Handle R&D??

[JD Spydo]

Well a lot you might think that with great materials like G-10, Micarta, Titanium, Almite and aircraft aluminum you might say that Spyderco does not need any more handle materials. Well let's think about that for a minute? Isn't Spyderco kind of famous for being innovators? Of course they are!! With all of the "Space AGE" polymers on the horizon and a whole myriad of different metal combinations it would seem to me a good time to introduce a NEW handle material.

Now Carbon Fiber has been impressive but not all Carbon Fiber is created equal. I have a BLADE-TECH Tim Wegner look alike with a CF handle that is so much different than Spyderco's. I am sad to say that it grips better than theirs does. It is more like a matte finish versus the epoxy coated version we see on our favorite Spyderco models. As far as NATURAL handles go my girlfriend just recently scored a C-75 Kiwi with a "red Coral" handle and let me tell you that material is gorgeous and somewhat functional. I know there are other materials out there that are "untapped". Which one do you have in mind and what are they overlooking?

[d.g.g]

I like stainless steel, walnut, and rosewood.

And real ivory is always nice as long it it not the prohibited kind.

[JD Spydo]

Ivory is great handle material but horribly expensive for production knives. But I will admit that I do like it. I know that they have used Titanium on many knives but they do have Titanium alloys which are even lighter and stronger. I love the feel of titanium. It has more of a porous, grippy type feel to it that doesn't get slick during cutting chores.

I must admit that I am not too much of a fan of wood handles with all of the great handles from manufactured materials. Now almite coatings make for a great grip aka Massad Ayoob and Chinese Bob Lum folders.

Maybe what I am looking for here more than anything is what we could do to the existing line up of handle materials. For instance my Benchmade T-6061 aircraft aluminum handle has an anodized coating on it that helps the grip performance quite well. Maybe there are more coatings and manufacturing processes that could be used. But I do know that there are other handle materials out there as well.

[greencobra]

I don't know if I agree with you on the "space age polymers" JD. Do we need another "work" handle?

On the other hand, I like what the company is doing with the Kiwi and Kopa with the bone, wood, micarta and stone. I wish I could collect all of them but the cost would be $1000+ at this point.

[Hillbilly]

Ivory is also prone to problems and hard to work with compared to others. thats why you dont see many ivory handles for cheap...

[greencobra]

Ivory is also prone to problems and hard to work with compared to others. thats why you dont see many ivory handles for cheap...

Ivory can't be imported to the US. You see a lot of Ivory Micarta but no one wants to work with it any more because of the dust.

[smcfalls13]

Desert Ironwood.

It's gorgeous to look at, wears well, is relatively cheap(and really close to the Spyderco factory), and does not need to be imported.

It's got such alow moisture content, that it rarely warps.

When it's polished, it's very pleasing to the eye, and when it's left rough, it's got excellent grip.

Just a thought.

[JD Spydo]

Desert Ironwood.

It's gorgeous to look at, wears well, is relatively cheap(and really close to the Spyderco factory), and does not need to be imported.

It's got such alow moisture content, that it rarely warps.

When it's polished, it's very pleasing to the eye, and when it's left rough, it's got excellent grip.

Just a thought.

Now I am eating my words>> A little mayonaise please I did say that I didn't like wood handles but that is an exception. I do indeed like desert Ironwood. That is a whole different animal. I have a couple of figurines made out of that wood that a customer of mine gave me over 15 years ago. You are right it is not affected by moisture or humidity like most conventional hardwoods. I would like to see Spyderco come out with a fixed blade with desert Ironwood.

OK there is one more wood that I think would make a great fixed blade knife handle. African Bubinga wood. Check it out. Unbelievable!!

[Carlos]

If you haven't held the carbon fiber Military then you haven't seen how good carbon fiber can be IMO. Up until now it has always been just an eye-candy affectation. A slice of polished up wallpaper stuck on as a pretty veneer.


This is the first time I have seen it used in a serious way as a structural material, and one that I think is unquestionably superior to the other laminates. The real virtue of this material lies in unlined knives IMO. Once you stick even nested liners in there, the carbon fiber isn't offering any advantage over G10.

[GarageBoy]

How about DRY/PRE PREGNATED carbon fiber? (you put the stuff in an oven under high pressure) Looks like crap, used in planes, but is actually significantly stiffer and lighter?

[JD Spydo]

If you haven't held the carbon fiber Military then you haven't seen how good carbon fiber can be IMO. Up until now it has always been just an eye-candy affectation. A slice of polished up wallpaper stuck on as a pretty veneer.


This is the first time I have seen it used in a serious way as a structural material, and one that I think is unquestionably superior to the other laminates. The real virtue of this material lies in unlined knives IMO. Once you stick even nested liners in there, the carbon fiber isn't offering any advantage over G10.

Carlos I do like Carbon Fiber handles. I have 9 Spyderco knives with CF handles. But have you handled one of Blade-Tech's Carbon Fiber handled knives. It is a completely different finish and grip variation. With that matte flat finish I can really get a great grip on the knife.

Now please don't get me wrong. I am really blown away with the new Harpy with the CF handles. In that knife design the more enameled finish isn't quite the factor that it is with one of the CF Police. I would carry the CF Police but the CF handle on that model just doesn't handle as well as the G-10 Police does.

I guess me point is why doesn't Spyderco look into the matte flat finished CF handles? They look good and grip good too

[zenheretic]

If G-10 does the job and is cheaper than carbon fiber what is the point of looking into matte finish? What else does matte carbon fiber bring to the table?

[JD Spydo]

If G-10 does the job and is cheaper than carbon fiber what is the point of looking into matte finish? What else does matte carbon fiber bring to the table?

Then G-10 is the one for you>>> But I like the properties of Carbon Fiber. I like the better grip I get with my BLADE-TECH knife handle. Plus no one ever quit improving the light bulb either. Plus I have been told by reputable sources that CArbon Fiber machines better than polymers i.e. G-10.

Now keep in mind I am a big fan of G-10. But why stop there. That's the purpose of this Forum to check out all kinds of different possibilities. That's why we are blessed with all the amenities that the Great Spyder Factory offers. SAL could have stopped with the stainless handles that the first generation of Spyders had. But he had a little more vision that than ( Thank GOD )

[Carlos]

CI guess me point is why doesn't Spyderco look into the matte flat finished CF handles? They look good and grip good too

JD, this is what I am talking about! The carbon fiber Military is finished like G-10: It is a totally different animal than all of the other carbon fiber Spydercos. This is a detail shot:



It has totally changed my view on carbon fiber for knife scales.

[zenheretic]

Then G-10 is the one for you>>> But I like the properties of Carbon Fiber. I like the better grip I get with my BLADE-TECH knife handle. Plus no one ever quit improving the light bulb either. Plus I have been told by reputable sources that CArbon Fiber machines better than polymers i.e. G-10.

Now keep in mind I am a big fan of G-10. But why stop there. That's the purpose of this Forum to check out all kinds of different possibilities. That's why we are blessed with all the amenities that the Great Spyder Factory offers. SAL could have stopped with the stainless handles that the first generation of Spyders had. But he had a little more vision that than ( Thank GOD )

I am well aware of the Forum's purpose. Following those lines, I asked for clarification of why you think Matte CF is better. You say it grips better and it machines better.

Unless economies of scale significantly affect end price, I would not be willing to pay $50 more per knife for a fraction more perceived grippyness. (price based on cost of CF Military vs. regular Military). Also, I've heard some say CF chips around the edges, if this is true, I wouldn't want it on a regular knife.

As far as machining goes, I don't make the knife so unless ease of machining reduced end price I don't care about that potential fact. CF is still toxic AFIK , so backyard crafters would still have a dust problem with CF or G-10.

[zenheretic]

JD, this is what I am talking about! The carbon fiber Military is finished like G-10: It is a totally different animal than all of the other carbon fiber Spydercos. This is a detail shot:



It has totally changed my view on carbon fiber for knife scales.

Ahhh Carlos is going to torture me in yet another thread about the qualities of the CF Military. The only thing the CF Military has taught me is to never pre order a limited edition knife as I still won't get it and someone else is holding my money in the meantime

[JD Spydo]

Well Carlos I was unaware. I must admit I have yet to see the new CF Military. I will make it a point in the next 2 weeks to check one out. I'm just trying to think ahead that's all.

But still my overall point is why stop testing new handle possibilities. At some point G-10 was a "new animal". At some point FRN was a new material. My whole point was for Spyderco to keep innovating. And I don't think MANY people would fault me for that one.

Thanks CARLOS for pointing that one out to me. I had no idea that they were already one up on me. But that's good because that's what I want them to do. I can't wait to check out the new Military.

But I still think they ought to look into taking their metal handles i.e. T-6061 Aluminum, Titanium ect. and look into specialized coatings for them. And if a guy does not want to pay extra for any top notch innovations>> then there are still FRN knives available for that person

[Carlos]

As far as metal handles go, we've tried to get the proposed Lum sprint in HA-III hardened aluminum.

In the past I've talked to Sal about the possibility of magnesium handles, but nothing ever came of it.

[butch]

As far as metal handles go, we've tried to get the proposed Lum sprint in HA-III hardened aluminum.

In the past I've talked to Sal about the possibility of magnesium handles, but nothing ever came of it.

a mag handle could be cool find a way to put a flint striker on it and you got a knife and a fire starter

[JD Spydo]

I never even thought of magnesium. But that is an excellent idea. Anodized magnesium!! With an anodizing or other high tech coating that would be an excellent idea. It is lighter than Titanium. You can alloy it with a multitude of other metals for enhanced performance.

Great that is what I wanted to get from this thread. Some new and unconventional ideas. BINGO!! thanks Carlos