What do you think of metal handles?

[Doc Dan]

What do you all think about metal handled knives? I like the simplicity, but they can be slick and move around in the hand. Steel is pretty strong, but it is heavy. Titanium is light weight compared to steel, but is expensive. I keep falling in and out of love with metal handles and cannot decide.

[Eee]

I want to try aluminum. I think it might have a nice balance of weight and cost

[austrian_spyder_fan]

Hi Doc,

I understand you completely.
Love my Worker und Herbst, but don,t carry them because of scratches on surface.
The look and feel good and smooth, but I miss some grip.
In wet environment I whouldn't prefer Metal handles.
Also when its very hot or cold.

Markus

[vivi]

Not a fan at all. I've sold off nearly every one I've owned, like my SS Police, ATR 1, and Catbyrd.

[Sharp Guy]

I have no interest in stainless steel handles but I have several knives with Ti handles and I really like them. I've had no issues with the ones I have being too slippery and I like how easily they slide in and out of my pocket. That said, I also really like textured FRN and grippy G10 and I tend to carry those more when I'm at work or working out in the yard. I guess it all depends on what I'm using the knife for

[wirelessjunkie]

I like the way they look, but I dont like the way they feel in use. The only metal handled knife I still have was a gift, and it stays in the collection as a keepsake.

[wirelessjunkie]

double post

[TenGrainBread]

Unappealing to me. They work ok but to me are inferior to composites in weight, price, grip, thermal conductivity, etc... I live in Wisconsin which means 8 months of winter a year. I don't like having cold metal in my pockets or my hands.

I think titanium has a "cool factor" for a lot of people. One of those things that I don't understand aesthetically, like damascus steel, acid wash finishes, overuse of the word "patina", and chunky "tactical" designs. Oh well.

[Bill1170]

Unappealing to me. They work ok but to me are inferior to composites in weight, price, grip, thermal conductivity, etc... I live in Wisconsin which means 8 months of winter a year. I don't like having cold metal in my pockets or my hands.

I think titanium has a "cool factor" for a lot of people. One of those things that I don't understand aesthetically, like damascus steel, acid wash finishes, overuse of the word "patina", and chunky "tactical" designs. Oh well.

This, but I don’t live in the cold anymore.

[aicolainen]

For work and outdoor I prefer synthetic handles, but variation is the spice of life so for office/ EDC I don’t mind a little metal now and then.
There’s also some fun in having knives in different materials, so you can compare and nerd out.
I haven’t yet been able to justify a knife in the heavier metals like, stainless, brass and copper. Just haven’t found a knife in those materials that I think will see any amount of use.

[mikey177]

I live in Southeast Asia, so metal handles per se aren't a deal breaker for me, as long as the handle shape facilitates a secure grip.

[Makunochimaster]

Metal handles is cool

[The Deacon]

Definitely ambivalent. On the plus side, metal handles allow for an extremely thin knife and make an excellent canvas for engraving. On the minus side, they're cold, easy to scratch and ding, tend to be relatively heavy, and, unless engraved or roughened in some other way, they're slick.

[Evil D]

I voted Other. They definitely have their place and their issues. They're among the thinnest you can get if you're into thin, but they're also typically very slick. They're very sturdy being of some kind of metal, but also significantly heavier. I'm not a fan of knives that can't be disassembled, so that's a big drawback for me. If they were done with some kind of textured machining I'd be a lot more interested. That said, a stainless SE Police is still pretty high on my wish list, even if I never carry it and even with the things I don't like about back locks and ricassos, it's just a classic design that I have to own for some reason.

[standy99]

Mnandi with timber inlay is the only metal handled knife I own.

Living in a tropical climate they just don’t work for me.

Could go back to that other brands nice titanium handle but I’m too far into team Spyderco now and slowly gravitating to more fixed blades.

[Sumdumguy]

I only like metal handles if they are Titanium.

Stainless steel, I only want after it has been inlayed with stone, bone or wood.

[ChopSliceStab]

Titanium is good to go. I have a couple of aluminum handled knives that I’ll never sell, but aluminum doesn’t seem to hold a finish well. I’ll take either over FRN though.

[Cl1ff]

I like some metal handles.
Even stainless steel can be enjoyable to me!
I don’t think there’s much metal does better than another handle material, but I can enjoy the aesthetic, simplicity (or complexity), etc.
As with others, I like the various inlays and engravings often seen with metal handles.

Spyderco’s stainless steel knives are very nice and I actually appreciate the unique smooth sensation of the finish they use (that doesn’t mean there aren’t simple ways to create a good grip with metal handles).
Titanium is maybe slightly preferred along with aluminum, but my experience with those materials is limited.
Corrosion and deterioration are concerns as I live in Florida. As is metal’s ability to hold and loose heat, but I want to focus on positives for now.

A knife recently released from Boker with a steel frame lock is appealing to me for its seemingly “tidy” look and feel, but I may value the work put into getting the most out of “basic” materials more than others (Having trouble articulating exactly what I want to say here). Perhaps “appreciating the mastery of a craft” is a better way to put it...
Similar to the stainless steel handled Byrds that keep the tradition and craftsmanship of such a handle material/construction alive.

Though likely personal bias, stainless steel handles have some “air of nostalgia.”
I associate it with genuine work or a tool you might see clipped onto some worker’s jeans.

Aside from the old fashioned “tool-like” aesthetic, metal that is finished as Spyderco’s handles especially is beautiful to me the same way a quality satin or brushed finish can be on a blade.
That goes for things like bead blasts, stonewashes, polishes, etc. and all useable metals including bronze, brass, and copper.

[araneae]

Too slippery, heavy and cold in winter. Metal handles are almost always a pass for me.

[blues]

In general not a big fan unless there is sufficient texturing to afford a good grip in less than ideal conditions.

That said, I have several...some I really like, and others, not as much, whether standard production, Sebenzas, or customs.