Worst scales materials

Worst scale material

  • Wood

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Leather

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Micarta

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • G10

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Carbon Fiber

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Titanium

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Giraffe Bone

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Cow Bone

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Zytel

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Kraton/Rubber

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Pearl

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Ivory

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Cord Wrapped

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Stag

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Stainless Steel

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • Total voters
    1
Mark J

Mark J

Joined
Mar 15, 2001
Messages
2,450
OK, so there are lots of really great materials for knife scales/handles. But what about the flip side? What are the worst? I know there are lots of variations on the choices I've listed above, and a lot depends on how well the knifemaker crafts the scales, but we're talking generally, which ones do you like the least? Multiple choices allowed.

- Mark
 
Um, sorry, but they all have their place. Though, if I were forced to choose, I'd have to go with either ivory or snakewood for the inevitable cracking that's going to happen.
 
It isn't listed but aluminum. I will not own one. Not real impressed with any metal but I do have a few titanium knives. I would much rather have G10/micarta/carbon fiber instead.
 
The only handle material that I really am not a fan of is plastic. I voted 'Zytel', but isn't Zytel a little more durable than your garden variety plastic? In any case, I'd go for just about every other option on that list before opting for a plastic handle on my knives. I've found it can melt, it scratches easily, it's not particularly weather or damage resistant, and it's about the least aesthetically pleasing option on the list, imho.

I'm not too fond of some rubber handles either, but I was quite fond of the grip on the rubber-handled Kabar I had a while back.

My top three would be Wood, Aluminum, and Horn (buffalo and stag)
 
FRN is quite good, though cheap feeling, from a performance perspective. My Pacific Salt has gone through beatings and is holding up great. :thumbup:
 
Dorito Monk said:
The only handle material that I really am not a fan of is plastic. I voted 'Zytel', but isn't Zytel a little more durable than your garden variety plastic? In any case, I'd go for just about every other option on that list before opting for a plastic handle on my knives. I've found it can melt, it scratches easily, it's not particularly weather or damage resistant, and it's about the least aesthetically pleasing option on the list, imho.

I'm not too fond of some rubber handles either, but I was quite fond of the grip on the rubber-handled Kabar I had a while back.

My top three would be Wood, Aluminum, and Horn (buffalo and stag)
Click to expand...

Plastic is a very generic word. Is there a knife in particular you are thinking of? What most people call plastic is FRN which Zytel is just a brand name of. Fiber Reinforced Nylon is what many of the Spyderco models use and is actually very tough stuff. It doesn't really crack or chip or fade and I bet it will take abuse better than most materials used in knives. It is a pretty advanced polymer but it still gets the label of 'plastic' which is equated with cheap and flimsy.

I have a Spyderco Salt 1 that I use as a money clip and is kept in my pocket with keys, a lighter, a leatherman micra and all sorts of random things. It has very minor surface scratches that can not even be felt and the only reason I know they are there is because it is yellow and they show dirt. I guess all this means that I don't mind FRN. I would much rather it than aluminum which feels cold and scratches and dents and just feels 'lifeless.'
 
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They do all have their place, but I won't own a knife with only a cord wrapped handle. A RAT Izula is going to be my next purchase, but it's getting a real handle as soon as I figure out what I want that handle to be.

I use my knives, I don't just fondle them and look at them. So I refuse to sacrifice comfort while using the knife for the off chance that I may need a few feet of extra cord.

I'm also not a huge fan of bare metal handles either (titanium, steel or aluminum). They're fine for looking at and can be pretty, but they're not comfortable to use when cold and they can be dangerous when wet. I do love my SS Spyderco Cricket though.
 
What ever is on a BM grip. Not sure if its frn or not, but it doesn't have a nice dense feel like spyderco or SOG's zytel. Really cheapens the nice IMO, though it is still a "feel" issue more than anything else.
 
I voted for cord wrap but I have been less than thrilled with the extremely smooth G10 handle of my Bravo 1.

Bill
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
Plastic is a very generic word. Is there a knife in particular you are thinking of? What most people call plastic is FRN which Zytel is just a brand name of.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry about that, I should have clarified...

The specific plastics I was thinking about were Victorinox plastic handle scales, the Ontario Rat-1's handle scales, and a couple cheap kitchen knives. I know 'a couple of cheap kitchen knives' isn't a lot to go on, but I can't remember exactly what brand they were... :confused:

The Zytel on the Ti-Lite I had wasn't too bad, all told, and the surface had a pretty decent feel to it, although I didn't use it hard enough to test durability and that sort of thing... Whatever composite the Endura 3's handle was made out of (is it FRN like on your Salt?) doesn't seem to bad either, although I haven't really used it too much since I got it...
 
Ah . . . the fresh air of BladeForums. I've been in trial for the last two weeks. It's good to be back.
 
Mastodon and stone aren't listed.

Ivory works well for ulu handles, has for a long time.

Least favorite is plastic, and I mean plastic, not zytel or FRN.
 
The vote didn't include brass bolsters, but they're on my list. Sainless steel was listed, but the examples I've seen aren't bad because they're stainless, but because they're poorly done.

One of my favorites is Zytel, unreinforced. Light, strong and doesn't wear -- feels great after years. What's not to like? Same with G10, but Zytel is better.

Bone is butt-ugly.
 
Samael said:
Ah . . . the fresh air of BladeForums. I've been in trial for the last two weeks. It's good to be back.
Click to expand...

It is good to have you back Sam. Didja win that one?

BTW, Why did the OP not put celluloid in the poll?
 
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