Why no zytel handles for fixed blades?

Daniel L

Daniel L

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 2, 1998
Messages
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As far as I can recall the only (recent) fixed blades knives with zytel (fibreglass reinforced nylon like the Spyderco Endura) handles are the Spyderco Moran and the SOG Seal 2000... is there something strengthwise wrong with zytel?

Or perhaps the kraton handles like Cold Steel/Fallkniven/Junglee knives is just cheaper?

Daniel.
 
CRK&T also did their SEALTAC series in Zytel, and the Cutlery shoppe/Terzuola Gryphon series had Zytel handles.

I can't think of anything that feels cheaper or nastier in the hand than a Zytel-handled FB. The Moran is okay because of the huge grip inserts, but the others feel like junk to me. In my head I know Zytel is tough and no less suitable than something like Micarta, but my hands just scream "Cheapo!" This customer perception is probably what's driven manufacturer's away from it, because it must be appelaing from a manufacturing point of view.

-Drew
 
Well said Drew, and, I agree 100%.

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If a person with multiple personalities threatens suicide, is that considered a hostage situation?



[This message has been edited by misque (edited 11 November 1999).]
 
Gigand Mosquito and Guardian series come to mind, and don't forget AG Russell's Deer Hunter, Hunter's Scalpel, and Bird & Trout. But Drew was right, they feel cheap.


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Reynaert
Fayetteville, AR


 
Zytel on folders is no better. I have an older Spyderco Endura with Zytel handle, and if was any stiffer to open, I'd need to use a come-along !
 
The most recent are CRK& T' s Bear Claws series of neck knives. There are also Emersons Police Utility that specs: "kevlar- reinforced polymer". Hybrid perhaps?

L8r,
Nakano
 
I think I'll still be okay with folders with Zytel handles. But at least for me, it just doesn't feel right on fixed blades.

B. Miller,

Hey, my Zytel handled Endura's still one of my favorite knives
smile.gif
. I like it better than the Endura II (stainless steel handle and AUS6 blade).


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Reynaert
Fayetteville, AR


 
I wonder just how compositionally different from Zytel are the handle materials Cold Steel, Busse Basic, Buck Nighthawk, and Fallkniven are.

Zytel is really strong stuff. It can be molded into much more ergonomic shapes with grippier tread patterns than you can usually get with slab type handle materials. The only real drawback I've seen to it is that it tends to feel a little oily when it is wet. If it is screwed to a good metal frame as in the Emerson Raven and Gerber Covert, it feels really solid.
 
I'm not sure but my S&W military seems to wear a Zytel handle. I love its ergonomic shape, but never recommend this to anyone as the tang will soon play in the handle! Such a poor glue, or too much flexibility in handle material? Anyways I've never seen a tang play in handle in any other knives of mine.

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\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
This has been a thorn in my side for quite some time. Zytel is more durable than kraton and as Steve said, can be molded any way you want it. Some of the zytel handled stuff I've seen looks cheap, some doesn't.
I don't care for the overall design, but the SOG Seal doesn't have a cheap look to me.

I have said it too many times before, but I would love to see the CS Trailmaster/Recon Scout with a single lower gaurd, zytel handle.
I think the key to this is the mold patterns. With a hard material, the smoother the better. At least on blades that would be used for chopping etc. If done right, you would be able to pound with the butt.

A smaller piece like the Russell DH works well with its' pattern, but the SOG feels kinda rough.

For years, I was sold on kraton, but my opinion has changed. Softer materials are simply easier to damage. When CS first appeared, the idea of having a grip that felt like my handgun was appealing. The big difference, if my handgun grip needs to be replaced, it takes about 5 min. and a nominal amount of cash.

Ten
 
For a using knife the tougher the better, cosmetics be dammed. A knife that I use a lot around the house and yard is a plastic handled/plastic sheathed carbon steel Mora type knife, an Ericsson which looks very similar to the Normark '4in Swedish hunting knife'. Butt ugly, very useful blade shape and size, cuts superbly, has decent edge holding and easy sharpening, all for $5. Give me more, lots more ugly knives like that, if they perform as well at such a low price. I'd really like to see such knives offered in D2, CPM 3V, CPM 10V, etc., at such price/performance ratios.

An edged tool that I heap a lot of abuse on is a $6 or so Stanley chisel, which looks like 1/8in high carbon steel and also has a cheap plastic handle.
 
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