I bought my first knife with a black micarta handle. How durable is micarta? Is it sensitive to anything; like oils or blood? Does it stain easily? It's pretty as hell, just wondering.

Micarta is probably one of the toughest scale materials being used today. You shouldn`t find anything to complain about with it.

Micarta is the definition of tough. I have found nothing that stains it. It is a phenolic plastic with a fibrous material like paper or linen in it. A very strong acid might get to it as might a long sit in a polar organic solvent. Neither of which you want to get your hands in.

A good stainless knife built with linen micarta scales and high quality epoxy will last generations. Best choice for a working knife.

When the scales start looking a little gray (or slightly green depending on the maker of the micarta) simply hit them with a coat of Johnson's Floor wax ... and they go right back to their original color.

Mike,
Thanks for the answer. I bought a small fixed blade custom knife. The knife will probably be my new every occasion working knife. I loved the way it looked but was concerned about the handle holding up to the chores. I can't wait to use it now, and how cool it looks on my waist.

g-10 is better i.m.o.
but micarta is not far behind...i think micarta has more impact resistance because it has more "give" its been used for decades...my dad is a machinest and he says it is very hard on his tools. the impact thing gives micarta an edge but solvents and caustic materials i think the edge goes to g-10

dont worry...micarta is bulletproof

The second knife I ever started (and first finished ) used linen micarta scales. It is a kitchen knife for my wife. So far she hasn't been able to damage it in the least, despite daily use including occasionaly testing the impact resistance of our tile floor. With that, I can positively say that it is amazingly tough stuff!

Enjoy!

I couldn't resist, it's really a good looking knife.

looks nice

quote:

Originally posted by CDH:
The second knife I ever started (and first finished ) used linen micarta scales. It is a kitchen knife for my wife. So far she hasn't been able to damage it in the least, despite daily use including occasionaly testing the impact resistance of our tile floor. With that, I can positively say that it is amazingly tough stuff!

Enjoy!

Wife testing a blade can be brutal A friend gave us a knife set for a wedding gift, she has managed to break not one, not two, but three of the knives in the set! For some reason she things that a knife is the proper tool to pry apart things, and you'd think she'd learn after one of two blades :O

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:

quote:

Originally posted by CDH:
The second knife I ever started (and first finished ) used linen micarta scales. It is a kitchen knife for my wife. So far she hasn't been able to damage it in the least, despite daily use including occasionaly testing the impact resistance of our tile floor. With that, I can positively say that it is amazingly tough stuff!

Enjoy!

Wife testing a blade can be brutal A friend gave us a knife set for a wedding gift, she has managed to break not one, not two, but three of the knives in the set! For some reason she things that a knife is the proper tool to pry apart things, and you'd think she'd learn after one of two blades :O

I made it explicitly clear to my wife that our kitchen knives are for cutting food, and pretty much food ONLY. She is always there when I buy em so she can see the price tag, not to mention that I flip out when/if she puts em in teh dishwasher. Needless to say she hand washes all of em now.