
 
I still prefer wood...I know if not cared for properly that it can deteriorate much quicker than micarta or G10 or some of the other man-made materials, but I love it, even for hard-use...:D

Ray :)
 
Honestly, I have to give my agreement with you. I'm a big fan of micarta and G-10, but when it really comes down to it, I love wood for handles. It's just beautiful.

I just bought a new Graham Brothers Razel, which I've carried for the past few weeks as my new EDC, and I went for the Desert Ironwood handle scales. I find myself pulling out the knife just to admire the beauty of the handle rather frequently.

There's just something about nicely grained and well finished wood that can't be matched by any synthetics.
 
I'd say micarta. If you like wood, lignum vitae is very tough.
Scott
 
If you need to have a molded handle of some sort that is readily manufactured, go with linen/canvas micarta. That stuff is almost bullet proof and will not let you down. But, if you want a more utilitarian alternative, consider a custom leather washer handle for a more rugged look or the old Rambo-esque paracord on tang grip, which can be unwrapped or rewrapped whenever and wherever. I use the paracord wrap for my camping beaters and the leather washer one holds up well, if treated properly, in the blood and guts of a new deer kill on a hunter.
 
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