Bio-engineered spider silk for handle material

[FX sniper]

Interesting article about the use of synthetic, bio-engineered spider silk to make the handles for the Nyala knife.

https://gearpatrol.com/2018/07/18/best- ... microsilk/

[Larrin]

Not actually spider silk:
"Is your DNA actually from spiders?
No, it’s not. We look at the DNA of spiders and then create sequences engineered for product performance. The whole process is informed by our understanding of how spiders make silks."
https://boltthreads.com/technology/microsilk/

[tvenuto]

Silk micarta (spider or no)? I’m listening...

[sal]

I guess we'll try to get some and test it.

sal

[Sumdumguy]

Silk micarta to go along with my silk pillowcases? Count me in!

[Surfingringo]

I've been digging through their site today. That's a very interesting company and process! Very cool!

[Knife Knut]

Definitely an early adopter phase technology.
Using yeast to produce the needed protein is new to me. A previous efforts in the limelight was using transgenic goats to make the spider silk in their milk.
IMHO The process of spinning the protein into fiber at production quantities and reasonable cost has always been the real roadblock, and the company website completely ignores that.
I am skeptical that using it in micarta brings anything new to the table. Just a novelty material.

[dj moonbat]

I guess we'll try to get some and test it.

sal

God, I love this man.

[ZMW]

Spiderman colors on the first set?