Which particular handle material is your favorite and what makes it your favorite ?

Wolverine666

Wolverine666

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We have seen these "what's your favorite" type threads countless times , I know. So what's one more ?

Which handle material do you favor and why ? Be specific.

Also , which knives in particular are shining examples of said handle material that have convinced you of their greatness ?
 
I believe Case and GEC primarily use cattle bone. Case's web site says they use the shin bones from Zebu cattle. I suppose it is left over after the rest of the cow was processed into meat and leather.
 
I really like Titanium especially the Fluted variety. The Spyderco Fluted Ti Military is an excellent example. Outstanding knife.

CF is also a favorite of mine. And G10 is cool but lately I've been losing my taste for it.

There's a new Spyderco Chaparral with some kind of multi-colored handle that looks interesting.

And Micarta I'm fond of in fixed blades.
 
I have Carbon Fiber, blue 100,000 year old Brain Coral, various woods, titanium, G-10, etc. Below are some examples.

But my favorite as far as handling is this Emerson micarta (maybe linen). So grippy and nice to the touch.
Brain Coral:
IMG_0081_zpsmu9esu1b.jpg

CF:
IMG_0212_zpsdc8c6157.jpg

Snakewood:
IMG_0134_zps5f23a276.jpg

Gorgeous micarta, my favorite:
20160928_152451_zpsarfeofrj.jpg
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I have Carbon Fiber, blue 100,000 year old Brain Coral, various woods, titanium, G-10, etc. Below are some examples.

But my favorite as far as handling is this Emerson micarta (maybe linen). So grippy and nice to the touch.
Brain Coral:
IMG_0081_zpsmu9esu1b.jpg

CF:
IMG_0212_zpsdc8c6157.jpg

Snakewood:
IMG_0134_zps5f23a276.jpg

Gorgeous micarta, my favorite:
20160928_152451_zpsarfeofrj.jpg
Click to expand...


Those are all beautiful.

Do you notice any swelling or shrinking of the Snakewoid due to humidity ? Or in a piece that small does humidity not really affect it ?
 
1. carbon fiber, for being beautiful and light and I hear it is also durable. I particularly like the cf scale on Reate Horizon D. Someone said it is like the scale on one of the shirogorov models.

2. Titanium, for being light and great quality. Happen to also like the machined ti scale on Horizon D. The ti scale on ZT0561 also looks and feels great. Actually all ti scales are good to me (ZTs, ti millies etc.)

3. g10, for being very durable, great choice for work knives. Not sure abour polished g10 though. The best g10 scale that I have exoerience with is the RHK xm-18s.

Little to no experience with other materials like bone, wood, and aluminum.
 
As a user, hands down Titanium.
(Relatively light, durable, zero maintenance, always looks/feels great)

As a collector, hands down Mammoth.
(Most beautiful/interesting natural material in my opinion)
 
Wood burls. Gives every knife character.
G10 has always felt cheap in my hands.
I don't mind micarta, its probably a better material than wood, but it always "cheapens" the look of most knives.
 
micarta is it for me
practical, durable, not slick when wet, light and looks good

on folders I prefer titanium (light, durable and it looks good)
 
The ones that jump out to me in the looks department are Burls (or any wood grain with deep contrasting grain), and Carbon Fiber. I know those two are very different, but they both catch my eye and enjoy the variation.

I don't really have any burls that I would call shining examples just yet. I keep finding myself shy on cash when they come along, but can spend hours browsing picture threads with them.

In the CF area, a couple of my favorites are the ZT 0770CF, ZT 804CF, and Spyder Positron. I've polished up the 804 & Positron and they've become worry stones of sorts.

2d288ew.jpg




•••••••••••••••

Sent from my mind....using Tap-a-Thought. (tm)
 
G-10 for durability and grip

Carbon Fiber for reduced weight and looks

Micarta for Grip and looks

Titanium for durability and grip
 
I am more than sold on G10. Ultra-light and Incredibly strong. Iv beat the hell out of this knife over the past 2 years and the G10 still looks brand new.



I also love white, but the problem with most white materials is they stain or yellow. G10 does not. It cleans right up every time and always looks brand new with a bit of oil.

Before I had G10 on knives (or was really even into knives as much as I am now) I had a Sig 1911 Scorpion Carry with very aggressive G10 grips. It was the way that the texture has held up on that 1911 that originally sold me on G10. Then the knife above to solidify my love :D



Also love Titanium and Carbon Fiber. I think they both speak for themselves pretty well. I think they really shine when matched together in frame-locks. Using a slab of Titanium for the locking scale and a slab of Carbon Fiber for the opposing. Aesthetically I think Carbon Fiber is a little.. loud. Personally I like "low profile" stuff but the weight savings is a no-brainier for my personal uses :D. The Carbon Fiber scale on my CRK Lg Inkosi saves 1.2oz as opposed to using another slab of titanium. Weight may not be important to everyone but it is to me :D The weight reduction also balances the knife beautifully. Same thing with the ZT 0450cfzdp.







Also, while I prefer G10 over canvas/burlap Micarta for folders, I really like Micarta for larger fixed blades. Canvas/Burlap Micarta has a nice grippy feeling/texture while the fiberglass in G10 is a more of a hardened/smooth/slick feeling/texture.



The only woods that Iv jumped on so far are Burls. They can be so beautiful. Otherwise Ill most likely choose G10/Micarta for its longevity/durability.





A little bit of everything from above :D

 
No shrinking or change. Maybe Chris Reeve stabilizes their woods, I don't know, but they seem stable over time.

Wolverine666 said:
Those are all beautiful.

Do you notice any swelling or shrinking of the Snakewoid due to humidity ? Or in a piece that small does humidity not really affect it ?
Click to expand...
 
i have never owned a G10 handle knife

most are too expensive. would like to buy 940-2 with black g10 one day
 
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