No matter the period in time, people have tended to romanticize weapons. From Arthur wielding Excalibur to establish a kingdom, Muhammad carving passes through the mountains with his fork-tongued scimitar Zulfiqar, or Perseus decapitating Medusa with diamond-tough Harpe, weapons have been so important throughout history that they’ve earned their own names. In more modern times, people have taken pains to ensure that they appear beautiful, adding luxurious components such as mother-of-pearl handles, burl wood encapsulated in amber-like resin, polished bone, and even the unique blends of tungsten, manganese, vanadium, and carbon used to create the distinctive patterns of Damascus steel. So when people imagine truly luxury weapons such as high-end handguns or premium knives, they often imagine that they contain rare natural components such as rosewood, mahogany, or antler. And while many producers of top-notch blades like to make handles out of natural materials, they may not always be the best choice even if they’re undeniably attractive.

In this article, we will discuss the various advantages of using synthetic materials in the handles of premium knives and list some of the best synthetics used in knife making today.

What Advantages Do Synthetic Materials Offer for Knife Handles?

The advantage of most knife handles made from natural materials is obvious: When crafted with care, they look really, really good. The rainbow sheen of cocobolo. The rich, dark patina of polished walnut. The subtle and soft sheen of wrapped leather. However, these beautiful materials have unique and nearly universal disadvantages, and there are good reasons why you don’t see knives with natural handles put to hard use.

Synthetic handles generally lack the panache of more distinguished natural materials, but they more than makeup for it with other beneficial qualities. Please note that not every synthetic handle material will exhibit all of these qualities. Still, some of these include …

Durability and increased strength. Admittedly, man-made synthetics don’t make as tough handles as those crafted from metal and some particularly hard kinds of wood (ebony, for example) can come close to matching their robustness. However, metals offer multiple drawbacks such as slipperiness and painful handling in extreme temperatures, and most natural materials are prone to cracking and chipping. Durability and increased handle strength is one of the areas where synthetic handles excel. Some synthetics still experience a vulnerability to chipping and cracking, but they’re all far harder than wood, bone, and horn.

Economical. This point deserves a bit of clarification. When looking at high-quality knives from a cost perspective, some of them aren’t exactly cheap. Creating new materials with unique characteristics often involves a significant amount of cost — often, but not always. While some synthetic handle compositions are expensive, many are not, especially when compared to natural materials. In addition to the inherent rarity of certain kinds of substances (think of ebony, certain kinds of horn, or woods only available from politically unstable areas), market fluctuations and changes in taste can easily shift a once budget material into the realm of pricey.

Lightweight. Not every knife user prefers a lightweight knife. Chefs in particular enjoy having a hefty handle that aids them in their chopping motions. But those with EDC blades or who find themselves in a survival situation or who want a knife for self-defense understand the need for a lightweight option. Some metals (such as titanium) make for featherweight handles, but they face other significant drawbacks such as higher expense and the possibility of chipping with some formulations. Natural materials are almost universally heavier. Synthetic options thread the proverbial needle.

Superior gripping action and grip feel. One of the great disadvantages of knives with metal, wood, and other similar materials is that they’re hard to hold for long periods of time. Hard edges dig into joints, and unyielding surfaces can lead to aches, stiffness, blisters, and bruising. Not everyone will use a blade with a harder handle for an extended period, but those who do may find it unusable in short order. Multiple synthetics offer a degree of sponginess, give, or rubberization.

Resistance to wear and tear. Due to their general hardness and toughness, synthetic handles will last much longer than their wood or similar materials. Minor bumps, small dings, the repeated friction of regular use, and other similar stresses are far less likely to harm knives that have synthetic handles. What’s more, they don’t require oiling or polishing and generally won’t stain.

Resistance to extreme weather conditions. One of the amazing things about synthetic materials is that they’re virtually impervious to harsh weather. Harsh, arid, sun-baked desert conditions won’t cause them to shrink and fissure. Damp, wet, saturated places that would normally lead to rust or rot won’t touch them. You might have to worry about the condition of your blade in such circumstances, but you won’t need to concern yourself with what will happen to your non-reactive handle.

Non-corrosive. Speaking of non-reactive, one of the great advantages of synthetic handles is how they typically won’t corrode. So experts will even go so far as to say that synthetic materials are waterproof. You wouldn’t want to keep any sort of knife submerged for a long time, but having a survival knife get spattered with rain or a chef’s knife washed repeatedly won’t pose much of a risk for a man-made handle. A wooden grip, though, would require careful oiling, polishing, and maintenance — and that’s if it wasn’t permanently damaged by the exposure in the first place.

Allows for multi-tasking. Now this is an admittedly rare scenario, but some specific kinds of synthetic handle can pull double duty, the best example being a paracord handle. When woven in a specific pattern, this nylon rope makes for a stylish, practical grip. However, in dire situations, owners can unwind the cord and use it to erect a tent, serve as a towline, construct a makeshift sling, or even serve as an impromptu belt.

Variable surface appearance. Wood can take on different sheens based on the oil used. Once sliced, polished, and encased in resin, burls may have varying appearances, too. And various methods of blasting, buffing, scouring, and coating can produce unique finishes on metal. But all of these have a limited range. Knife makers can only shift them so far in one direction or another. That isn’t true with synthetic materials, which can be molded, textured, tinted, patterned, and shaped into many patterns, providing a truly varied surface appearance.

What Are Some Common Synthetics Used in Knife Handles?

 Much like various woods or metals have differing qualities, so man-made synthetics offer many benefits and drawbacks. In this section, we will list some of the most common synthetic materials and discuss their natures. 

Polyoxymethylene

A synthetic thermoplastic most commonly dispensed via injection molding, polyoxymethylene (which is also known as POM or acetal) boasts high hardness, sturdy stability, and little friction. It also won’t fade or discolor easily, making it an excellent option for hard kitchen duty. Naturally colorless, POM is somewhat more expensive than similar thermoplastics.

Polypropylene

A natural substitute for polyoxymethylene, polypropylene is harder, lighter, and resists heat better. However, it’s white instead of colorless, somewhat limiting its tinting options. It also wears down more quickly. A compensating factor is its generally low cost.

Santoprene

Just one entry in the thermoplastic vulcanizates category, santoprene encases thermoset rubber in polypropylene, leading to a handle that gives slightly, is comfortable to hold, and exhibits decent durability. Santoprene was originally intended to be used in tires, but when those efforts failed, it found uses in appliances, healthcare, and construction. It also gets employed in certain kinds of knife handles.

Kraton

A thermoplastic rubber, Kraton shares santoprene’s spongy grip and also comes in grades of varying hardness, making it quite versatile. However, it has several significantly negative aspects. It can absorb liquids over time. It doesn’t look particularly attractive. And knives with Kraton handles have relatively short life spans due to accelerating degradation.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is one of the most popular synthetics used in knife making today, although the term remains somewhat broad and undefined. Any material that includes resin-set, woven carbon threads can be called “carbon fiber.” Strong, non-reactive, and quite hard, carbon fiber is often susceptible to chipping or cracking if struck. Note that there are many grades of carbon fiber on the market, and lower-quality options won’t show as many of the benefits as more expensive samples.

Fat Carbon

It’s anyone’s guess how fat carbon got its less-than-complimentary name. This close cousin to carbon fiber exhibits virtually all of the same characteristics, including strength, stability, and hardness. However, fat carbon includes colored strands in its composition, and as it gets shaped and ground, those hues leap out. If you want a carbon-fiber handle with a bit more panache, then fat carbon is your go-to option.

G-10

Some would go so far as to call G-10 the ideal knife-handle synthetic. Essentially a fiberglass composite, G-10 started its life as an insulator for electronics. This highly resistant, non-rusting, grain-free material works well in many other applications, though. The ability to insert colored layers during its fabrication yields many different style options, and a knife’s distinct look won’t change after getting damp or being cleaned with various common products. G-10 is also incredibly durable, light, easy to shape, and doesn’t need maintenance.

Micarta

Very similar to G-10 in its construction method, Micarta is likewise comprised of layers of fabric or paper soaked in resin. An old formulation, one that was invented in 1910, Micarta shares many of the same qualities of G-10, but it’s much more expensive to manufacture. Still, it finds use in knife handles due to its ability to take on many different appearances.

TeroTuf

TeroTuf is a newer material that’s made in the same layering fashion as G-10 and Micarta, but it lacks some of the chemical components of the latter and doesn’t contain glass like the former. Proponents claim that TeroTuf is nearly indestructible. Its limited cosmetic options and artificial-looking texture may turn off some.

Zytel

Tough is the name of the game when it comes to Zytel. A combination of fiberglass and nylon, Zytel is a branded part of a material family known as glass-reinforced nylon or GFN. It’s incredibly tough. It rarely takes a mark when abraded. It won’t shatter, split, or deform when bent. It’s also incredibly inexpensive to manufacture. But Zytel looks cheap and feels cheap, making it a budget option that is evident to all.

Raffir

Raffir strikes a balance between synthetic and natural material. It’s mainly comprised of an artificial resin that contains materials such as plant fibers, aluminum, brass, bronze, wood, and even fossils. Though intended primarily for jewelry, this branded material has been making its way to knife makers, who enjoy how easy it is to shape.

Richlite

Not unlike Micarta, Richlite uses layered materials combined with resin in its composition. This new material, though, has environmentally conscious consumers as its target audience. Richlite recycles paper and wood that has been ethically harvested into the material, meaning that knife aficionados can have a blade with a handle that looks natural, functions like a synthetic, and doesn’t harm the planet.

JUMA

Like our previous material, JUMA places natural materials in a resin base to create a unique look that exhibits increased durability and wear resistance. What distinguishes it from Richlite, Raffir, and Micarta is that JUMA uses different minerals to create its appearance, which range from striped to scaly to oil-slick droplet designs. Colors tend toward brighter options, although you can find subdued blues, blacks, and browns. JUMA is easily shaped by immersing it in boiling water and looks like ivory on its surface. Its major drawbacks include an unavoidable slipperiness and a hefty price tag.

TAKCOM lists extensive technical specifications in the listing for all of our knives, including handle materials. Browse our offerings here.