What is your favorite handle material right now?

[armytxn]

G10 question : Can a thick enough slap suffice as a handle scale without flexing if it does not have any form of steel or ti liner ?

Yes, G10 can be used as a handle scale. Strider knives use G10 as a handle scale for their folders without the use of liners. I have owned several folders from Strider and have used them generously; at no time did I feel the G10 was weak or felt any flexing whatsoev.

 

[AF]

For woods I like snakewood, desert ironwood, ziricote, african blackwood and katalox. I also like burgundy micarta.

 

[22-rimfire]

G10 on most things and jigged bone on traditionals.

 

[nick21]

Probably G10.

G10 question : Can a thick enough slap suffice as a handle scale without flexing if it does not have any form of steel or ti liner ?

I'm not a huge fan of theirs, but Cold Steel has been doing this for a few years with their Recon and American Lawman lineup. Probably a few others that I'm forgetting, too.

I own a Lawman, and can vouch for the rigidity of the g10.

 

[T.K.C.]

I love Ti., G-10 & CF. Titanium is my favorite. I also very much like Mokuti, and Timascus.

 

[GB940Rookie]

G10 followed by Micarta followed by CF

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Sure seems like a carbon fiber is really taking off again based on the new knives I see coming out with it. My favorite personally is still G10. What handle material is currently your favorite?

I prefer comfort over flash. FRN for folders and Kray-Ex or the like for fixed blades. They tend to be cheaper than the alternatives and are more comfortable to use. My knives get used pretty hard most of the time, so It's difficult for me to spend the extra money on a prettier material when the knife is just going to get scratched up and beat on anyway.

I do have a couple that are what you'd call "light duty" knives. Or what some may call gentleman's folders, though I always think of a single blade tradition for a gents knife. For these knives I like a metal handle. Aluminum or Ti. Stainless is too heavy. Paired with a sleek design you get a nice, svelte knife. Like the Aluminum Kershaw Leeks or an Urban Trapper. I really wish I could find some Ti handles for a Benchmade 531 to fill this same role.

 

[nick21]

Carbon fiber's pleasant to the touch, in my experience. I'm not entirely convinced of its toughness though.

 

[opus]

i've always been fond of titanium for the solid stuff and cocobolo for scales.

 

[Ace Krampus]

Generally speaking, FRN and Ebony.

 

[Derzelas]

Wood for fixed blades.

 

[ATJ999]

Micarta, stabalized wood, wood, G-10, carbon fiber. depends on the knife. Micarta and G-10 for hard use.

 

[Mannlicher]

I am very partial to Bocote wood.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

In order from most liked to least, but still a list of favourites;

Titanium
Carbon fiber
Canvas Micarta (polished or not)
G10

Combinations would score higher; I'd prefer some interesting combination of micarta and CF instead of handles made of only plain titanium for instance.

 

[Officer's Match]

1. Titanium
2. Duralumin

 

[bdmicarta]

G10 on folders.
Canvas micarta on rough used fixed blades, linen micarta on nicer fixed blades, ironwood or various burls on real nice fixed blades.

I don't mind CF, I just don't see the advantages over G10.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

Has anyone come across some carbon fiber that seems 'drier' like it has less resin in it which also seems to make it less durable?

I would probably get more answers asking makers rather than users but this thread seems like an opportunity to ask.

I have a knife that I recently started using and it looks a bit different and a short knee high fall took a chunk out of it. I have other knives including one that I have carried every single day for about 5 years now that has been dropped many times and beat on and has seemed incredibly durable and looks near new. Just wondering if I got really unlucky, or maybe really lucky, or if there is a difference in the material? I know some CF is bagged and a vacuum pulled to pull excess resin out and make it as light weight as possible and wondering if this could be the case?

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated!

To answer the question, my favorite has been 3D milled/contoured CF. At least until this incident happened where such a small fall resulted in that much damage. Still gives me a sick feeling in my stomach and almost don't want to look at the knife because I'm reminded of the imperfection (which in all honesty isn't too bad).

 

[HappyDaddy]

No general preference. It's just one consideration in the overall evaluation of the knife.

 

[Wowbagger]

These handles mostly for the shape but I also like the KrayEx material. It may not be the most durable stuff but I have had zero issues. Probably not something that is going to look great passed down through the generations.

In fact I like it so much I put it on a Boker Urban Trapper just so I could have a folder with this handle material / shape. I'm very pleased. The second knife from the right and second knife from the top respectively.






I also have a real THING for titanium. I don't have much of it. I like about anything if it is made out of titanium.

By the way the Urban Trapper in the photo above has a titanium frame / liners.

 

[Ian80]

They're all so cool. I really like a new linen micarta scale I got for one of my XM-18's!