At a glance
- Oily, dense hardwoods and stabilised wood suit knives that get wet.
- Micarta (resin-soaked linen or canvas) is grippy, waterproof and warm in the hand.
- G10 is the toughest common handle material, but can feel slippery when polished.
- Elephant ivory is banned from most dealing in the UK under the Ivory Act 2018.
Natural handle materials
| Material | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwoods (oak, ash, walnut, beech) | Warm, cheap, easy to shape | Swell and shrink with moisture; need oiling |
| Oily or dense woods (olive, cocobolo, ebony, bog oak) | Naturally water-resistant, beautiful | Some cause skin reactions; some are expensive |
| Curly or burr woods (curly birch, maple burr) | Striking figure | Often unstable unless stabilised |
| Antler | Traditional, grippy, durable | Hollow core; varies piece to piece |
| Horn (buffalo, ram) | Smooth, traditional | Can crack if it dries out |
| Bone | Traditional, can be dyed or jigged | Can crack; needs careful drilling |
Stabilised wood
Stabilised wood has been soaked in resin under vacuum and pressure, then cured, so the resin fills the wood's pores. The result keeps the look of wood but no longer swells, shrinks or cracks with water. It's ideal for burr and spalted woods that would otherwise be too soft or unstable, and a good choice for kitchen knives.
Micarta
Micarta is a laminate of layers of linen, canvas or paper set in resin and cured under heat and pressure. The name began as a trademark of the Westinghouse company, which developed the material in the early 20th century; knife makers use it for any similar laminate. Linen micarta is smooth and fine; canvas micarta is coarser and grippier, especially when wet. It's warm in the hand, waterproof and very durable, and a favourite for bushcraft knives.
G10 and carbon fibre
G10 is a laminate of glass-fibre cloth and epoxy resin. It's extremely tough, light and waterproof, and comes in many colours and textures. Left polished it can be slippery, so makers often texture it. Carbon fibre is light and strong with a distinctive woven look, but more expensive and can be brittle at sharp corners.
Which handle material should I choose?
- Kitchen knife: stabilised wood, a dense oily hardwood, micarta or G10. Anything that can survive washing and drying.
- Bushcraft knife: canvas micarta, G10, antler or a stable hardwood. Grip when wet matters most.
- Display or historical piece: natural wood, antler or horn, for the look.
A note on the law
Elephant ivory can't be bought or sold in the UK, with narrow exemptions, under the Ivory Act 2018, which came into force on 6 June 2022. Use legal alternatives such as bone, antler or resin materials.
Questions people ask
What is the best knife handle material?
There is no single best. G10 and micarta are the most durable and waterproof; stabilised wood combines wood's looks with stability; natural wood and antler are the most traditional.
What is micarta made of?
Layers of linen, canvas or paper soaked in resin and cured under heat and pressure into a hard, waterproof block.
Is G10 or micarta better?
G10 is tougher and more resistant to chemicals; micarta is warmer, grippier when wet and often considered more comfortable. Both are excellent.
What wood is best for a kitchen knife handle?
Stabilised wood, or a dense, oily hardwood such as olive, ebony or bog oak, which resist water much better than open-grained woods.
Learn to make one
60 UK forges teach this. Book directly with the forge.
A D Price Metalcraft (ADPriceMetalcraft)
from £190
Is this your forge? Claim your listing
Alex Pole Ironwork
from £245
Is this your forge? Claim your listing
Alfie (Wecandoo kitchen knife workshop)
from £350
Is this your forge? Claim your listing
Related pages
Sources
- Goddard, W. (2000) The Wonder of Knifemaking. Krause Publications
- CAMEO, Museum of Fine Arts Boston: Micarta
- The Ivory Act 2018 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2022