Thoughts On Solid Micarta Handles?

[MSicardCutlery]

I've been working with micarta more and more lately and one of my recent projects was a western handle in black canvas micarta and that look and feel is really growing on me. I've been thinking about getting a few sheets of the stuff to make some wa handles. Maybe 2 dozen or so, perhaps in a "made to order" format, or maybe just sort of production runs, maybe a bit of both.

Micarta is heavier stuff, about the same density as ebony. Not ideal for light blades from a balance perspective, but pretty good for midweights and up. Depending on how finely it's finished it can be fairly slippery feeling to extremely grippy, and tends to get grippier when it gets wet because the fibers in the material expand from the moisture. It's also really strong stuff. Much stronger than wood, as there's no real grain for cracks to propagate along and it's essentially immune to humidity induced cracking.

Price wise I was thinking potentially somewhere between $40-$60 U.S depending on the finish but nothing is concretized yet. It's still just a passing consideration on my part at the moment. I figured I'd get a little feedback before I go too far with this idea, on the off chance it's something categorically unappealing. Attached are a few shots of the western I made in canvas micarta recently so you can see for how it looks in practice.

 

[Barmoley]

Micarta is good stuff and feels very secure when not finished too fine. Like you said it is heavy, but maybe can be used with thinner tangs to offset some weight, given that it is very strong.

 

[Choppin]

I really like it. Looks great, feels great, tough... But yeah, I don't like it too finely finished - a good grip is essential IMO.

Quick question - can it be refinished easily by the user? With sandpaper or something? Or is that irrelevant since it's tough and just looks good forever?

 

[MSicardCutlery]

I really like it. Looks great, feels great, tough... But yeah, I don't like it too finely finished - a good grip is essential IMO.

Quick question - can it be refinished easily by the user? With sandpaper or something? Or is that irrelevant since it's tough and just looks good forever?

Definitely! Just a little sandpaper or coarse steel wool works great.

I was thinking about doing two grades. One rougher between 100 and 320 grit, and the other polished and buffed and such.

 

[parbaked]

I had one on a stripped down line knife that Salem Straub made before he got all fancy...loved it.

Two piece, hidden tag, Corby bolts.
Excellent combination of grippy and carefree...

 

[RRLOVER]

Good stuff....The top knife has micarta

scales and it took 15 years before the mosaic pins became proud.

 

[MSicardCutlery]

I had one on a stripped down line knife that Salem Straub made before he got all fancy...loved it.
View attachment 219454
Two piece, hidden tag, Corby bolts.
Excellent combination of grippy and carefree...
View attachment 219455

I have revered Salem's work for the better part of a decade. He's one of most talented mosaic damascus makers I have ever seen. I don't think I'd ever seen his more basic work until now.

 

[RRLOVER]

I have revered Salem's work for the better part of a decade. He's one of most talented mosaic damascus makers I have ever seen. I don't think I'd ever seen his more basic work until now.

And he is one of the nicest person you will ever meet!!!

 

[fvaz]

Definitely amazing material, while i love micarta and it is one of the best and toughest material you can have in a handle, i hate how much it "glues" to the belt on grinding. I feel like i can grind about 4~5 ebony handles with one single 40grit and one single handle in micarta will probably ruin one belt with ease.

Micarta/g10/carbon fiber is also amazing material for pins.

 

[fvaz]

(im not the maker of the picture below)

there is also the cross cut micarta, which in my opinion is one of the most beautiful materials.
Im genuinely a sucker for this material, it darkens with age and gets a nice "Patina".

 

[Qapla']

IMHO micarta handles are criminally underrated.

 

[Justinv]

For WA or hidden tang its gotta be wood.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I think that looks real nice Matt. Micarta is a bit generic though. I'm guessing canvas?

I like Micarta stuff in general, but as you note, weight would concern me in a kitchen knife. "Concern" being a relative term. So long as the balance was still around the choil, I'd have no issues with it. And on a say a AEB-L petty knife where balance is less important but utility and durability is more appealing, I think it could be great.

 

[Naftoor]

Loooove micarta. Grippy even with wet, patinas with time.

I don’t love micarta with bolsters though, it’s a durable enough material that I don’t think it needs a bolster. I might be wrong. But I see it used on various types of fixed blades and folders without much reinforcing material and things like G10 just ruin the look

 

[Barmoley]

I really like the look and feel of bulrap micarta.

 

[Barmoley]

I think that looks real nice Matt. Micarta is a bit generic though. I'm guessing canvas?

I like Micarta stuff in general, but as you note, weight would concern me in a kitchen knife. "Concern" being a relative term. So long as the balance was still around the choil, I'd have no issues with it. And on a say a AEB-L petty knife where balance is less important but utility and durability is more appealing, I think it could be great.

With a hidden tang, shorter and thinner tang can help. Micarta can be very stiff and it is durable so especially with kitchen knives where the handle is basically a counterweight should be doable.

 

[deltaplex]

To the poll question: I do like micarta as a handle material, but I wouldn't want it as a solid piece hidden tang handle.

 

[MSicardCutlery]

Definitely amazing material, while i love micarta and it is one of the best and toughest material you can have in a handle, i hate how much it "glues" to the belt on grinding. I feel like i can grind about 4~5 ebony handles with one single 40grit and one single handle in micarta will probably ruin one belt with ease.

Micarta/g10/carbon fiber is also amazing material for pins.

Try reducing your belt speed some, it might help. Heat build up could be a factor. I've never cut it on my 2x72, but I haven't had issues with a 12" disk grinder.

To the poll question: I do like micarta as a handle material, but I wouldn't want it as a solid piece hidden tang handle.

Because of the weight?

 

[deltaplex]

More personal preference: if the knife balance is fine with a heavier handle, then I've got no bias against them.

 

[bradmacmt]

(im not the maker of the picture below)

there is also the cross cut micarta, which in my opinion is one of the most beautiful materials.
Im genuinely a sucker for this material, it darkens with age and gets a nice "Patina".

View attachment 219457

I've never seen or heard of cross cut micarta. It is absolutely beautiful.

 

[MSicardCutlery]

I've never seen or heard of cross cut micarta. It is absolutely beautiful.

It certainly is. It's nowhere near as common as the typical stuff. I've never seen it offered in pieces bigger than scales.

 

[kennyc]

Good stuff....The top knife has micartaView attachment 219456 scales and it took 15 years before the mosaic pins became proud.

do you think the micarta actually shrank or was it just differential wear between the pins & micarta? I was under the impression that micarta was dimensionally stable (within a human lifetime anyway)

 

[RRLOVER]

do you think the micarta actually shrank or was it just differential wear between the pins & micarta? I was under the impression that micarta was dimensionally stable (within a human lifetime anyway)

The knife is a drawer Queen...She was 1 of 3 prototypes for the production run at JCK...I am surprised the pins are proud too, but definitely not a wear issue.

 

[kennyc]

The knife is a drawer Queen...She was 1 of 3 prototypes for the production run at JCK...I am surprised the pins are proud too, but definitely not a wear issue.

weird. Could it be the epoxy/whatever adhesive under the scales which shrank and "pulled" the micarta down?

 

[KnightKnightForever]

 

[jedy617]

Wood all day every day

 

[MSicardCutlery]

Wood all day every day

Et-tu Jedy

Pocket knife lover that you are

 

[jedy617]

Et-tu Jedy

Pocket knife lover that you are

Hahaha all my friends love micarta..I'll be honest it's a good option. But just not for me. All my pocket knives are Ti and carbon, and some wood sprinkled in!

 

[blokey]

I really like it, that said I might be bit bias in this matter.

 

[ian]

Not a huge fan of the look, personally. I prefer your usual wood ones. The solid micarta reminds me too much of this one, although maybe it’d be different in person.