Have you read our guide on everything you need to know about knives? If you haven’t, then I’ll urge to do so before continuing. If you did, maybe the decision is close at hand but you’re looking for inspiration to expand your research. Thus, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to 11 of the most popular fabric handle knife brands.
All brands on this list offer at least one knife with the following characteristics:
- Handle is made of fabric, either from a Micarta (textile and paper composite) or nylon.
- Predominantly folding blade knives, but fixed blade knives may also be offered.
- May include other features such as pocket clip or lanyard hole.
A fabric handle is the definite way to go if you want to have a proper balance between weight, grip, and durability. If the intended use or activity does not require the highest degree of grip possible, you can’t go wrong with any of these fabric handle knife brands.
| Brand | Micarta | Nylon |
|---|---|---|
| Benchmade | ✔ | ✔ |
| Böker Plus | ✔ | |
| Civivi | ✔ | |
| CRKT | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESEE | ✔ | |
| GiantMouse | ✔ | |
| Knafs | ✔ | |
| MKM | ✔ | |
| The James Brand | ✔ | |
| Urban EDC | ✔ | |
| WE Knife | ✔ |
Benchmade
- Origin: United States
- Handle materials: Micarta, nylon
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – M390, MagnaCut, N680, S30V, S90V
- Opening mechanisms: Fixed blade, nail nick, thumb hole, thumb stud
- Lock types: Slide lock, slip joint
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, pocket clip
- Prices: $150 – $350 (USD)
- Website: benchmade.com
Established in 1980 and headquartered in Oregon City, OR, this American brand is the brainchild of a Filipino-American who wanted to make top-craftsmanship balisong (or butterfly) knives. Benchmade aims to provide products that will perform without compromise, however you need it to, for as long as you need it to. They produce knives with handle materials made of micarta and nylon, while the blades are made from various grades of stainless steel. Benchmade manufactures fixed blade knives, as well as folding ones with nail nick, thumb hole, and thumb stud opening mechanisms. Typical lock types such as slide dock and slip joint are predominant. Most models come with a pocket clip and lanyard hole.
Böker Plus
- Origin: Germany
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – 440C, D2, Damascus, M390
- Opening mechanisms: Flipper, fixed blade, nail nick, push button, thumb hole, thumb stud
- Lock types: Liner lock, slide lock, slip joint
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, pocket clip, sheath
- Prices: €50 – €180 (EUR)
- Website: boker.de
German brand Böker Plus was founded in 1869 in Solingen. With a long tradition and in close cooperation with renowned international designers, they produce utility and pocket knives with stylish appearance. In the fabric category, Böker offers knives with micarta handles, while the blades are exclusively made of stainless steel. While several models are fixed blade, folding ones have opening mechanisms such as slide lock and liner lock. Additional features may include a leather sheath for fixed blades, pocket clip for folding knives, and lanyard holes in most models within both categories.
Civivi
- Origin: China
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – D2, Damascus, MagnaCut, N690
- Opening mechanisms: Flipper, push button, thumb stud
- Lock types: Button lock, liner lock, slide lock
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, pocket clip
- Prices: $30 – $130 (USD)
- Website: civivi.com
Civivi was introduced as a sub-brand in 2018 by Chinese manufacturer WE Knife, operating out of Yangjiang. They specialize in producing functional, innovative, yet budget-friendly EDC knives. Civivi produces knives with stainless steel of various grades and finishes, with only Micarta options within the fabrics category. While they also offer fixed blade knives, in the EDC space they manufacture knives with flipper, push button, and thumb stud opening mechanisms, as well as button lock, liner lock, and slide lock types. Typical additional features in Civivi knives include pocket clip and lanyard hole.
CRKT
- Origin: United States
- Handle materials: Micarta, Nylon
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – 154CM, 1095CS, D2, MagnaCut
- Opening mechanisms: Flipper, thumb stud
- Lock types: Liner lock
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, pocket clip
- Prices: $30 – $200 (USD)
- Website: crkt.com
American brand CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) was established in 1994 in Tualatin, OR. Their philosophy is rooted in a passion for design and function, to provide purpose-built knives. CRKT manufactures knives with both Micarta and nylon handles, while the blades are made of various stainless steel grades and alloys. Opening mechanisms in their knives are mainly flipper and thumb stud, while using primarily a liner lock mechanism. CRKT offer knives with typical additional features like pocket clip and lanyard hole.
ESEE
- Origin: United States
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – 1095CS, S35VN
- Opening mechanisms: Fixed blade
- Lock types: Not applicable
- Additional features: Clip plate, lanyard hole, sheath
- Prices: $100 – $300 (USD)
- Website: eseeknives.com
ESEE (brand name derived from a Peruvian armed forces’ jungle survival training school) was started in 2002 by two private military contractors in Gallant, AL. Their philosophy to provide the best quality possible and providing gear that has been tested in the real world. ESEE produces exclusively fixed blade knives, made with two stainless steel grades and various finishes. In the fabric handle space, they utilize exclusively Micarta. Additional features for ESEE products are limited to leather or plastic sheaths and clip plates, as well as lanyard holes.
GiantMouse
- Origin: United States
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – 20CV, Elmax, M390, MagnaCut, N690
- Opening mechanisms: Flipper, nail nick, thumb hole
- Lock types: Liner lock, slip joint
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, pocket clip, sheath
- Prices: $180 – $230 (USD)
- Website: giantmouse.com
American brand GiantMouse had its start back in 2015 and its headquartered in Lansing, MI. Incorporating Danish design with American spirit, they aim to provide knives with the highest possible production quality at a fair price. GiantMouse produces both fixed blade and folding blade knives from various stainless steel grades and finishes. Their knives’ handles are made of Micarta, incorporating opening mechanisms such as flipper, nail nick, and thumb hole. Typical lock types in GiantMouse knives are liner lock and slip joint. Additional features in their products include pocket clip, lanyard hole, and leather sheaths for their fixed blade models.
Knafs
- Origin: United States
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – 14C28N, MagnaCut, S35VN
- Opening mechanisms: Fixed blade, thumb stud
- Lock types: Liner lock, slide lock
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, pocket clip, sheath
- Prices: $80 – $230 (USD)
- Website: knafs.com
American brand Knafs (southern slang pronunciation of knives) was established in 2018 in Clearfield, UT. Transitioning from a retailer to a manufacturer, this recent startup is constantly iterating to develop their own ideas into knives design. Knafs produces fixed blade and folding knives with Micarta handles, while blades are made of several stainless steel grades. Their knives operate with a thumb stud opening mechanism and liner lock or slide lock securing mechanisms. Additional features in Knafs knives include pocket clip, lanyard hole, as well as thermoplastic sheaths for their fixed blades.
MKM
- Origin: Italy
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – MagnaCut, M390
- Opening mechanisms: Flipper, fixed blade, thumb hole, thumb stud
- Lock types: Liner lock, slip joint
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, sheath with clip
- Prices: €120 – €350 (EUR)
- Website: mkm.it
Italian brand MKM (Maniago Knife Makers) was founded in 1960 in the aforementioned small town included in their acronym as a consortium for local craftsmanship. They are committed to use cutting-edge technology and creativity while incorporating more than 500 years of tradition present in the region. MKM produces fixed blade and folding knives with various stainless steel versions and Micarta handles. Their folding knives utilize several opening mechanisms like flipper, thumb hole/stud, whereas simply liner lock or slip joint types are present. Additional features in MKM knives include lanyard hole and sheath with clip for fixed blade knives.
The James Brand
- Origin: United States
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – 12C27, Damascus, MagnaCut, S35VN, VG-10
- Opening mechanisms: Flipper, nail nick, thumb disk, thumb stud
- Lock types: Frame lock, slide lock, slip joint
- Additional features: Pocket clip
- Prices: $120 – $390 (USD)
- Website: thejamesbrand.com
The James Brand was founded in 2012 in Portland, OR. They pride themselves in designing gear and tools aimed for people who like to live adventurously and pull up their sleeves. The James Brand produces folding knives with micarta handles and blades in various stainless steel grades. Their knives utilize flipper, nail nick, thumb disk, and thumb stud opening mechanisms, plus frame lock, slide lock, and slip joint as securing mechanisms. The James Brand only includes a pocket clip in their knives as an additional feature.
Urban EDC
- Origin: United States
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – M390, S35VN, S90V
- Opening mechanisms: Flipper, thumb hole, thumb stud
- Lock types: Frame lock, liner lock
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, pocket clip
- Prices: $250 – $300 (USD)
- Website: urbanedcsupply.com
Urban EDC was started in 2015 out of San Francisco, CA, as a retailer community for EDC enthusiasts and manufacturers. Eventually they began producing their own products with a keen awareness for providing innovative and original creations. Urban EDC manufactures folding knives exclusively, with a few Micarta handle models and blades made of a few stainless steel grades. They use typical opening mechanisms like flipper, thumb hole/stud, as well as frame and liner locking mechanisms. Urban EDC knives usually includes both or at least one additional feature such as lanyard hole or pocket clip.
WE Knife
- Origin: China
- Handle materials: Micarta
- Blade materials: Stainless steel – M390, S35VN
- Opening mechanisms: Flipper, thumb stud
- Lock types: Liner lock
- Additional features: Lanyard hole, pocket clip
- Prices: $130 – $350 (USD)
- Website: weknife.com
Though they started in the early 2000s as a OEM in Yangjiang, China, their proprietary brand WE Knife was introduced in 2016. Similarly to their Civivi brand, they specialize in producing functional, innovative, yet more pricey EDC knives. WE Knife only offers folding knives with handles made of Micarta, and blades from two stainless steel grades. Typical opening mechanisms in their knives are flipper and thumb stud, while liner lock is the single securing mechanism. WE Knife provides additional features such as lanyard hole and/or pocket clip in their products.
Key takeaways
In conclusion, here are some pros and cons of choosing a product from any of these popular fabric handle knife brands.
Pros of a fabric handle knife:
- Lightweight and durable material
- Stronger and more scratch-resistant compared to plastic materials
- Usually cheaper than plastic or metal materials
Cons of a fabric handle knife :
- Lesser grip compared to plastic materials
- Fibers in material are prone to absorbing liquids
- More complex maintenance and cleaning