Basic Guide to Knife Handle Material Types

With many kitchen knife handles and styles and shapes available on the market, it is hard to decide what handle is best for your application. Here we break down some of the most common materials available below:

G-10 Handle (#1)

G10 is a type of composite material made of fiberglass laminate. It is created using high-pressure and stacking multiple layers of glass. This is a tough material with high strength and low moisture absorption, thus it is favored for outdoor military & hunting knife use.

Micarta Handle (#2)

This is a resin composite material that is also commonly used in knife & BBQ and kitchen tool handles. It can be made with a wide variety of materials and is beloved for its anti-slip, anti-corrosion, insulation and light weight properties.

Pakkawood Handle (#3-#6)

This type of wood is stacked pieces of wood and laminated on the outside. Some of the most common pakkawood colors include: black, coffee, brown and red pakka. Other colors such as caramel colors are also available. These are all color variants of pakka wood.

Ash wood Handle (#7)

This type of handle is derived from ash trees. They are spread throughout the world in regions such as Europe, North America & Asia. There are white ash & black ash varieties with both resembling light beige or light brown hues.

Olive wood Handle (#8)

Olive wood is a sturdy and tough material. This tree type is commonly found in Mediterranean climate and also found in China, South America and Australia.

Walnut Wood Handle (#9)

This type of wood is darker hue resembling dark chocolate or coffee color. It has tight wood grains and tends to fade in color over time. It is popular for its strength and rich color.

Rosewood Handle (#10)

This wood material is a broad genre that refers to rich-colored timbers. It often has dark veins and is coveted for its luxurious look.

Camphor wood Handle (#11)

This type of wooden handle has highly variable colors ranging from grey, red to olive hues. It is resistance to rot and has medium density which makes it easy to shape the handle.

Black Sandalwood Handle (#12)

This type of wood, originally from South Africa, is now commonly found in Asia regions. The color varies from brown to red hues with distinctive black streaks. It can be easily polished with oil with moderate hardness.