What is your favorite handle material for a working knife and why?

S

Sid Post

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My primary interest lies in G-10, Micarta, and Carbon Fiber. The production companies seem to overwhelming favor G-10 (besides the various plastics). Micarta seems pretty common on fixed blades as well. Both have worked well for me but, I seem to be drawn to blasted Micarta because of the feel it has in hand. The one I have little experience with is Carbon Fiber. How does it compare?

My interest lies in both folders and fixed blades. Does your favorite material change from one to the other because of things like car keys in a pocket vs. a Kydex or leather belt sheath?

Stay Sharp,
Sid
 
Sid,
I find the blasted linen Micarta has a nice look to it and provides good grip. I have been using more G10 lately in several colors and adding contrasting spacer material between the G10 and the tangs. I mentioned in another post that this adds a little pizazz the the bead blast and black G10 look!
Carbon fiber is my favorite as far as looks. Living in Florida I find broken CF airboat props. Some of the material they use to make the propellers is much WILDER looking than the standard CF from the knife suppliers. The only drawback is that in order to reveal the beauty of the CF it needs a fine finish, not providing much grip. CF is hell on checkering tools too! I milled some small grooves in the CF handled knives I made a few weeks ago and they felt somewhat grippy in the hand
smile.gif

Neil

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I prefer linen or canvas micarta for it's grip when bead blasted or grooved. I don't like it when it has been buffed.
G-10 does not grip as well when wet.

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If a man can keep alert and imaginative, an error is a possibility, a chance at something new; to him, wandering and wondering are a part of the same process. He is most mistaken, most in error, whenever he quits exploring.

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What's wrong with Kraton and Zytel?
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Seems perfect for a low-cost working knife. Next Generation Ka-Bar has a real comfortable Kraton grip. For folders G-10, Carbon Fiber, Micarta is great, but these materials generally require the knife handle to be relatively flat, which in my opinion is not too good unless you really want a thin knife. It's okay for folders because folders need to be put in pockets, waistbands, etc. I like how the Ka-bar's oval shaped kraton handles feel.
 
I agree Comrade!!! I love Kraton, it's totally functional and tactical. I wonder how it will stand the test of time though, and for high dollar knives that's important to some people, maybe! But not me, I just use knives!
 
With the "rubber" grips of knives like Cold Steel, durability is an issue. While I don't soak knives in diesel or deet, the more common rubber materials used on ~$100 knives doesn't last. Granted on a cheap knife, like a BIC lighter, you can throw it away when it runs out of gas (or rubber).

When you move up to > $200 knives, this throw away approach is not acceptable (at least to me
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).

With regards to G-10 being slippery when wet, isn't that a function of how it is sanded/manufactured to fit the knife? Benchmade is the most graphic example I have at hand. Some of the AFCK's come out pretty smooth, while others are "rougher".

Stay Sharp,
Sid
 
I like the G-10 Spyderco uses on the Wegner and Harpy. Very grippy. I have a small fixed blade on order using green/black G-10. I'm anxious to see how it looks. The polished micarta just looks so much better than the bead blasted version (IMO) that I'd rather have it scored if grippability is an issue.

Jack

Oh yeah, all the CF I've handled has been really slick. Can't say I care much for the look anyway.

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Two degrees in be-bop, a Ph.D in swing, he's a master of rhythm, he's a rock and roll king.

[This message has been edited by donovan (edited 01-02-2000).]
 
G-10 can be finish in many ways. I like the way it looks polished in the kershaw tasks series but I love the way the BF Native feels grippy in the hands. My Spydie rookie g-10 is smoother so is the g-10 on my BM CQC7, AFCK and Stryker. Micarta still have a decent grip when polish and it looks classy. Carbon Fiber looks really nice polish but too smooth to be a utility knife.

Liong

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Micarta is cool, except sometimes it's too slippery. Depends on the finish...

Kraton handles tend to get real sticky when wet, and leave some sort of black goo on your hands when you apply a lot of pressure.

Zytel seems so plasticky...but I've never had any problems with them.

G-10...again, depends on the finish. The handles on my Nealy Pesh Kabz are G-10, but Bud textured them or something because they are really grippy, more so than my BM Emerson.

Exotic woods and bone...never had any experience with any...how about someone else??
 
I really like bead-blasted canvas Micarta.

I remember Kit Carson saying that when he tested G-10 v Micarta for his U-2, he and others found the Micarta to be much preferable.

Now that I have found that there is only surface wicking in Micarta, I will have it on all my knives.

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"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
Well I guess I will be the voice of contridiction here I like Stag ,Sheep Horn,
and Mother Of Pearl ,they ain't too tacticle
but they are My Favorite because they are Pure and Natural for more utility I like Wood cocobolo ,bocote , and ironwood

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TbarK Custom Knives
I am Opposed to Millionair's but it would be Dangerous to Offer Me The Job,Mark Twain
 
I agree with tbark. What happened to natural products. I make a sheep horn handled , fixed blade. If you use sheep horn right you just can't beat it! It doesn't get slippery when wet, blood or other. It can be specially made to fit your right or left hand, and drying out rarely occurs if you just oil it once in a while. Or if you use it daily the oils from your hand are all it needs. As for lasting, I can assure you that, you can pass this one down to your grandchildren. My opinion is that a working knife does not have to be tactical, designed, it does not have to be black and stealthy, it simply has to work good, feel good and personaly I like it to look good! I also like to work with other natural products,Ironwood, snakewood and ivory. Audra Draper
 
To throw another material in this game I suggest wood. My recent buys have been in G-10, micarta and kraton sector but when I use a knife seriously (for more than a couple of cuts) I take a puukko. Best ones have wood or leather (some with brich bark but I don't have any) handles. My favorite handles are of curly birch that has been worked with (my guess) 120-200 grit sandpaper and then waxed lightly with beeswax. It gives good grip and is comfortable. It doesn't feel cold while using a knife in cold weather with bare hands. Bad side is that this kind of handle gets dirty faster than other handle materials.
I'm ordering a Randall #5 or #3 (hard decision) with stag handles but it'll take almost two years
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to know if I like it more.

My favorite synthetic material is micarta. Decent grip and excellent looks.

[This message has been edited by Tommi (edited 01-04-2000).]
 
I also have to agree with tbark & say I like natural materials on knives, Stag especially. G-10 & micarta have their place, but many natural materials have more of a comfortable feel to the touch. Some of them,such as Ironwood, are as durable as manmade material. Just M.H.O.
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[This message has been edited by Hart (edited 01-04-2000).]
 
I was surprised but pleased to see someone favoring wood. For a real working knife(not a sharpened crowbar)a hardwood such as maple, or oak is dandy, not too slick, keep putting a coat of paste wax on it a couple of times a year. It will get dirty, darken, aquire a patina(it is NOT dirt; it's PATINA)
 
You want tactical? How about silk or nylon tsuka-ito sealed with resin or epoxy. Non-slip, impervious to the weather, and down right wicked-looking!

-Redleg out.

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"Blessed is the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle..." excerpted from Psalms 144.
 
I just finished Loveless and Charney's book, "How to Make Knives", and i'd have to agree with them that the best materials are the synthetics- especially Micarta and G-10. Stag, ivory, etc. look great, but they definitely have a short working life when compared to Micara, which has none! I think that materials that are as tough and as long lasting as Micarta have a special beauty of their own. I also like Dymondwood, but that is a synthetic itself!

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"Come What May..."
 
I go for the naturals: wood, antler and leather. My favorite handle would be a combination of leather and one of the other materials. These may not be the most durable materials but they are my favorites.

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Travis Autry
My knives are just like rabbits---they keep multiplying!!
 
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