Handle materials
We've talked about blades, but what about the rest of the knife? What are some materials you would like to see us using for handles, bolsters,or accents (spacers, inlays, latches, etc.).
Here are some pictures of what we've done with Timascus and Texture Tech titanium
Here are some pictures of what we've done with Timascus and Texture Tech titanium
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It seems most folks on the forum are into Quality ...... not quanity , nothin cheap. 0 -
Meh, there's a difference between quality and quantity. I've for awhile now been replacing quantity with quality. One good 'thing' easily replaces ten. Now, with scales, I am hoping to see more materials outisde of aluminum...and matbe even outside of G-10 and CF. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with either...but black black black has gotten boring. I would love to see more colors made available to match the newer blade steels in consideration. 0 -
FRN
there is your answer.
spy delica and endura in colors.
under $600 -
After what I just said? FRN would be the last choice I would make. All of my Ascents are in FRN and I love everything about them but the handle material. We have to remember that they were made to address a price point that most could afford to buy, including the Spydie offerings mentioned. 0 -
I FROWN on FRN ..........LOL 0 -
quote:Originally posted by something:quote:Originally posted by Skimo:
Had a long winded post... Time for some more organic sculpting and colors besides black, also, paint is no good.
+1
I really like the texture of the new 551BK-1301... I think Benchmade has been going in the right direction lately with handles.
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quote:Originally posted by dj:
I FROWN on FRN ..........LOL
Yeah, but you're a steel snob
okay, I guess I am too... plastic handles of any sort should stay where they belong...on cheap knives.0 -
quote:Originally posted by TDOGG:
C-Tek is the cat's azz
Here is a 32 with C-Tek matrix
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quote:Originally posted by RobME:
Wood... showing unique grain. Doesn't have to be too exotic, (but why not? - your choice) Stabilized in most cases seems wise... The Timascus looks great on the bolsters & liners. jmo
I'm in for some wood too...easy to work with..dust not harmfull..and just plane looks good.0 -
quote:I'm in for some wood too
I agree .......maybe some Lignum
I know you,all thought I was gonna say something else huh ?????? LOL
The wood of the Bone collector looks good too , thats why I had to get those .......0 -
I like wood, especially with a bolster of Ti or CF. I also would like to see less aluminum and more g10, especially the scuplted and layered in more nifty colors. I also FROWN on FRN. 0 -
I don't frown on FRN, color is good, durability is good.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are some cheap kitchen knives, I think made by KAI, colors are good, steel is crap.
Anyhow, it's good to see something besides black.
I'll probably burn in hell for this, but Randall knives don't do anything for me, in general bolsters don't do anything for me and titanium alloys, I only like them for the weight savings.
My nightstand knife is my Spyderco Temperance, doesn't matter what color it is, the grip is positive and I've got a great meat cutting edge on it, RAT 7 is a blocky handle, Benchmade LFK is a liner lock and my machete is out of town.
What I'm getting at is handle ergonomics don't translate into gimping and thumbrps... even though the temperance has a gimped thumb ramp.
I hate to say it, but it feels better in hand than any Benchmade fixed blade I've run across.0 -
I love Timascus
Chad Nichols has some Moku-Ti (his version of timascus)patterns that are amazing.
Going the other direction I'd love to see some throwback brass and wood Baliisongs.0 -
Best handle materials:
(1) Carbon Fiber - Sleek look, smooth but grippy, and virtually indestructible;
(2) Exotic woods - Ultra classy and unique;
(3) Textured G10 - If anything in the knife world is over-done, it is boilerplate solid-color G10 handles. Keep releasing knives with G10 like the Rift!0 -
yes
sometimes wood looks cheap
yes0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mikey:
Here is a 32 with C-Tek matrix
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quote:Originally posted by oakengroves:
Best handle materials:
(1) Carbon Fiber - Sleek look, smooth but grippy, and virtually indestructible;
(2) Exotic woods - Ultra classy and unique;
(3) Textured G10 - If anything in the knife world is over-done, it is boilerplate solid-color G10 handles. Keep releasing knives with G10 like the Rift!
This is the only post I can agree with heavily. How is carbon fiber overdone when there is hardly any production knife out in carbon fiber? We get a couple limited editions and super expensive gold class knives, but nothing production (besides the Shoki and a few others). Maybe variations in carbon fiber could be used.
I wouldn't mind some silver twill handles either (or silver G10).0 -
love my grippy g-10... 0 -
Hi all,
I know I'm late to the discussion, but I'd kick myself if I didn't put my ideas across. What I'll write is probably most applicable to the higher end of the range, but that's what I'm most interested in.
Some of my all time favourite features in the catalogue are the very attractive bronze/brass colouring of the hardware on the 530-111 and 525-81, looks superb when combined with the grey colouring of the scales; I like the variety of damascus patterns that have been used, however would like to see damascus patterning available on special editions, and not just on Gold Class; I love the way the 690-101 (and again the 530-111) have stones inset into the thumb stud. I would like to see more thumb stud and axis pin designs that are unique to particular models.
Regarding carbon fibre, I still like it. I'd much prefer carbon fibre scales over aluminium scales. Not really a fan of the lightning strike variety though.
The Timascus... wow. The patterning is beautiful yet it's not over the top, very subtle.
All in all, I would love to see the continuation of the 'less is more' ideology; using only new eye-grabbing materials I think makes a gaudy knife. While I like the C-Tek matrix, I would only use it sparingly. For me the best cutlery has understated crafting with breathtaking flourishes.
The anodised liners are wonderful, I like the flashes of colour they introduce to cutlery of darker colour. But what about taking them to the next level, on straight-through handle designs how about having some intricate tooling or patterning on the inside. It would not be immediately obvious, however the deeper the owner looks at the knife the more they see, the more they appreciate the craftsmanship.
Just a few of my ramblings. Thanks for reading0 -
a lot of great ideas here! Keep em coming!
I see a lot of people talking about wood handles. Are there some specific woods you would really like to see, that we haven't used?0 -
Koa 0 -
The dark Cocobolo that Jody used sometimes was killer. 0 -
Honduras Rosewood Burl 0 -
I can only say what my preference is, and opinions will vary, but for me a wooden handled knife is less about the type of wood and more about the patterning of the wood itself. I look for interesting grain structure and a finish that glows like it's got a 1000 watt bulb inside it.
On another note, I love the tooling on the spacer's spine on the 482. I like the idea of continuing the tooling up the spine of a blade. Yes it could look stylistically a little old and traditional, but balanced out with something contemporary it could work.0 -
Ironwood, Snakewood and Amboyna. I had a Gold Class Fixed Blade with Amboyna Scales that had large patches of lighter coloring in them(Very Beautiful). 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mikey:
a lot of great ideas here! Keep em coming!
I see a lot of people talking about wood handles. Are there some specific woods you would really like to see, that we haven't used?
Desert Ironwood0 -
I really like Micarta. Then CF. G10 is fine.
Stabilized woods are always welcome.0 -
How about walnut? And then checker it. You could even use the same grid that's used on the Griptilian. The Warn scales are good too, and may even be the same checker pattern.
Anyway, that'd be cool.0 -
+1 to checkered walnut. 0 -
On a related topic, how about stand offs/barrel spacers. I don't mind back spacers, but I would like to see more stand offs. The new 710-3 looks sweet. 0
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