Handmade DamascusPocket Knives handle material
A high quality blade handle is important because it ensures the grip stays tight on the pocket knife. Each material has its own advantages in terms of performance and comfort, but it can also be a matter of aesthetics and personal preferences that dictate what you decide on. Here is a brief breakdown of the most common type of Handle Materials and their characteristics.
Aluminum
Lightweight and often coated with a protective film, aluminum is often used in newer knives. It provides excellent grip and is especially suitable for knives that will be used in adverse weather conditions.
Celluloid
This synthetic plastic is made of cellulose nitrate and is known for its ability to transform into any color of the rainbow. Celluloid can also be manufactured to resemble more natural materials, such as ivory, horn, deer, pearl, amber, agate, shell and wood.
Thorn
Another popular type of pocket knife handle, bone comes in a number of varieties, such as giraffe bone, reformulated bone (often called deer), scored bone and soft white marrow.
Firewood
Wooden handles come in many forms. Stabilized woods are soft woods, such as horse chestnut and burl, which must undergo a stabilization process to be hard enough to function as knife knives. Other woods that are commonly used for knife handles are Blackwood, box, elder, bubinga, curly maple, koa, rosewood, snake wood and thuyas.
G-10
A very durable material, G10 is made of fiberglass, which is dipped in resin and compressed before being baked. G10 is strong, but also light. It is resistant to water and it handles well the inclemencies of the time. For this reason, the G10 is often used for tactical and survival knives. It is more commonly black, but may have other shades as well.
Micarta
Micarta is also known for its hardness, although it is not as hard as the G-10. A composite material constructed from cloth or paper and phenolic resin, Micarta is especially popular in the plastics industry. Micarta canvas is frequently used in knife handles. It occurs in yellow or brown, although after the time passes it turns red / brown.
Titanium
Titanium handles are resistant, highly resistant and light corrosion. These are found mainly in the newer pocket knives, and despite their strength and performance, the titanium handles are sometimes perceived as cold and impersonal.
Zytel
Zytel is essentially unbreakable. Developed by the company Du Pont, Zytel is thermoplastic that is resistant to impact and abrasion. Its low cost and durability has made Zytel a popular handle material. Although it has some very light texture, Zytel is often augmented by manufacturers to create a better grip.
Stainless steel
The blade does not have to be the only thing on your steel knife. The stainless steel handles have some of the benefits such as stainless steel blades. The material is resistant to corrosion and very durable. It can be a bit heavier and has a lower threshold to withstand stress than other metals such as titanium. Despite unifying the look of a knife, some people find the cold look.
Delrin
Delrin is another Du Pont thermoplastic. The material feels like a heavy, dense plastic, which is very soft. Its softer than some of the other materials, so it sometimes get scratches and chafing, but it is very durable.
Single
deer handles, which are made of deer antlers that have fallen naturally out, have a rough texture that allows a stronger grip. One of the main disadvantages of deer is its cost, which can be exorbitant.
Rubber
The prevalence of rubber in many other products gives rubber handles in knives a familiar feeling instantly and texture. Similar to Kraton, the material is usually used as an inlay to other materials, but it can also be wrapped around the frame for a complete rubber handle. Although it has a good grip, rubber is not as durable as other synthetic materials.
Kraton
As in Zytel, Kraton is a thermoplastic, but it is soft and flexible. This is why Kraton is often used as an inlay of other materials or wrapped around the tang of a knife. The material is very good grip and gives a great sense of security when holding the knife.
Mother of pearl
Mother of pearl is a composite material made by mollusks. Basically, it is what constitutes the outer layer of the pearls and is occasionally used in top quality knives. It has an iridescent white appearance and is known as a long-lasting material.
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