What Material Is A Buckarta Handle Made Of?

H

Herman

Joined
Mar 25, 2007
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13
Looking at a Buck that the insert says that the handle is made out of laminated layers of wood grain Buckarta, I see the same knife being sold with a few different types of wood handles, is Buckarta wood? It looks similar to the Rosewood handles.
 
I was always under the impression that these type of handles are very thin sheets of wood, glued and pressed together under extreme pressure to form a very solid block of wood. Of sorts. It can then be taken down, or whatever, if it's desired to show the lamination layers.

Quite similar to a laminated wood gunstock. Theory says it's very stable, won't warp from environmental changes, and looks nice if executed well. I've laminated stocks on a couple rifles that look nice. I'd guess on knife handles it gives you a very tough handle that's not going to shrink on you, or deform somehow. Maybe easier to form too? Dunno. Probably cheaper in bulk I suppose than decent solid slabs of wood since laminated can be made from thinner/smaller bits and pieces.

It's when they start getting into the purples, and other colors that I don't care for myself. I know I've seen some not too bad looking knives with some just horrible laminated handles.

Buck though tends to keep a traditional look, which I appreciate.

But then again my theory could be out to lunch too so I'm sure one of the more knowledgable guys will be along.
 
It is micarta. Open grain micarta. The 124 data sheets have it in them with the word Buckarta and next to this is the word micarta in parenthesis. DM
 
David Martin said:
It is micarta. Open grain micarta. The 124 data sheets have it in them with the word Buckarta and next to this is the word micarta in parenthesis. DM
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Thanks, looks exactly like wood, so is a knife that was also made with real wood handle versions worth less if the handle is Buckarta?
 
Before this morphs into another area, let me say this. Posting a photo would settle this mystery. Still, Pre-printed papers come with the knives which are bought a year or more in advance. These papers could say Buckarta and the handle material has changed to wood laminate. I say this because the Frontiersman had micarta "Buckarta" in 1980. Then in 1981 the handle material changed to wood laminate. The same occurred with the Kalinga. So, it's possible old papers were put in the box with a 1981 knife. Does this wording occur from a Buck printed paper or a ebay's sellers statement? DM
 
A Kalinga it is, and it's an older one. It's from the insert in the box, I'll try and post a pict. Hopefully you're right and the handles are Rosewood...
 
David is on track. But lets start out from the beginning. 'Buckcarta' is a Buck name for the material. You won't find it is a old knife makers supply catalog. Sometimes they throw out a name for stuff that later becomes the same name other makers use. This same thing applies to 'Stagalon' or in other words fake stag. Which I believe Camillus actually first used.

300
 
By wood-grained, I think they're referring to the fact that, when shaped by sanding, micarta reveals is layers of laminated canvas which appear very similar to wood grain. It's an effect I really love on my 500.
 
300Bucks said:
David is on track. But lets start out from the beginning. 'Buckcarta' is a Buck name for the material. You won't find it is a old knife makers supply catalog. Sometimes they throw out a name for stuff that later becomes the same name other makers use. This same thing applies to 'Stagalon' or in other words fake stag. Which I believe Camillus actually first used.

300
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VTer said:
By wood-grained, I think they're referring to the fact that, when shaped by sanding, micarta reveals is layers of laminated canvas which appear very similar to wood grain. It's an effect I really love on my 500.
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Kinda figured that by "carta" and the result if it is Buckarta, is beautiful. Just asking as far as collecting value goes. the Buckarta probably wears better but the wood may more desirable. If what DM said is true it may be wood.
 
I'm not sure if micarta handles are more desirable than wood laminate. As a collector, if you have the box and papers and the knife is in new (unsharpened ) condition to me that's worth more. Than just a earlier model with micarta handles, no box and no papers. Your 401 may have wood laminate handles. Still, the word Buckarta = micarta and your papers were merely printed earlier. Those sheets have numbers on them at the bottom. Please post those numbers and I'll give you more info.. DM
 
300Bucks said:
David is on track. But lets start out from the beginning. 'Buckcarta' is a Buck name for the material. You won't find it is a old knife makers supply catalog. Sometimes they throw out a name for stuff that later becomes the same name other makers use. This same thing applies to 'Stagalon' or in other words fake stag. Which I believe Camillus actually first used.

300
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VTer said:
By wood-grained, I think they're referring to the fact that, when shaped by sanding, micarta reveals is layers of laminated canvas which appear very similar to wood grain. It's an effect I really love on my 500.
Click to expand...

David Martin said:
I'm not sure if micarta handles are more desirable than wood laminate. As a collector, if you have the box and papers and the knife is in new (unsharpened ) condition to me that's worth more. Than just a earlier model with micarta handles, no box and no papers. Your 401 may have wood laminate handles. Still, the word Buckarta = micarta and your papers were merely printed earlier. Those sheets have numbers on them at the bottom. Please post those numbers and I'll give you more info.. DM
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No numbers on any of them. I have the "Classic Badge Of Authority" insert, a message from Al Buck insert and the registration card.
 
I've seen them without number as well. I was just hoping yours would have them. Ok, describe the box yours came in. Is it a hinged lid or the lift off lid. I'm really going the extra mile for you because we have no photo. DM
 
300Bucks said:
David is on track. But lets start out from the beginning. 'Buckcarta' is a Buck name for the material. You won't find it is a old knife makers supply catalog. Sometimes they throw out a name for stuff that later becomes the same name other makers use. This same thing applies to 'Stagalon' or in other words fake stag. Which I believe Camillus actually first used.

300
Click to expand...

VTer said:
By wood-grained, I think they're referring to the fact that, when shaped by sanding, micarta reveals is layers of laminated canvas which appear very similar to wood grain. It's an effect I really love on my 500.
Click to expand...

David Martin said:
I've seen them without number as well. I was just hoping yours would have them. Ok, describe the box yours came in. Is it a hinged lid or the lift off lid. I'm really going the extra mile for you because we have no photo. DM
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I'll try to post a photo tomorrow, thanks. (lift off lid)
 
The lift off lid falls after 1981 in the data sheets and describes the handle material as red birch (a laminate). Is your's red? Whereas the micarta is black. Can you describe the bottom portion of the guard. Is it pointed or somewhat angled and flat? Thanks, DM
 
You say you've seen the Kalinga offered with different types of wood handles. The Kalinga was only offered with 2 type handles, red birch, a wood laminate and black micarta. A custom maker David Yellowhorse did this knife in a special configuration using turquoise and shell in the handle. So, I haven't see these other woods. DM
 
David Martin said:
The Kalinga was only offered with 2 type handles, red birch, a wood laminate and black micarta.
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Well, David, generally yes. But not only. The Kalinga was offered a short time with maroon micarta too. The maroon micarta can be wrongly idetified as dark brown wood. And like the 124 a very few number of the Kalinga was offered with Earthwood-Scales. that's laminated Birch with green layers.

Haebbie
 
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Micarta is a compression molded thermoset plastic (phenolic) that is held at a high temperature and pressure until it kicks over, becoming a non-remeltable material that is used for high temperature applications. Think stove knobs and pan handles. If you heat the Micarta above 600 or 700 degrees F., it will crack and char but not get gooey.
It is often filled to give it extra strength and a better appearance. Fillers I have seen include paper, linen, canvas, and wood.
 
Yes, that's red birch. So, your papers are old. And yes, the Kalinga was offered with several different handle materials. But during the years from 1970 to 1997, (the years your's would be) the Buck factory offerings were only black micarta & red birch. With a limited offering of maroon micarta in 1973 as Heabbie mentioned. (Which is well dated among collectors.) These others you're seeing are either LE limited editions or custom shop build ups. I've seen those too. I was saying 'factory offerings'. A normal production run. This is confusing to new folks. Rose wood, Dymondwood, Red Birch are likely all one in the same. DM
 
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