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The Complete Guide to Common Knife Handle Materials

The part of an EDC knife you hold is second only to the blade itself — learn all you need to know about their makeup here.

collage of knives on a blue background

By Sean Tirman

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While the blade of a given knife is obviously the most important part — it’s the part that does the cutting, after all — the handle is only slightly less important, as you’re not going to do much cutting if you can’t actually hold onto the tool. But it’s more than that. The handle impacts your ability to grip your knife (and that can change based on external conditions), its overall longevity and toughness, and what kind of lock it might have, among other things.

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A lot of the above factors are determined by the material out of which your knife handle is made. And knowing the kinds of materials commonly used to make pocket knife handles can help you better understand a given knife, allow you to narrow down what you do and don’t like, and even set expectations for a knife’s capabilities, durability and more. With that in mind, we’ve outlined the most common knife handle materials below, along with examples of knives made with said materials.

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Parts of a Knife Handle

Before you understand the materials that go into a knife handle, it’s important to know the parts that make one up. Typically, whenever someone talks about a knife handle, they’re referring to the scales, or the outer part of the handle. The scales can be made up of any material on this list (and many more). Second, some knives — especially those with non-metallic scales — have liners (also sometimes called spacers), or layers beneath the scales, sometimes to which the scales are attached. Liners are also important in the case of knives with liner locks (which you can learn more about here). It’s also worth noting that not all knives have liners, especially those with full-metal handles.

Finally, there is hardware — screws, pins, washers, ball-bearings, spacers (different from liner-spacers, these create the gap between the scales where the blade rests when a knife is closed) and the like — all of which constitute the pieces that hold a knife together and/or allow it to move. And then there are other secondary bits, like pocket clips and lanyard holes.

Metals

Perhaps the most durable, reliable and widely used category of EDC knife handle materials is metal. In fact, even knives advertised as having different material handles probably still have some measure of metal in them — be that for the liners, hardware or even the complete base of the handle (as is seen with material inlays). There are a few types that are more common than others — and not all types of metal are suitable for use in knifemaking (gold, for instance, is far too soft and malleable) — but they’re all among the most tough, durable materials a knife handle can be made from.

Steel

a silver knife on a marble counter
The CRKT Pilar ($48) features a stainless steel handle.
Photo by Sean Tirman

The industry standard and the metal by which all other metals are judged, steel is the old reliable of EDC and knifemaking. An alloy of iron and carbon (although it can contain other elements, like copper, nickel, chromium, vanadium and more, each of which will slightly change the end material’s properties), steel is a historical game-changer dating back a whopping 4,000 years. It is renowned for its durability, strength, longevity, affordability and how easy it is to clean and maintain. It’s no wonder that this is the primary material used to craft knife blades, but it’s also widely used to craft handles (especially those with integrated locks, e.g. liner, sub-frame and frame).

Steel: Sandvik 14C28N

Handle: 410 stainless steel

Lock: Frame

Blade Length: 3.0″

Designed by Ken Onion, the Kershaw Leek is one of the most iconic pocket knives you can buy today. And while not all of them come with a stainless steel handle, the above version does.

Aluminum

a green knife on a marble counter
The Benchmade 940 Osborne ($240) has an aluminum handle.
Photo by Sean Tirman

While not as tough as steel, aluminum has one thing steel doesn’t have: lightness. In fact, aluminum is roughly 1/3 the weight of steel and actually has a better strength-to-weight ratio than steel (although steel is stronger overall). Furthermore, aluminum is often cheaper than steel, helping you save a bit of money on your blades of choice, and can be anodized, which means it can come in a wide variety of colors — pretty much the entire rainbow (and then some) — while steel is really only available in silver and shades of gray (including black).

Steel: CPM M4

Handle: Aluminum

Lock: Axis

Blade Length: 3.38″

A sibling to Benchmade’s more famous Bugout, the Bailout’s primary difference is its tanto blade and the longer tail (which can be used as a glass breaker and/or a lanyard hole). Other than that, the knives are functionally the same, which is a very good thing.

Titanium

a black knife on a marble counter
The WESN Allman ($185) has a titanium handle.
Photo by Sean Tirman

This metal is, to many, the pinnacle of metallic handle materials, as it roughly combines the strength of steel with the weight of aluminum. However, that does come with one significant downside: titanium-handled knives are often much more expensive than either aluminum or steel ones. However, the benefits, for many, far outweigh the price drawbacks. That is furthered when you consider that titanium, like aluminum, can be anodized and turned into many different colors. As far as metal handle materials go, titanium is definitely the darling of the EDC world (and that extends beyond knives into wallets, keychains and more).

Steel: CPM S35VN

Handle: Titanium

Lock: Frame

Blade Length: 2.8″

One of the best everyday carry knives you can buy, WESN’s Allman benefits from a unique bulldog silhouette that helps it stand out when compared to the other knives in its class and makes it very ergonomic and a pleasure to use.

Synthetics

By definition, synthetic materials are not naturally occurring, meaning these handle materials have to be manufactured by humans, usually in a factory or workshop. They’re also remarkably wide-ranging in their appearance, weight (though they’re typically much lighter than metal), durability, strength, etc. They’re also typically paired with metal in the form of liners and hardware but can also be inlaid into metal scales. In extremely rare cases, there are knives (usually fixed blades) that are made entirely out of synthetic materials (meaning they have no metal in them whatsoever).

G10

a black and silver knife on a marble counter
The CRKT Pilar III ($45.29) has a combination G10 and stainless steel handle.
Photo by Sean Tirman

Technically speaking, G10 is actually a type of fiberglass resin — much like FRN/GRN/GFN (see more on this below) — but it is so widespread in the EDC world that it deserves its own section. Specifically, G10 stands for “grade 10 garolite” and is made from multiple layers of stacked glass cloth soaked in epoxy resin and compressed under heat. The result is a material that’s lightweight, durable, strong, moisture-resistant and can be customized into just about any color imaginable (including complex patterns). It’s also a hugely popular knife handle material, understandably so.

Steel: D2

Handle: G10, stainless steel

Lock: Frame

Blade Length: 3.0″

The reigning champion from our guide to the best pocket knives you can buy, CRKT’s Pilar III is exceptional from all angles — including its affordable, approachable price.

Micarta

a brown knife on a marble counter
This discontinued James Brand Folsom ($119) has a Micarta handle.
Photo by Sean Tirman

Micarta (which is both a brand name and the colloquial term for the material, like Kleenex or Band-Aids) is a lot like G10, except instead of using layers of fiberglass, micarta is comprised of linen or cloth fabric that is soaked in epoxy resin and compressed under heat. But these two materials also differ in some significant ways. For instance, Micarta is naturally more grippy and comfortable to hold than G10, but it is also more susceptible to moisture (a product of the fact that it’s made from fabric instead of fiberglass). Micarta is also extremely tough and can be made in numerous colorways and patterns (which is not dissimilar to G10).

Steel: VG10

Handle: Micarta

Lock: Slide

Blade Length: 2.75″

While a tough pricey, TJB’s Carter is one of the best-looking knives you can buy that you won’t be afraid to actually use. And therein lies the knife’s real charm: it looks good but it’s still reliable and functional.

FRN/GRN/GFN

a black knife on a marble counter
The Benchmade 535BK Bugout has a CF Elite handle, which is a carbon-reinforced nylon polymer.
Photo by Sean Tirman

FRN is short for fiberglass-reinforced nylon. GRN is short for glass-reinforced nylon. And GFN is short for glass-filled nylon. However, these materials are all ultimately the same. In fact, there’s a brand-name material called Zytel that is also the same as the others. Whatever you call it, these names all basically stand for the same thing: a synthetic polyamide thermoplastic made from a combination of (you guessed it) glass/fiberglass and nylon, which has superb strength, stiffness, heat resistance and lightness. While similar in concept to other plastics and resins, this material is different enough to set itself apart.

Steel: CPM SPY27

Handle: FRN

Lock: Compression

Blade Length: 2.58″

The successor to the lauded PM2, Spyderco’s Para 3 beautifully blends tactical sensibilities with an EDC-friendly silhouette. This is the kind of knife you buy if you can only ever carry just one — it’s that good.

Plastic/Resin

There are two common applications for plastic and resin in knife handle materials. First, some knife handles are made entirely out of plastic — Swiss Army Knives made by Victorinox usually have ABS or Cellidor handles (the first of which is a thermoplastic made from petroleum, whereas the second is made using natural plant-based materials). Second, plastic (in the form of resin) can be used to set other materials into a knife handle — this is often seen with natural materials, but can really be done with just about any material, so long as it doesn’t absorb the resin. Grivory is another handle material that’s technically plastic, but it’s a more high-performance, versatile material (there are even knives made entirely out of Grivory, blade and all).

Steel: High-Carbon Stainless

Handle: ABS/Cellidor

Lock: Slipjoint

Blade Length: 2.75″

As its name suggests, this SAK was made for outdoor usage. But it also just makes a great EDC multi-tool, courtesy of its many functions, including its knife blades, bottle and can openers, file, awl, corkscrew, and more.

Carbon Fiber

a gray and silver knife on a marble counter
This discontinued CRKT knife has a shredded carbon fiber handle.
Photo by Sean Tirman

Once a highly-desired and -sought-after material in the EDC world, the thirst for carbon fiber has somewhat waned in the last few years. Still, this is a worthwhile material with a number of benefits. For starters, carbon fiber is roughly five times stronger than steel and twice as stiff. The tradeoff, however, is that it is quite brittle, which makes it prone to splitting and cracking. Luckily, carbon fiber is often sealed with epoxy resin to help improve its brittleness. Carbon fiber also comes in two primary forms: woven and shredded (whereas woven is literally interlaced like a fabric and shredded [or forged] is when carbon fiber is made from tiny pieces or a paste that’s compressed).

Steel: CPM S90V

Handle: Carbon fiber

Lock: Axis

Blade Length: 2.82″

The Benchmade Bugout Mini is an exceptionally sturdy and remarkably lightweight, compact folding knife that will have you immediately wondering exactly why it took you so long to get one the first time you pick it up.

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Natural Materials

While found more often in old-school knives and high-end folders these days, natural materials are still a viable material option for your pocket knife handle. These materials are non-synthetic and non-manufactured — meaning they exist naturally out in the world (and are usually grown by an animal or plant). It is worth noting, however, that some are still processed in some way, shape or form — and that can affect both the overall quality and durability therein.

Wood

a brown knife on a marble counter
This discontinued Civivi Mini Asticus has a wood handle.
Photo by Sean Tirman

Probably the most common of natural knife handle materials, wood (as in the kind that makes up the trunks of trees) has been applied to knife handles for longer than folding knives have existed — dating back to early mankind. Due to the wide variety of wood available — and the processes by which wood is integrated into knife handles — there’s a remarkably wide variety of styles, colorways, patterns, price points and more.

While there are many knives that utilize solid wood alone in their handles, there are also processed versions of wood — some of which (like stabilized wood) largely retain the look and feel of the original material while, perhaps, offering a bit more durability (stabilized wood is more resistant to changes in humidity and rot) whereas others (like pakkawood) can be more like particle board, in that they are a composite (rather than solid pieces).

Steel: Stainless

Handle: Beechwood

Lock: Virobloc safety ring

Blade Length: 3.28″

For such a low-priced knife, it’s pretty incredible that Opinel’s No.08 is still so beloved. This knife just proves that high prices don’t necessarily mean better quality and that budget-friendliness doesn’t have to mean sacrifice.

Leather

While somewhat uncommon among folding knives (and much more common as a wrap around fixed-blade handles), leather is still a viable, relatively common material found in knife handles. What’s important to know about leather, however, is that it is never going to be the sole material used in a folding knife handle, unlike some of the others on this list. Instead, leather is used as an inlay or as the outside layer, offering mostly a stylistic element (although leather can make a knife easier to grip than, say, slick metal). More typically, leather is used to make knife sheaths.

Steel: 1095

Handle: Leather

Lock: N/A, fixed

Blade Length: 7.0″

While not a folder (like the rest of the knives on this list), Ka-Bar’s USMC fixed blade is a legend on its own, carried onto the battlefield by some of the world’s most highly-trained soldiers. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for you.

Bone/Horn

Bone and horn — usually sourced from deer, steer and other ruminant animals — is kind of like the middle point between wood and leather. It’s often used in knife handles, but rarely as the sole handle material (the primary exception being fixed-blade knives, which can have full-bone or -horn handles). However, this material is typically quite resilient and durable and adds a unique appearance and texture to a given knife.

Steel: Stainless

Handle: Buffalo horn

Lock: Slipjoint

Blade Length: 3.25″

As classic as folding knives come, Case’s unique two-bladed Trapper is a budget-friendly slipjoint that just begs to be used again and again. After all, it’s a classic for a reason.

Other Natural Materials

While the aforementioned materials are probably the most common all-natural materials used in knifemaking, they are far from the only materials used. There have been plenty of examples over the years of knives with things like mother of pearl, abalone, pine cone and even (in rarer cases) dried flowers inlaid in their handles. Often, the more delicate materials are set in resin and don’t offer any additional durability, grip or anything like that.

Steel: Tru-Sharp

Handle: Abalone

Lock: Slipjoint

Blade Length: 3.0″

Don’t let that beautiful handle fool you; this knife isn’t just some showpiece. It’s made to be used. And it won’t let you down, even when you put it to work on those tougher cutting tasks.

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