Theres a lot, and scientists are constantly designing new, better ones. Here are examples to illustrate what knives with and without a finger guard on the handle look like: Finger guard are not necessary, and you can get used to working with a knife that doesnt have one. Titanium is a lighter metal with low-density, high-strength, and similar corrosion-resistant properties to stainless steel. 12.39 USD. For those involved in seafood or fish preparation, such as sushi or sashimi chefs, an octagonally shaped wa handle in the Japanese style offers more sideways grip when filleting and slicing slippery fish. Now that weve learnt about some knife handle materials on the market today, lets talk more about other important knife handle factors and how these will affect your customer. Wood A large variety ofnatural woods are used to create knife handles. Other traditional horn material includes. Bone You can also find other high-quality materials like fabricated ivory, Juma, unique resins, rubber, Fantasy Marble, and more. For this your customer can use food grade mineral oil or Boiled Linseed oil, which is much faster drying than regular Linseed oil. Wood handles are durable and typically not too expensive, either. Knife handles come in many different materials. Natural material is more traditional, while synthetic material offers a greater variety of shapes and colors. Because it is artificial rubber, Kraton is flexible, has a good grip and is waterproof. It is now being brought back into the knife industry to create fancy custom designs. If you are going to use it in wet conditions often, you don't want your knife handle to be made of soft or fine woods like black walnut; better to use hardwood or a stabilised wood, where the wood is injected with plastic. Also, people will have preferences for easy clean, low maintenance synthetics like G10 whereas others will hold fast and true to the stunning natural handle materials such as wood. I'm an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys camping and hiking. Thermoplastic elastomers are a combination of polymers, usually plastic and rubber, and often go by a brand name Dryflex, Laprene, Santoprene, THERMOLAST K, and the like. Natural Wood Synthetic handle material like G10 and Micarta, Stabilized timbers and some natural timbers all produce toxic dust when cut, ground and sanded. Natural materials offer an earthy and sympathetic gripping surface, so its no wonder that they see regular use for knife handles. G10, Micarta, Carbon Fiber, Timascus and Kevlar. Blackwood, as the name suggests, is a very dark wood that appears almost black. A good range of knife handle materials (both natural and synthetic) is always prudent as this allows you to have something readily on hand for every buyer. Theyre stronger yet lighter than virtually any other handle material choice, which is great for those who want a sturdy knife that wont weigh them down. Stamped Knives: Break Down the Differences, Balance balanced to suit the buyer & cutting stroke, Grip the grip is comfortable, formed to hold easily, Safety safe to use without injury or strain, Corrosion/Moisture resistance it should repel liquids, A sense of security because their grip is firm, No. On any of our handle materials, just add some handle epoxy, fasteners, screws, or whatever you need, to turn any of our knife handle materials into a perfect knife handle replacement kit. . G-10 is a popular handle material, known to be a fiberglass composite laminate. Handle material isnt everything. SCRIMCAST BONE / HORN / IVORY. G-10 is made of fiberglass and can be brittle, and thus doesnt resist impact well. . Micarta is naturally smooth to the touch but can be given texture by peening away the resin to expose the base material. The stabilization process injects resin into any of the existing pores or cracks, and then compresses the material using high heat and pressure. This is a synthetic replacement for rubber, made by Kraton. While its not as strong as titanium, its also not as expensive. You can choose from a large selection of colors and designs to show off your personality. Only the essentials you need. Its also on the pricier side, as carbon fiber requires a long, laborious production process. Natural stone ores which are crushed, pigmented and then stabilized in acrylic resin Can be sawed, drilled, shaped and polished with tools for wood. You can find. Wooden handles are also porous, making them prone to cracking or breaking. The one Ive seen the most while doing research is Ti6Al4V, which means it is made up of 6% Aluminium (Al), 4% Vanadium (V) and the rest 90% is Titanium (Ti). Most stainless steel-handles knives have smooth handles, which makes the knife get very slippery when wet. It can get slippery and can crack over time because it is porous. Read on to find the 10 most common knife handle types and materials. We also offer the new composite-resin based Hybridwood knife handle material, an excellent choice for pushing the envelope on knife handle making. PocketEdge. So you can get a green, blue or pink aluminium-handled knife. G10 handles can also be easily carved, peened or engraved to provide a more textured grip. You can usually get this at a local hardware store. Of course, its not surprising that theyre significantly more expensive than other materials. Fiddleback Forge was started in 2007 and originated from the founder's knifemaking passion. Example of knives with Stainless Steel handles: Aluminium is a very popular metals in all kinds of products. One of the most durable handle materials. Is brittle, and can break under high pressure. Far from being purely cosmetic, these materials each have their own unique qualities, as well as pros and cons that can affect how the knife performs when used. This means that it is basically a synthetic rubbery material. Its up to you to decide what matters most to you. a plastic handle with rubber grip), are relatively affordable, and come in a variety of colors, a good feature to help identify specific knives and prevent cross-contamination. The most common ones are African blackwood, desert ironwood, rosewood, cocobolo, and walnut these are types of wood that are both solid and stable (they don't expand or contract in extreme temperatures). Its just about figuring out what is going to be a better tool for you. Its glowing character and rainbow hues truly complement the finest in steel knife blades. RECHERE 1pcs Knife Handle Scale Slabs Grips C-Tek Resin Snakeskin Honeycomb Pattern Purple Knives Sword Gun Making Material 120X40X8mm 4.1 (74) $1799 FREE delivery Mon, Mar 6 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon Only 12 left in stock - order soon. All one-of-a-kind knife handle materials that we sell are all individually photographed and presented on this website. This can include dying it to give it different colors, or texturing it to improve grip. Guide to Knife Handle Materials: Natural, Synthetic, and Hybrids, 2023 Jantz Supply. Both materials are durable, water-resistant, and comfortable to use, but G-10 costs less and is less susceptible to environmental factors. You can findtextured G10 scales with honeycomb, diamond, and other patterns. Carbon fiber is a reinforced polymer that contains tightly woven strands of carbon set in resin (hence, carbon fiber). Alpha Knife Supply - AKS TPEs are preferred for their grip, which is not very slippery even when wet, and are therefore ideal for kitchen use. Some manufacturers bank on handle design (including ridges and etching), or couple the steel with rubber or grip tape on the handle to improve the knifes reliability. Kitchen handles and the material theyre made of play a large part in the comfort, safety, and overall durability of a kitchen knife. A good option for minimalists/survivalists. I know, there are tons and tons of different handle materials. The natural grain adds a beautiful, elegant touch to any blade, and wood can easily be carved and shaped to your liking. Over the years, I've learned quite a lot about the outdoors and the gear I needed. Yep, paracord was originally used in the suspension lines of parachutes. Tried and tested wood knife handles are a market winner and have stood the test of time with buyers, so carry a wide range of both natural wood and wood look composite products these wont let you down! Mother of pearl, also known as nacre, is produced by oysters and other mollusks. Looks great when polished with Luxor compounds. Largest variety of handle materials with many sizes, types and colors. Lets have a look at some of todays top picks in synthetic knife handles! Burl. Lets look at some things that need to be considered when choosing a knife handle: If youre ticking these boxes, you can be confident that the buyer will receive a knife product that will give them decades of pleasurable use! Fun fact: Micarta was originally designed to be an electrical insulator! In terms of knife handle materials, what options are out there for the knife seller? This one is with a twist the scrimshaw or other art is cast right into the handle - many choices of art works are available. are extremely durable and lightweight. Oftentimes, the knife handle features a soft, jutting edge that, when held, rests right beside your pinky finger. But this is wrong. Proper treatment of your handles with oils such asLinspeed Oil can protect your wood from damage. G10 handles can also be easily carved, peened or engraved to provide a more textured grip. As yet another bonus, stabilized wood is great for climates with fluctuating temperatures as the resin in the wood protects it from cracking. The resin can be dyed any number of colors including blue, red, green, orange, yellow, black, and white. Most metal knife handles are actually not pure metals, but alloys. If you have any comments or suggestions, let us know in the section below. A full tang knife relies in its structure and strength on a solid, continuous piece of metal. There are various reasons why alloys are used instead of pure metals. So not a good idea for a survival or tactical blade. But what exactly are all of these, and which ones are the best? Handle Material Hunter Green Bone 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 5. Free shipping. Stabilized wood box elder burl block, Wood Knife Handle, Natural Wood Crafting Material, Turning Blank, Knifemaking ad vertisement by DimecWood. Well, its basically carbon strands woven together and then set into a resin, making one of the strongest materials in the industry. So you can feel good about ensuring they were put to good use even after they passed. With the appropriate base material and skilled ergonomics that fit the hand, knife handles have come a long way in recent decades. Natural materials, such as wood, metal, and bone, are considered the most traditional and beautiful in form. As a note, teak isnt the MOST durable of woods, so its better on a knife handle thatll see gentler use or with a customer that understands caring for wood surfaces. More expensive than other metals, resulting in higher priced knives. Theyre often used in kitchen knife handles, as they can be easily molded into a wide assortment of shapes and colors. Natural materials: these are the more vintage materials. There are actually three main handle finishes, from what Ive found: bead-blasting, anodizing and other coatings. Knives typically have three rivets, which can be visible or hidden, depending on the design. Wood is a relatively inexpensive material for making knife handles. As you can see, the two knives above are the same brand and have the same handle material, but their handle designs are quite different. Some of the best types of wood to use for a handle include walnut, birch, oak, rosewood, cocobolo, ebony, and burl. When, however, it comes to the custom knifemaker's available choices, one have to dwell deep into the forums to get any information. Most of them are created specifically to exhibit certain properties. The Ultem-ate Handle Material. Other ones include Grivory, also a common trademark, and Grilon. Cow bones are a common choice, and you can even use. Starting from the back of the knife, the end opposite the blade tip, youll find the handle butt. Outdoor Troop also participates in affiliate programs with ShareASale, AvantLink, and other sites. Being customizable, customers can have some range of choice in the color or look that theyd like to own in a carbon fiber handle. For your home cook, a more elegantly shaped and crafted handle could be appropriate because the knife is not used as heavily or as often. Youve probably seen me talk about finishes in the rest of this post. DimecWood. They range in price from very cost effective to mid-priced for handle material making Micarta and Phenolic extremely popular. Whether your learning how to make a knife handle or changing up your tools, we have the material that fits your needs. Natural materials -- like wood, bone, horn and antler -- are beautiful, traditional and time-tested as knife handles. It might help if youre clumsy, and just add a little extra safety to the knife. With the industry knowledge and manufacturing know how to develop impressive materials, knife manufacturers have really stepped up to the plate with materials that are good for knives, and good for knife users. Items 1 - 18 of 79 Show per page Sort By GFlex Epoxy Kit - 8oz. Compared to traditional cutlery made from 100% v Can get very slippery without adequate handle design. As the toughest fiberglass resin laminate, that is also water- and temperature-resistant, G-10 handles produce hard-wearing kitchen knives. A customer with tiny hands or joint problems is not going to be able to use a heavy, overly bulbous knife handle easily and safely. Micarta can be made using fabrics including parachute cord, denim or even paper. Carbon fiber knife handles are lightweight, and easy to manipulate with an impressive strength to weight ratio. In terms of aesthetics, most . G10 Handle Kiritsuke Gyuto 197 mm Hammered Finish. Ultimately, as long as a knife is comfortable to hold and the material is durable and heat-resistant, the choice of handle material is truly a matter of preference. The resin can be dyed any number of colors including blue, red, green, orange, yellow, black, and white. Wood is one of the oldest, most popular types of knife handle material. Ultem is the new kid on the block and it's an awesome option for a handle material. Well, its basically a strong substance made from taking strips of fiberglass, soaking them in a resin, and then compressing them. Rosewoods are also dense and strong without being heavy or cumbersome. Knives with wood or wood composite handles need to be oiled around twice a year. Youll find that many people will tell you that Micarta is a phenolic laminate. can keep it looking good for centuries. A cheaper alternative, if you dont feel like spending millions, is to get an abalone handle (abalone is the stuff inside the shell of mollusks). The purpose of the tang is to give the knife added stability and weight. After inserting them through the knife and scales, cut off any excess length and sand down the edge. When making a unique knife that captures the look and feel of the great outdoors, a pine cone handle is a creative choice. However, unless the handle has a hollow core, a completely stainless steel knife might be too heavy for the average cook. Here, Ive tried to give you some of the brads/names that are very similar to these common materials.