G-10

In composition and manufacturing process, it is essentially a material very similar to a specific type of material Micarta. G-10 is a trade name for a very durable and strong composite material – high-density layered laminate. It is made from glass fibers soaked in epoxy resin. The compound is then compressed and baked - pressed at high pressure and at high temperatures. It can also be found under the designation Garolite.

Properties of G-10 and its Application

The use of the G-10 composite is found primarily in handles or scales for knives, handles for pistols, and similar. G-10 is adhesive and thus anti-slip material and along with texture provides a safe and secure grip even in wet conditions, it is light yet very strong, water-resistant, does not absorb sweat, is physically stable and also serves as an electrical insulator and thermal insulator – in summer, in sharp sunlight it is pleasantly cool when gripped and in winter, at sub-zero temperatures, it is pleasantly warm. Moreover, it can be easily sanded, shaped, and polished, which are highly desirable properties in the production of various handles. A disadvantage might be its greater brittleness. G-10 is available in many color shades and its manufacturing process allows, through the use of differently colored layers, to achieve a unique handle appearance. However, like Micarta, G-10 also has a wide range of applications.

Sometimes this material is mistakenly referred to as Micarta, precisely due to the similarity in composition and manufacturing process. Micarta, however, is a registered trademark and a specific product of the American company Norplex, Inc. (Norplex-Micarta).

G-10 is considered the strongest laminate of all resin laminates with glass fibers and stronger, yet more brittle, than Micarta. G-10 has very similar (perhaps slightly worse) properties compared to Carbon fiber, that is, carbon fibers, but the acquisition cost of products from G-10 is a fraction compared to carbon fibers. The production of G-10 is indeed cheaper than the production of carbon fibers, but G-10 needs to be cut and processed into the desired shape, which is not as economical as injection molding, which for example Zytel allows. Thus, G-10 is a modern and quality material, yet it is neither the most expensive nor the cheapest, and it is used in knives in the lower (but not the cheapest) price range. Sometimes, the manufacturer offers the same knife in both a more expensive and a cheaper version. As an example, we can mention the folding knife MULE by KABAR brand – in the cheaper version, more affordable steel is used for the blade, and the knife handle is made from composite G-10 instead of Zytel resin.