How Strong are Carbon Fiber Handles?

ToddM said:
It depends on a lot of things. People like to think it's a wonder material but if you pay attention it's typically only used for very specific applications.

First the weave pattern impacts stiffness a lot, one of the beautiful things about CF is you can make it incredibly stiff in one direction but flexible in another for example as used in formula 1 suspension parts. However, I've noticed a couple of the CF handle knives without full liners exhibit more flex in the handle perpendicular to the blade than their counterparts, and you can easily deflect the handle scales just by squeezing them. If you don't pry with it, which you shouldn't be doing it's not an issue. I'd imagine that flex could make a liner/frame lock collapse earlier, but again only after you do something you shouldn't.

The other thing CF is very poor at is abrasion/impact resistance. Once you damage the weave/laminate it tends to peel exposing the fiber weave, and you do not want CF in your skin, it makes fiberglass look hand lotion. You crash a CF road/mountain bike frame where it takes any significant abrasion and it's ruined. In a knife handle that's not likely to happen, especially since most high $ knives don't see hard use, and people typically are not beating on the handles. Depending on the epoxy used it may or may not be resistant to chemicals, UV etc.

It's an okay material, amazing in the right application, but unless it's peel-ply it's too slippery and worthless for anything but looking pretty in a knife handle, and I doubt most of the CF used in knife handles would take anywhere near the same impact/abrasion abuse as Micarta or G10 without damage.

Most industries go through a phase where they try to use CF for everything as a "wonder material" and over time learn where it works well and where it doesn't. I suspect the knife industry will learn this as well.
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This makes a lot of sense, thanks!

Allex said:
All quality motorbikes helmets are made from fiber glass, not CF, CF it's not impact resistant.
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This is exactly why I asked.

Just because a material is good for some things, does not mean it is good for all.
 
It may not be impact resistant when it comes to things like helmets and body panels, but it is more than strong enough for absolutely anything a knife would be used for.

My regular carry is a ZT0777m390, and I have to say that the CF on that is amazing. Not only does it look fantastic, the finish on the CF leaves a nice amount of grip without being overkill. The 770 I had didnt have quite as much grip or as nice of a finish as the 777, but its not very fair to compare any production knife to the 777. I havent had a chance to check out any of the other, newer ZT offerings in CF.
 
Just saying, right now most of what we're talking about is CF inlay. I hope in a year or so there will be a lot more 100% CF handles out there. They'll remain priced at a premium.

Carbon Fiber is definitely stronger than G-10. Not sure about chipping but from feeling mine it seems CF would be less susceptible to it than G-10.

I looked at my CF fixed 4" again just now, The full--hand chamfered CF pinned to each side of the tang is thicker than what I'd call inlay. It's pretty cool, yeah....
 
It's pretty frickin strong, supercsrs are made with it.
 
Carbon fibre is very strong. But it will not resists impacts well. It can and will chip. Weight savings and looks.
 
EChoil said:
Just saying, right now most of what we're talking about is CF inlay. I hope in a year or so there will be a lot more 100% CF handles out there. They'll remain priced at a premium.

Carbon Fiber is definitely stronger than G-10. Not sure about chipping but from feeling mine it seems CF would be less susceptible to it than G-10.

I looked at my CF fixed 4" again just now, The full--hand chamfered CF pinned to each side of the tang is thicker than what I'd call inlay. It's pretty cool, yeah....
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I thought the original question was posed in terms of handle slabs, not inlays. ZT, Lionsteel, Microtech (Marfione customs), Strider, and others have made knives with solid CF handle slabs. Inlays are rarely (to my knowledge) added for the purpose of strength, they are normally there for aesthetics or grip texture.
 
If you are worried about damaging it when you drop it, do not buy ANY knife.
 
The great thing about CF is you can sand it if you get a little abrasion on it.


Think of it this way, if G10 was better, it would be used on airplanes, supercars and race cars instead of CF.
 
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