Best Knife Handle Material

Wolverine666 · #21

Waffle wrote:+1
I also like the nested!

Interesting. I prefer having the liners visible and seeing the seam where the liner meets the handle. It makes me feel safe and snug. And i think it looks great too. But nested is fine too.

avocadobbq · #22

FRN that looks like G10 = best of both worlds

Jay_Ev · #23

For all-around utility purpose I would have to say G-10.

I have a personal preference for carbon fiber and titanium.

Natural materials are OK, nice to look at but not my first choice. This includes any wood, bone, tusk, tooth, horn, stone, coral, etc.

phillipsted · #24

Ken44 wrote:Micarta will always be my favorite for custom and factory fixed blades, and my custom folders.

You don't see micarta on many production folders, so I'll go with Carbon Fiber as far as spyderco is concerned.

Micarta is also my favorite - it always seems to feel warm in the hand. There is also a nice variety of material out there to chose from.

Linen micarta has a more formal look and works well on gentleman's knives such as the Goddard. Canvas micarta is used to good effect on larger knives such as the Temp2. And paper micarta is less strong, but easier to work into more delicate shapes - such as the Jester sprint and Solo 1. I believe Sal mentioned that they are evaluating a brand of paper-based micarta called "Paperstone" for a future knife.

TedP

Blerv · #25

I'm with Paul and David. FRN (for me) is an ideal tool material.

Many of my g10 Knives are so because that was how it came. It does offer a nice feel and some traction over some materials which is pleasant.

Regarding strength, this seems a value people have for scales. I rarely chip a blade let alone a handle scale so it's not a consideration.

arty · #26

Those old woods on violins and rifles are maple and old violins have ebony fingerboards. Maple can crack if it dries out too much. If a good quality wood is properly
dried before use, it can be very durable and strong. Lignum vitae is certainly strong and durable, but the ironwoods are very heavy.
Personally, I like the looks and feel of CF more than G10 or FRN, but this is subjective. Any of these materials will last for many years. They are strong and resistant to
chemicals or water. CF seems more rigid than G10. I have read that Micarta is not perfectly waterproof, and it is heavier than I like. It may vary with the brand.

Spook410 · #27

While I've never had a problem with any handle material including stag, leather, wood, or synthetics, I prefer stabilized wood. It's indestructible, looks great, and is warm in your hand. Of course, my two primary EDC's are FRN and G10 because in the end, it's all about the steel. But that's a different thread.

pauledst · #28

I respect the individuals right to choose what is most comfortable and practical for EDC. For my own EDC knives its G10 or SS with a couple of FRN for rough use. However for display, visual appeal becomes important. I was really pleased with the Sage 4 ironwood scales. They brought to mind my sample collection of woods of the world. As a member of the International Wood Collectors Society (IWCS) I have a collection of several hundred 6"x3"x.5" samples of different woods. Some are very dense and stable and would make practical knife scales. Members of the Rosewood family (dalbergia) come to mind. I would like to see Spyderco issue one or two examples a year either on one or maybe two platforms (one small, one large).

By the way, Paul mentions lignum vitae as a possibility. It certainly passes the durability test! However it is rather drab in appearance. Before and during WWII, because of its stable and "greasy" qualities, it was used as bearing blocks on the propeller shafts of submarines.

Paul

Gunslinger · #29

G10 preferably in orange, Smurf blue, or grey. I really would like to try peelply carbon fiber. I had to cancel my m390 preordered :mad:
Do to not enogh funds and the early release.

Farmer Brown · #30

I prefer FRN myself, with nested liners.

Grips okay, and doesn't abrasively cut through my pockets.

My FRN Spydies are the only ones I actually wear with the clip.

DaRTH SfaRi · #31

Corrugated G-10 like on the zulu and ppt. Also I'd like to see a throwback of frn wit the krayton inlay(I think its called krayton) like on the pro-grip and I believe the bill moran uses this as well

Zencowboy · #32

I am bidding on some stabilized dyed wood on ebay right now for the mule cruwear. Been looking at so much handle material and a few of these woods just pop out at me.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/craigstevensstu ... 4340.l2562

Don't outbid me ;-)

SuzieQ · #33

Personally I really like the FRN with the bidirectional texturing Spyderco uses in the Delica/Endura line. It's great cost/value, very lightweight but tough at the same time and it can be easily made into every color imaginable. Yeah, I like colorful knives. While I like G-10 for the solid feel and the grip I don't like that it stains so easily in the lighter colors. FRN seems the better choice for an all purpose EDC knife for me. And it usually means the knife isn't quite as expensive as the same model in G-10.

-F1 · #34

APS wrote:I strongly prefer FRN as Spyderco uses it on the Delica/Endura4 family. I feel it has better grip than G10 but yet doesn't tear up your pockets b/c of the bug medallion they have right under the clip. So you have the functionality without the additional cost of G10. I love my Native5 but am anxiously awaiting the FRN version which I'm guessing will be around 30% less expensive.

I'm with you. I love the Delica/Endura/Stretch FRN design. Light, cheap, and works just wonderfully. G-10 as on the PM2 is nice in the hand, but I hate the way it's like 80-grit sandpaper on my pants.

COFADON · #35

Knife handle material that comes on the knives when bought or stuff we customize our knives with?
Either way G10 is the favorite of blade nuts. Personally I'm a fan of carbon fiber/G10 layered material. I customized a few knives with the cf layered with g10, the cool thing about the layered stuff is that the color seeps thru the cf. Almost like a wine red color showed thru my cf military. I also did a blue G10/cf and yellow G10/cf I don't think anyone will argue the coolness of G10 though...I really love it.

Wolverine666 · #36

Lately I have handled many different knife handle materials (because of this thread) to really see how they feel to me and how I like to use and carry them. G10 is definitely my favorite by a long shot. Some people dislike the extra grippy versions of it and I can understand. But that doesn't bother me in the least. G10 just has a very solid , quality feel to it.

And most Spyderco G10 textures and patterns are "medium" textured (not too coarse , not too smooth). Good examples of this are the Manix 2 and Native5. Both have perfect feel and grip IMO.

jackknifeh · #37

COFADON wrote:Knife handle material that comes on the knives when bought or stuff we customize our knives with?
Either way G10 is the favorite of blade nuts. Personally I'm a fan of carbon fiber/G10 layered material. I customized a few knives with the cf layered with g10, the cool thing about the layered stuff is that the color seeps thru the cf. Almost like a wine red color showed thru my cf military. I also did a blue G10/cf and yellow G10/cf I don't think anyone will argue the coolness of G10 though...I really love it.

Do you buy G-10 and CF seperately they layer them yourself or does it come that way? I've made a few sets of scales and want to continue as a hobby. What you described really sounds interesting as well as beautiful. If the CF is on top wouldn't any other material be as good as G-10? I'm thinking of the material just for adding color around the edge of a handle. Don't remember what it's called. But if the color can be seen blended with a thin piece of CF that is something I would like to see. Do you have any pictures?

Oh yeah, I forgot, welcome to the forum. :)

Jack

jackknifeh · #38

Wolverine666 wrote:Lately I have handled many different knife handle materials (because of this thread) to really see how they feel to me and how I like to use and carry them. G10 is definitely my favorite by a long shot. Some people dislike the extra grippy versions of it and I can understand. But that doesn't bother me in the least. G10 just has a very solid , quality feel to it.

And most Spyderco G10 textures and patterns are "medium" textured (not too coarse , not too smooth). Good examples of this are the Manix 2 and Native5. Both have perfect feel and grip IMO.

I like the amount of texture on the Spyderco G-10 handles I've had. I have another company's knife with really coarse textured G-10 handles and I like it a lot also. The amount of grip is much greater but not at all necessary for an EDC knife. The one I'm talking about is one I'd use for very tough jobs where grip may be more necessary. So, additional texturing on something like the Manix2 knives would be ok with me. I don't use a clip on Manix2 knives so I don't need to worry about it eating my pocket up. Carrying the Manix in a belt pouch is better also because I like the feel of any knife without the clip. The clip is not uncomfortable, I just like a handle without one a little better, especially a "work" knife. This is also ok for me because if I'm doing "hard" work I normally have at least a little tool pouch or bag with me and won't use the knife clipped in my pocket anyway. I mentioned the clip because it also impacts the feel of a knife handle.

Jack

Wolverine666 · #39

jackknifeh wrote:I like the amount of texture on the Spyderco G-10 handles I've had. I have another company's knife with really coarse textured G-10 handles and I like it a lot also. The amount of grip is much greater but not at all necessary for an EDC knife. The one I'm talking about is one I'd use for very tough jobs where grip may be more necessary. So, additional texturing on something like the Manix2 knives would be ok with me. I don't use a clip on Manix2 knives so I don't need to worry about it eating my pocket up. Carrying the Manix in a belt pouch is better also because I like the feel of any knife without the clip. The clip is not uncomfortable, I just like a handle without one a little better, especially a "work" knife. This is also ok for me because if I'm doing "hard" work I normally have at least a little tool pouch or bag with me and won't use the knife clipped in my pocket anyway. I mentioned the clip because it also impacts the feel of a knife handle.

Jack

I am in complete agreement about removing the clips. I remove every clip from every Spyderco. I do not like the feel of the clip when I'm gripping the knife. It bothers me so I take the clips off as soon as I take my new knife out of the box.

This is probably why coarse G10 is fine with me (as well as mild or medium G10). Because it never rubs against my pocket with tension due to the fact that I have already removed the clip.

I'm a deep pocket carrier.

jackknifeh · #40

Wolverine666 wrote:I am in complete agreement about removing the clips. I remove every clip from every Spyderco. I do not like the feel of the clip when I'm gripping the knife. It bothers me so I take the clips off as soon as I take my new knife out of the box.

This is probably why coarse G10 is fine with me (as well as mild or medium G10). Because it never rubs against my pocket with tension due to the fact that I have already removed the clip.

I'm a deep pocket carrier.

I carried a pocket knife every day I think since I was about 10 years old. Even to elementary school before that was a big deal. I wonder who remembers the day when students didn't go around poking each other (and teachers) with knives. :) Then I got used to clips as a result of Spyderco. Now I've gotten spoiled to having the knife at the top of my pocket when I want it when sitting (I sit a lot :) ). I tried my Chaparral deep carry but it got lint, dirt, part of an old sandwich in the pivot so the clip went back on. The clip has gone off and on the GB many times. I like to carry it clipped or pouched. For pocket carry it is too big for deep carry IMO. Also the CF doesn't hurt the pocket. I do like to carry it in a pouch though. There's usually something smaller in a pocket somewhere on me. So, even though using the knife is a little more comfortable without a clip the clipping it to my pocket I find to be more convenient than the amount of comfort loss the clip creates. For now anyway. :)

Jack