How to Determine Which Type of Knife Handle Material Is Best for You

Handheld objects, such as scissors, pens, and cellphones, are designed to be used in ways other than just holding them. The part that’s in our hands is usually out of sight and seldom given any thought.

The most obvious part of a custom-made knife is the blade. It’s also the part that’s furthest away from our fingertips. The right material, the right shape, the right length, and the right manufacturer of every knife blade is the subject of countless articles and heated debates.

Knife blades get the lion’s share of attention, but there’s a lot less attention given to knife handles. When you think about how often bushcrafters use a knife, which is almost every time they’re out in the woods, the importance of the handle increases exponentially.

The handle, which accounts for almost half of the knife, is what determines the grip options, durability, and comfort level of the tool as a whole. Having the correct-sized knife handle is crucial whether you’re gutting a small game or batoning a piece of timber.

At Architect Knives, we’re committed to providing our clientele with only the finest bladed instruments and camping equipment.

Our success has allowed us to expand our product selection to include items that can be purchased nowhere else. The bespoke knife handles we make are just one example of the expanded product line we can now provide.

Material of Synthetic Origin

Synthetic materials make excellent knife scales because they are resistant to wear and tear, can be shaped to fit the user’s hand, and may be customized.

Synthetic knife handles are typically made from acrylics, plastics, resins, or other composite materials. They tend to have a more polished appearance, are easier to maintain, and come in a wide range of styles and colors. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at two of the most popular synthetic knife handles to choose from.

G-10

We use G10 for the majority of the handles on the Architect knives we make—a high-pressure laminate, constructed of successive layers of fiberglass and epoxy resin. Handle scales are made by layering materials and curing them under pressure to eliminate air pockets and boost durability.

G10 material has gained popularity among knife makers because of its durability, water resistance, and shatter resistance, although it was initially developed as a robust, impervious, and heat-resistant base for printed circuit boards.

Whether you use the blade in a wet or dry environment, many knife users, especially those looking for a reliable knife, are going to find this nonporous option to be their best option. You’ve probably noticed that many of the handles on the G-10 have a grip enhancing design, like checkering.

Despite the G10’s great praise and mass acceptance, it is not without certain drawbacks. It is a heavier than micarta and can be more slippery in some situations.

Micarta

Micarta is another material that may be used for handles in addition to G10. Micarta is also a laminated material much like G10.

Unlike fiberglass, micarta can be made from many different materials other than fiberglass, including cloth and paper, and the finished product may look and function similar to G10.

When micarta is used to create handle sales using fibrous materials such as burlap, it can create a unique look and feel which is why some users love it.

Micarta, like G-10, is very strong, lightweight, and durable. Since PTFE is a slippery substance by nature, it takes a lot of labor to shape it into a handle that can be handled and gripped with relative ease.

Our Professional Process

To ensure the highest quality, we use CNC milling machines to precisely create all of our knife handles. To conveniently and rapidly create handle scales of varying sizes and forms, CNC machining is an excellent choice. All of the scales on our knives have been meticulously crafted to be the ideal size and shape for a secure grip.

Our knife specialists are here to answer any questions you may have concerning our knife handles. Send an email to info@architectknives.com and we’ll get back to you soon.