Favorite Factory Scales

[RAHComanche]

I just got my Spydiechef and man, do I like Titanium! My other two Spydies are the Birdseye Maple Chaparral and carbon fiber fluted Native 5. At this moment, I cant see ever ordering a FRN or G10.

Is there anybody out there who dislikes titanium scales ignoring cost?

Is anyone in my camp where FRN and G-10 are no longer interesting?

Ignoring cost, where does Ti, micarta, stainless, wood, and carbon fiber rank in everyones preference?

[vivi]

micarta
carbon fiber
g10
frn
wood
Ti
stainless steel / aluminum etc.

Those are mine in order.

Roughly textured micarta is easily #1 if we're going to feel and looks, and not the challenges different materials can impose on the manufacturing process and the overall build of the knife (i.e. liners or linerless?).

Ti is near the bottom of my list because it tends to be heavy and slick, two things I don't want in a knife scale.

[jdw]

My list is almost exactly the same as vivi but I would flip FRN and wood on his list. I pretty much dislike Ti. I also find it heavy, slick, and for hard use it is too difficult, if not outright dangerous to use with really wet/sweaty/greasy palms. I know that there will be some folks chime in who really love Ti though.

[Wartstein]

1) FRN
2) Micarta
3) Wood
4) G10
5) CF
6) Ti
7) Steel..

- FRN for me is not to beat overall: Very strong (in some aspects stronger than G10) even when linerless, very light, easy to contour and give a grippy texture (as soon as the mandatory molds exist anyway)
- Micarta has the best feel in hand for me
- Wood is number three just cause I love the material and "warm" feel in hand, technically speaking G10 is better for me
- CF is not really grippy and tends to chip
- metal: I second Vivi: Heavy AND slick (and cold in winter time) - not really what I am looking for

[RAHComanche]

I am sure my preferences are also being defined by ubiquitousness. Similar to how many are interested in only sprints and exclusives. I am interested in micarta but that is next.

[TkoK83Spy]

I'm similar to you. I no longer chase after every color of G10. I will not hesitate to buy a knife in G10 though, if it's a new model or a model/steel combination that I desire. I never look into FRN knives unless it's a model only available in FRN (Endela/K390)

I've been on a CRK thing for a good 6-8 months now, so I've grown to really like titanium.

I have to agree that micarta is my favorite. Most of my favorite knives tend to have micarta scales.

My CRK Inkosi Insingo with micarta inlays set in titanium scales...that's just perfection!

[JRinFL]

Favorite handle and scale material, some not yet available on Spydercos or very, very rare.
1) Micarta
2) Ti
3) Naturals (wood/bone)
4) Richlite
5) G10
6) FRN/FRCP
7) Carbon Fiber
8) Aluminum
9) Stainless Steel

The top 3 can switch around at times, they are not fixed in place.

[kobold]

Burl/Wood
Ti
CF
Micarta
Raffir

A lot depends on the fit and finish. It will make me change my preferences. Yesterday for example, I saw a G10 ANV folder, and it's amazing. G10 machines really well, so why not go nuts with it.


G10 scales

Looking at my folders, almost half of them are titanium, so I am with you.

I want to change the G10 scales to wooden scales on all my steel lined folders. I did the Sage 1, PM2 and Para 3 with Cheesewood. The Military and Manix 2 are next. I was thinking Amboyna. Can't have only Ti. Variety is the spice of life.

I also really like the CF Native Chief and the Raffir Chap. I am not messing with those. :-)

I see G10 and FRN as a separate category, they are great for hard use, outdoor knives. They are tougher, lighter, yet cheaper than most other materials, so my hard use folders will stay FRN and G10.

In traditionals I will go for horn, antler, ivory, bone before anything else.

[skeeg11]

I'm an old fart and tend to wax poetic about the warmth and beauty of natural materials like stag and desert ironwood, etc. Not for hard use, tho. I appreciate the use of titanium in small to medium RIL's for EDC as they are easy on the pockets. Textured G10 is fine for gripiness as is FRN and canvas micarta, but in the end, for me no matter the handle material, form follows function ergonomics trump all first and foremost.

[SG89]

I don't really care what material is used, but I do wish all the scales were contoured and or edges smoothed from the factory. I hate gripping the knife and the scales having sharp edges.

[bearfacedkiller]

I assume we are just talking folders.

1) micarta
2) G10
3) Frn
4) aluminum
5) carbon fiber
6) wood
6) titanium
7) steel

The last four only work on certain knives.

[The Deacon]

Natural materials would be a the top of my list. Ivory would be a the very top, followed by, stag, nicely figured wood, and jigged bone dyed shades of tan and brown. As for metals and man-made materials, it comes down more to colors and textures than material. For example, I love the twill CF on the Chaparral and Sage, and think the corrugated texture used on the models like the Perrin PPT looks great on CF, Micarta, and G10, especially 2 tone G10, as well as on wood. Plain metal is a bit boring, but steel can be awesome if it's tastefully engraved, and I really like the stepped titanium on the Chaparral, especially the two toned version. To be honest, the only thing I truly detest is "peel ply" texturing and, given the state of CNC machining these days, there are far more elegant ways to add grip to a handle.

[wrdwrght]

Grip matters to me far more than looks, but, then, Spyderco has never made looks a concern to me.

I generally favor composites over metals, but have no favorites within either class. Referring to the previous posts, I think the only scale material I don’t have is aluminum.

My Ti Pingo nightmare has been enough to tell me I hate slick metal, especially when the handle’s shape does not compensate. I couldn’t get micarta scales on that knife fast enough.

I love my Sage4 but don’t generally want wood handles from Spyderco. Too retro for a pioneer of the new, materials included.

[kennethsime]

I've carried my ZCarta Shaman more than anything else since getting it. It's super comfortable in hand, and if I could have Spyderco re-do all the Golden models with these beautiful contoured micarta scales I would.

I do notice that G-10 is usually grippier than micarta - my PD1 Mule Team has some Halpern scales that are textured G-10, and my grip is very sure one that knife - I can twirl it around without worrying about slipping.

FRN is nice for the LW knives, and I do prefer it over FRCP, grivory, or any other "plastic" scales. I tend to carry my LW knives when I'm running, hiking, headed to the gym, beach, just wearing shorts, or otherwise anticipate sweating a lot.

I've never owned a Titanium-scaled knife, but I would like to. I'd kill for a Military with a Titanium RIL and an opposing Micarta scale. I'd also like to pick up a Sebenza at some point. Well-done Ti just looks really, really nice. It's immediately pleasing to hold, kind of like Micarta.

[samdasnake]

1) FRN
2) Micarta
3) Wood
4) G10
5) CF
6) Ti
7) Steel..

- FRN for me is not to beat overall: Very strong (in some aspects stronger than G10) even when linerless, very light, easy to contour and give a grippy texture (as soon as the mandatory molds exist anyway)
- Micarta has the best feel in hand for me
- Wood is number three just cause I love the material and "warm" feel in hand, technically speaking G10 is better for me
- CF is not really grippy and tends to chip
- metal: I second Vivi: Heavy AND slick (and cold in winter time) - not really what I am looking for

I’m on the same page as Wartstein. FRN is far and away my favorite handle material. Particularly when linerless as I love a lightweight knife. I also really enjoy the linerless micarta in my collection (Goddard).

[Senfkarte]

It strongly depends on the knife and the fit and finish of the scales. So I don't think I can rank them in one general list.

[Sharp Guy]

It strongly depends on the knife and the fit and finish of the scales. So I don't think I can rank them in one general list.

I can't rank them either. Like a lot of things knife related I can't choose just one or two favorites. I like all the various handle materials on the all different knives I have. Which would be my favorite could change from day to day. I do have a lot of Titanium. So I guess that could be considered a favorite. I like those knives overall and not just because they're made of Ti

[ZrowsN1s]

Im going to have an unpopular opinion here, having tried it, I don't really like Micarta all that much. I'd take G-10 over Micarta all day.

I also dont like super aggressive g-10, in hand I like the function, but in pocket the wear and tear on my pants is expensive and undesirable. One of the reasons I reach for my Shaman over other G-10 knives is the smooth G-10.

I would never buy a knife in frn if there was a G-10 option.

I like titanium, though it is expensive.

My all time favorite scales are the Fluted Carbon Fiber Native 5.

[Wandering_About]

I tend to prefer G10, with FRN coming in second just because it is so prevalent and functional. I like CF once in a while, just to bling things up a bit. Never really been a huge fan of titanium but it's nothing that I actively dislike.

If we are talking about fixed blades, G10 and micarta for sure.

[VooDooChild]

Frn
G10
Peelply carbon fiber
Titanium
Micarta
Steel
Wood

Frn, g10, peelply cf, and titanium are all pretty much tied for first for me.

I like pretty much all of it. In general I prefer traction over smooth, although titanium gets a pass here.

Some aftermarket micarta I dont really like, but the micarta on the zwear shaman I do like.