What's the best "loose in the pocket with keys" handle material?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
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I'm trying to fill all of my traditional knife niches, and one particular niche is in the title. I've been given the impression that Delrin is a good option, but what other materials stand up well to lightly abrasive jostling? I imagine smoothed bone and acrylics would become cloudy, but what about jigged bone, stag, or others?

Basically, I have my eyes on a red acrylic sunfish GEC and a stag or blue bone 25 - although I might spring for micarta Magnum or 23 if they would hold up pretty well.
 
Best is checkered silver alox on a SAK. You won't notice much of a change at all. Bone holds up pretty well but the bolsters tend to get dinged up. Though you can minimize that by satinizing the bolsters yourself. Or you could go with one of the rougher Micartas or G10.

I would think wood might be fairly resistant but I don't have any wood handled traditionals so I can't really advise you from personal experience.
 
My vote goes for Micarta. Takes scratches and wear nicely.

Pocket worn stag is a nice look too. It may crack however. Best bet would be having a 'universal' pocket slip made or bought.
 
Stag. It'll wear of course, everything does. But it ages gracefully, smoothening and mellowing with time.
 
Black sawcut valox:
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Micarta. Keys will cause scratches and chipping. Natural materials tend to chip more.
 
Delrin, Valox, and FRN have stood up well for me.
 
id love traditional with steel handle scales, that would last probably indefinitely
 
I just snagged a maroon micarta big jack off the exchange. That was timely! I might pick up a micarta 25 as an alterior option.

Does anyone have pictures of pocketworn handles?
 
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Micarta seems to show little wear. I have an acrylic gec 38 I've carried lose a bunch and I really can't notice any wear. Same goes with jigged bone. And yes, stag wears nicely.
 
jc57 said:
Best is checkered silver alox on a SAK. You won't notice much of a change at all. Bone holds up pretty well but the bolsters tend to get dinged up. Though you can minimize that by satinizing the bolsters yourself. Or you could go with one of the rougher Micartas or G10.

I would think wood might be fairly resistant but I don't have any wood handled traditionals so I can't really advise you from personal experience.
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What jc said. The colored alox will wear away to silver.
I keep my wood handled knife in a pocketslip.
 
Ryouchijtx said:
Best bet would be having a 'universal' pocket slip made or bought.
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I've been carrying pocket knives since I was a kid, but am new to the forum. I recently purchased a couple of new Case knives, which, to me, are nicer than those I've had in the past and was curious where to find "universal" pocket slips to use on my new purchases.
 
DavidGaTx said:
I've been carrying pocket knives since I was a kid, but am new to the forum. I recently purchased a couple of new Case knives, which, to me, are nicer than those I've had in the past and was curious where to find "universal" pocket slips to use on my new purchases.
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Case makes some leather knife pouches that are sold in 5-packs for $10 to $11 per pack. Case item numbers are #9066 for the small (up to 3.5"), #9067 for medium (up to 4"), and #9068 for large (up to 4.5"). They are sueded leather with Velcro flaps.
 
jc57 said:
Case makes some leather knife pouches that are sold in 5-packs for $10 to $11 per pack. Case item numbers are #9066 for the small (up to 3.5"), #9067 for medium (up to 4"), and #9068 for large (up to 4.5"). They are sueded leather with Velcro flaps.
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Thanks, John. I'll look into those.
 
I really like the pocket slips from KnivesShipFree. Made well, work great, and fit everything from a peanut to a large trapper.
 
I say buy several knives and rotate EDC. Buck Delrin and Valox both will scratch if abused. I have seen sawcut Delrin almost worn smooth after 20 or more years of hard carry. The bolsters will be scratched to a satin like patina.

Old friends need to be retired when the blade is sharpened down. Setting on your dresser they will give you a gateway to pleasant memories. Buck has a 'spa' service and generally will send you back a modern bladed, polished bolstered, tight pin knife with your self surfaced bolsters for less than a ten spot. 300
 
In no particular order, the most durable handle materials on my traditionals are: Stainless Steel (Marbles Army Utility/Scout knife) Delrin, G10 (Buck 371 stockman and Colt canoe) wood, and bone.
 
I don't have any micarta handled traditionals, but for me, the wear on a micarta handle is where the beauty comes from. I know I am not in the majority on that front.

On the topic of derlin, I do have to say, be aware of the climate you are in. When I am in the field I'll often carry my yellow derlin handled sodbuster as a backup for my fixed blade, and it can get knocked around. It is great for the most part, but I found that in the high desert in the Northern Great Basin there is a lot of iron and silicate in the dust, and there is a lot of dust. The yellow derlin can get pretty discolored pretty fast in that environment if it is getting abraded. Of course, that climate is a bear on everything, and the black discolorations are finally starting to fade, but something to be aware of.
 
Silver Alox for saks of course. Also nylon for saks.
Wood without laquor is good also the matte plastic in German Army Knives (108 mm) and the one on Peasant Svord Knives.
Micarta and G10 should be up to par too. FRN too... but not sure how traditional that is.
 
Bone has been doing the job well for many decades for millions upon millions of people. Let's not overthink this.
 
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