Micarta is more stable, tougher, and longer lasting than wood. Period. Not even close. In a thousand years an anthropologist will unearth my knife. The steel is dust, our civ is a memory in books, but the micarta is just a bit darker than it was when new.
Wood moves, checks, cracks and warps. Period. I guarantee this will happen to every piece of wood on this planet stabilized or unstabilized. In my guarantee, I specifically address this issue.
"Natural handle materials such as stag, bone, wood, pearl and ivory may shrink, crack, and/or discolor with change in temperature, or humidity or age. As this is normal, expected, and can normally be avoided with maintenance these issues would not be covered under this warranty."
I have only made myself one knife with stabilized wood handles. Stabilized wood will crack, warp, chip and check just like any other wood. It is more stable vs water, but IMO, less stable vs heat. I've heard lots of makers go on and on about how it makes the wood better. IMO, it turns the wood into a plastic that is not as good as phenolic plastics at being stable. There are plusses and minusses, but it is no cure all for wood behavior.
Now, I love wood handles. It is a suitable handle material. It has been proven for thousands of years. It is beautiful, and warm, and light, and I have made myself a LOT of wooden handled knives. I happen to love the woods that are naturally stable like Cocobolo, Rosewoods, Ironwood, and Osage Orange the best. They require care, and understanding of what they are. If you inundate them in water and don't dry them, put them in the dishwasher, leave them on the dash of your car, or travel to and from Las Vegas from GA, then you're going to see the effects of this natural material reacting to its environment. Then again, if you respect them and maintain them they can last for a long long time.
Stabilized wood is a suitable handle material also, and allows us to use woods that just aren't usable when unstable. Burls and Black Palm for example. Mostly though, I use them because of customer demand and not personal preference. There was a table at Blade Show selling stabilized Rosewoods, Cocobolo, Bocote, etc. Hey, if you just want the previously mentioned heavier and slippery when wet, go for it, but it doesn't make the wood any better IMO.
I use only quality materials on my knives. Maintenance is required for longevity.
I have yet to see a knife of Andy's that I didn't like. I'll have to really try to monitor my computer on Friday. Thanks for the info was thinking synthetic was the way to go but wow some of the wooden handles he puts out are just incredible
