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

[Jolipapa]

There's a Baby Butterbean in my change purse for 2 years now, the white jigged Delrin did not chip at all.

 

[AreBeeBee]

I have three bone-handled Camillus Army Engineer's knives, all of them made in 1942-44. I don't know what they looked like when new, although the knife shown has on all four blades & tools several areas of (presumably) original mirror polish. What that says about the wearability of bone, I don't know because i don't know what this knife experienced.

(The knife has been cleaned up a bit since this image was taken, and the lighting here emphasizes the dark staining on the blades.)

But I also have another nearly identical Engineer's knife where the blades & tools, though use, have taken on a nearly satin finish all over. And the Rogers bone on the handle of that knife looks almost identical to the wear you see here.

Bone wears, but does so nicely in my view. Breakage would mean an epoxy repair, or in extreme cases, setting the knife aside, probably forever.

I think a lot depends on how pristine you want the thing to remain. For me, every knife is a utilitarian object, to be carried and used appropriately and with me paying no particular attention to the accumulating wear and tear until it affects usage. At the other extreme are those with collections of "safe queens" that hardly see the light of day. Everyone finds a happy place somewhere on that spectrum.

With color-anodized alox — I have a black Vic Pioneer and a red Classic — the accumulated scuffing is simply part of ownership. As someone said elsewhere in regard to military knives, one that shows signs of wear shows history, one that's mint is just war surplus. A scuffed and worn knife of mine tracks my own history in some sense, and if I had one in perfect condition, it would be nothing more than new old stock.

 

[JOELSM]

Other pocket slip options:

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AG Russell small and large slips. Large will easily hold the GEC Sunfish, the #83 is about max for the small slip. I've just acquired a newly found appreciation for traditionals myself. I'm not going to baby them, but I'm not ready to put them in a pocket full of keys. For now they'll ride in slips.

 

[Comeuppance]

I plan on getting a slip with a clip whenever I get around to buying something from Collectorknives, but, for now, everything is riding in my watch pocket and that has been working pretty well.

I'm just looking for a "screw it" knife that I can grab no matter what, and it's looking like it's going to be a Bullnose in some kind of delrin at this stage. I can't find any in O1, though, which is a little disappointing.

I'm thinking a 25 in Micarta or Stag might end up being a backup "screw it" knife, too. Sheepsfoot, of course, to avoid redundancy (and give me an excuse to buy it...)

 

[Easyrider]

Micarta should work very well. I have a micarta EDC but I use a leather slipcase so I cannot speak from experience but when I have dropped it no damage could be readily seen.

 

[BMCGear]

One of the great things about traditionals is the wear that they develop. From the carbon steel blades to the bolsters and handle material; every nick, ding, scratch, and mark tells a story.

I personally prefer micarta over everything else. I have never liked stag, only like some patterns of bone, and wood depends on the individual piece.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Delrin or that stuff plastic stuff Buck uses.

 

[arizonaranchman]

One of the great things about traditionals is the wear that they develop. From the carbon steel blades to the bolsters and handle material; every nick, ding, scratch, and mark tells a story.

I personally prefer micarta over everything else. I have never liked stag, only like some patterns of bone, and wood depends on the individual piece.

Yes they develop lots of character over time, sort of telling a story of their life. Some of the knives we see here are 50-100 years old and have seen some serious use, but if they've stood up to it well really. So they're obviously durable, whether wood, bone or stag.

I just recently received a Stag #54 and it's the first knife I've ever owned in Stag. I'm impressed and really liking it. From what I've learned here its very durable and takes on LOTS of character over time.

I never abuse my traditionals (except my Sodbuster sees some tough use now and then), I use the right tool for the job. My Barlow does 90% of the work and Peanut or whatever my #2 is does other duties.

 

[Ernie1980]

Stag and micarta have held up well for me duing the rare times I have to mix knife with other things in my pocket. I imagine that a SAK would hold up just fine too.
Not sure if this is traditional...but my ladybug lockback with FRN scales has been living on my keys for years and shows hardly any wear at all so that material holds up great!