One thing that I like about the unpolished micarta, not only does it give your hand something to grip on, it also holds better inside your leather sheath.
Have made several knives myself, and I am a big fan of micarta also. Dont really enjoy working with it from a fabrication standpoint, but it is really tough to beat as a durable handle material with good grip
Interesting thought about the grip and why you like micarta scales or prefer. The use of a knife when wet conditions would make for a safer task.. I myself enjoy natural woods and I stabilize my scales... But over the last few months micarta is what customers are asking for in any of the woodsman style knives or tactical they order. Was a challenge to get the change for me and as you said- I had a tendency to over polish and ended up with a slick polished finish and defeated the purpose. With the water getting under scales, I am with you on this- I do not think in a lifetime the amount of water buildup would damage the blade. Thanks for sharing . ATB Mike
Well you got me thinking about my next knife, I think I am going to challenge you to do a brightly colored, flashy, pretty knife that no one but myself would want.
Not that I would do it ..but when I was in my twenties I came across a leg bone in a field that looked like .it had been shattered and healed.when it healed it doubled its thickness.I took it home to make a handle..I remember ripping it down the middle and the center the marrow was super hard and porous ...it looked like and felt like one of those weird rough sponges my ma had..I wonder if I had ground it down to expose some of that stuff ...it probably would have made some real good gripy..that handle never got finished by the way ..well it did but I didn't end up using the broken bone..
William, one of my all time favorite handle materials you have used in the past was the horse stall rubber floor mat. THAT material is phenomenal for a lot of reasons. It's obviously not as durable as a micarta, but is so tacky and warm and comfortable. I know you mentioned that it is a pain to grind (if I remember correctly). Do you ever use it anymore?
Yep, installed a set on the Master Woodsman HD. Actually found another knife maker at the show who is using the horse stall mat as well. He and I talked a bit about the product and he is sold on it too. Great handle scale material i think.
Good stuff, the bright stuff is G10? That sure gets slick when it's wet, have a knife with a g10 handle, very slick but makes good liners I think. I find wood has a "warmth" that the other stuff does not, though micarta comes close, have had wood chip on me before so micarta now is my preferred material too, although I am interested in this dewcarta stuff, nerves heard of it before you showed the prototype type woodsman so am looking forward to that, will be a great for sure!
How about 'mother of pearls' handle? So that it could match General Patton's revolver handle. But I don't think the General was into bushcrafting.;P I hated stag handles. I tried a stag handle Bowie, and it's bits into my hand. No way anyone could hold that knife long. One material you did not mention was stack leather washers like in Ka Bar USMC Utility knife. Although it does not have finger groves, it does has a slight swell in the mid portion like a palm swell or coke bottle. Personally, I do like stack leather, or at least on the Ka Bar USMC for 3 reasons.1. It's grippe. And it's grippe when wet. 2. It absorb shocks for hard knocks like chopping or baton. 3. The tang is not expose to the elements, especially carbon steel blades. What are your thoughts
Gadget yoyo stacked leather is for rat tail tangs not for full tang knives. Krynite has a a great synthetic mother of pearl but the real thing is to thin for my handle styles. Appreciate your support.
Mr. Collins what type/model is the Knive you used during the video? The smaller one w/green liners. It's absolutely awesome! Very interested in one exactly like it. Thanks for video. 👍🏽👏🏽🇺🇸
Thanks, it is a variation of the Daily Chore. Send me an email if you wish to order one. williamcollins@wcknives.com ruclips.net/video/R6Dh56xhrdY/видео.html
Been a while, William, thought provoking video. About two tears ago I had a cherry tree cut down in my front yard. The logs are that deep red, and I have never burned any of the logs. Would that make good handles?
When you talk a bout these exotic woods you say dense you are correct for your ebony and Osage, rose wood kinda but not really durable weeeeeeeeell that’s debatable exotic woods hard but also soft if I drop an ebony scale on the ground there’s a decent chance it will brake I could take a hickory scale and throw it on the ground and it would be fine. Maple is not that dense or hard but it is strong. For you I’d suggest cumaru it’s the micarta of wood it’s pretty grippy and naturaly almost water proof very hard and it’s cheeper than your ebony. Just as dense and much stronger. I’m only a moderate knife maker but I have an obsession with wood. It’s best bought from a wood store.
William Collins thanks didn’t mention it comes as decking boards cost effective and Already about the right thickens. And now actually a question where is the best place to get tool steel
Day Heah William, Yeah, I remember changing the stickers on a Fiberglass Bow my Friend and I switched when we were youngsters. I remember I couldn't wait to shoot it. It was after The Thanksgiving Dinner. That year was a cold one and the ground was frozen. I pit up a Board at our end of the yard which was in line with the Old Lady's Kitchen and there she was reading the newspaper. I pulled back and let'er fly. Right off the ground and through the window, newspaper almost hitting her and into her cubbard. Yikes, I L@@Ked like those not guilty cartoon characters Whistling like I knew nothing, heh heh heh. Anyhow, Yup, That nice Old Lady brought my bow back and gave it to my Parents,,Ofcource Dad had to fix her window. Mom fixed me chasing me around the dinning room table proving to me how unbreakable Fiberglass was. I like G-10. I know its a little heavier. But I like that in a knife. I feel its strength. Yeah, I'm old School, I like G-10.,,.
I know, But I seen some Pine Cone Handle with Blue that certainly L@@K Puffy. I don't want to be difficult, But G-10 is still a good handle material. I have Coyoye Black Mountain that L@@Ks Awesome too. But no problem, You made some Great Handles with them'dar Hidden Lanyards, But I also would like a Choil on half Handle Half Blade. We'll talk, Again Have a Safe One.,,.
I also like grippy micarta.
For sweaty hands , rain or in the winter when I have to wear gloves.
I like woods but not for a heavy use blade.
Thanks!
One thing that I like about the unpolished micarta, not only does it give your hand something to grip on, it also holds better inside your leather sheath.
Good point, thanks for the support and sharing.
Love your handle design William! Who needs pretty when you have great functionality. 👍
LOL, me too. Thanks!
Have made several knives myself, and I am a big fan of micarta also. Dont really enjoy working with it from a fabrication standpoint, but it is really tough to beat as a durable handle material with good grip
Appreciate your view and comment.
Interesting thought about the grip and why you like micarta scales or prefer. The use of a knife when wet conditions would make for a safer task.. I myself enjoy natural woods and I stabilize my scales... But over the last few months micarta is what customers are asking for in any of the woodsman style knives or tactical they order. Was a challenge to get the change for me and as you said- I had a tendency to over polish and ended up with a slick polished finish and defeated the purpose. With the water getting under scales, I am with you on this- I do not think in a lifetime the amount of water buildup would damage the blade. Thanks for sharing . ATB Mike
Appreciate your view and thoughts.
Beautiful work! I really love your style those handles are so cool!
Thank you, appreciate your support.
hello sir! I wanted to ask you what is the grid that you stop when shaping the micarta handles.
thank you for your support and videos!
I assume you are asking about grit. I usually stop at 80 grit and hand sand the pins and blade tang with 180.
Well you got me thinking about my next knife, I think I am going to challenge you to do a brightly colored, flashy, pretty knife that no one but myself would want.
LOL, you have a few of those already.
Not that I would do it ..but when I was in my twenties I came across a leg bone in a field that looked like .it had been shattered and healed.when it healed it doubled its thickness.I took it home to make a handle..I remember ripping it down the middle and the center the marrow was super hard and porous ...it looked like and felt like one of those weird rough sponges my ma had..I wonder if I had ground it down to expose some of that stuff ...it probably would have made some real good gripy..that handle never got finished by the way ..well it did but I didn't end up using the broken bone..
cocobolo would be another very good dense wood for handles .... its naturally oily so it would be good in wet weather
Yes it is, thanks for reminding me.
in fact desert ironwood, cocobolo and rose wood are very closely related.
true .... just from different parts of the world
William, one of my all time favorite handle materials you have used in the past was the horse stall rubber floor mat. THAT material is phenomenal for a lot of reasons. It's obviously not as durable as a micarta, but is so tacky and warm and comfortable. I know you mentioned that it is a pain to grind (if I remember correctly). Do you ever use it anymore?
Yep, installed a set on the Master Woodsman HD. Actually found another knife maker at the show who is using the horse stall mat as well. He and I talked a bit about the product and he is sold on it too. Great handle scale material i think.
Good stuff, the bright stuff is G10? That sure gets slick when it's wet, have a knife with a g10 handle, very slick but makes good liners I think.
I find wood has a "warmth" that the other stuff does not, though micarta comes close, have had wood chip on me before so micarta now is my preferred material too, although I am interested in this dewcarta stuff, nerves heard of it before you showed the prototype type woodsman so am looking forward to that, will be a great for sure!
Didn't mention G10 in the video but yes it is very slick as a scale but works great as liners. Appreciate you reminding me of it.
For fixed blades I like wood most of all, for my slipjoints and lockback pretty much anything goes.
Tyler Snyder thanks, just did a newer version on handle materials. ruclips.net/video/2Rjoy7Jgubo/видео.html
How about 'mother of pearls' handle? So that it could match General Patton's revolver handle. But I don't think the General was into bushcrafting.;P
I hated stag handles. I tried a stag handle Bowie, and it's bits into my hand. No way anyone could hold that knife long.
One material you did not mention was stack leather washers like in Ka Bar USMC Utility knife. Although it does not have finger groves, it does has a slight swell in the mid portion like a palm swell or coke bottle. Personally, I do like stack leather, or at least on the Ka Bar USMC for 3 reasons.1. It's grippe. And it's grippe when wet. 2. It absorb shocks for hard knocks like chopping or baton. 3. The tang is not expose to the elements, especially carbon steel blades.
What are your thoughts
Gadget yoyo stacked leather is for rat tail tangs not for full tang knives. Krynite has a a great synthetic mother of pearl but the real thing is to thin for my handle styles. Appreciate your support.
Color me stupid. I though a rat tail tang is tang about 1/4 inch thick metal. Thanks for the info. Now update my brain.
Great vid. who does your heat treat?
I heat treat all of the O1's. Most of the crucible steels I send to Peter's so it can get a cryo treatment as well as heat treatment.
Cool. Thanks
If you've got something like rosewood should you lacquer it or apply a finish to protect it?
Varnish and some other finishes may cause hot spots and blisters. Most dense woods I use either a oil finish or a clear acrylic.
Nose oil.
What angle did u grind that saber on the knife with the shade tree scales.about a 5 degree
Houseknives probably, I hand grind but 5 is probably close.
The sportsman with red liners fits my hand great I got med hands I’m 5,9
Good stuff boss
Thanks!
Mr. Collins what type/model is the Knive you used during the video? The smaller one w/green liners. It's absolutely awesome! Very interested in one exactly like it. Thanks for video. 👍🏽👏🏽🇺🇸
Thanks, it is a variation of the Daily Chore. Send me an email if you wish to order one. williamcollins@wcknives.com ruclips.net/video/R6Dh56xhrdY/видео.html
Been a while, William, thought provoking video. About two tears ago I had a cherry tree cut down in my front yard. The logs are that deep red, and I have never burned any of the logs. Would that make good handles?
Absolutely! Cherry makes great knife handles and furniture.
William that spline takes scales off fish like no ones biz
IMO, bead blasted micarta is the best material for all conditions.....but that's just me....
Then we agree....again and I find we agree a lot.
When you talk a bout these exotic woods you say dense you are correct for your ebony and Osage, rose wood kinda but not really durable weeeeeeeeell that’s debatable exotic woods hard but also soft if I drop an ebony scale on the ground there’s a decent chance it will brake I could take a hickory scale and throw it on the ground and it would be fine. Maple is not that dense or hard but it is strong. For you I’d suggest cumaru it’s the micarta of wood it’s pretty grippy and naturaly almost water proof very hard and it’s cheeper than your ebony. Just as dense and much stronger. I’m only a moderate knife maker but I have an obsession with wood. It’s best bought from a wood store.
Appreciate your view and advise.
William Collins thanks didn’t mention it comes as decking boards cost effective and Already about the right thickens. And now actually a question where is the best place to get tool steel
StickyBoi 45 Hudson tool steel or the basic knife supply houses like Jantz or USA.
William Collins thanks
I like the look of zebra wood it’s dense
how about ivory, mother of pearl ;)
Day Heah William, Yeah, I remember changing the stickers on a Fiberglass Bow my Friend and I switched when we were youngsters. I remember I couldn't wait to shoot it. It was after The Thanksgiving Dinner. That year was a cold one and the ground was frozen. I pit up a Board at our end of the yard which was in line with the Old Lady's Kitchen and there she was reading the newspaper. I pulled back and let'er fly. Right off the ground and through the window, newspaper almost hitting her and into her cubbard. Yikes, I L@@Ked like those not guilty cartoon characters Whistling like I knew nothing, heh heh heh. Anyhow, Yup, That nice Old Lady brought my bow back and gave it to my Parents,,Ofcource Dad had to fix her window. Mom fixed me chasing me around the dinning room table proving to me how unbreakable Fiberglass was. I like G-10. I know its a little heavier. But I like that in a knife. I feel its strength. Yeah, I'm old School, I like G-10.,,.
Nice story. I can certainly provide G10.
I know, But I seen some Pine Cone Handle with Blue that certainly L@@K Puffy. I don't want to be difficult, But G-10 is still a good handle material. I have Coyoye Black Mountain that L@@Ks Awesome too. But no problem, You made some Great Handles with them'dar Hidden Lanyards, But I also would like a Choil on half Handle Half Blade. We'll talk, Again Have a Safe One.,,.