1. Stainless steel: Stainless steel has excellent durability and corrosion resistance, but it is not particularly light. Additionally, stainless steel handles are not very slip-resistant, so manufacturers must etch or ridge them to increase friction. Typically, you'll see stainless steel used in combination with plastic or rubber for improved grip, but stainless steel handles are generally avoided on EDC or heavy-duty knives due to the added weight.

2. Aluminum: Aluminum, usually anodized, is a very durable material for tool handles. It's a low-density metal, and the aluminum handle gives it a solid feel without the extra weight. The most common aluminum profile used now is T6-6061 alloy, which has very high tensile strength. The aluminum alloy handle can provide reasonable grip, comfortable hand feel, and easy to use for a long time. The disadvantage is that if used in cold winter, it may not feel comfortable due to its conductive properties.

3. Titanium: Titanium is a lightweight metal alloy that can provide the best corrosion (anti-rust) properties of the metal. It is heavier than aluminum but is still considered a lightweight metal, but is more expensive. Titanium is a rare metal, but titanium doesn't behave like aluminum in the winter. It is very strong and "springy," which is why titanium is often used as the backing material for locking liner knives. It’s important to note that both titanium and aluminum are prone to scratches compared to stainless steel. Titanium can be given a unique and attractive color through an anodizing process, which is especially common on custom knives. Additionally, it can be textured by shot peening.

4. Carbon fiber: Carbon fiber is a somewhat generic term that refers to tightly woven carbon fibers that are then set in resin. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer is what you get when you buy a knife marketed with a "carbon fiber handle." The result? A very strong and lightweight material that is also quite expensive. While powerful, it is far from indestructible and is fragile. Stick carbon fiber together as a bunch of straw - it's super strong in one direction (far stronger than steel), but will start to break down when stressed in other directions. Because it is fragile, it will break if subjected to a severe impact. The material's main visual appeal is the ability of the carbon chains to reflect light, making the fabric pattern highly visible. Carbon fiber is also a labor-intensive material, and knives made of this handle material are often not cheap. Although the production of carbon fiber handles is a labor-intensive process, they are often only found on high-end knives.

5. Micarta: It refers to different substances made from the organic compound phenol (a resin). The most common form is flax micarta, which is similar to G-10 but cleaner than G-10. It was originally introduced as an electrical insulator and is considered one of the best materials for making knife handles. The Micarta itself has absolutely no surface texture and is very smooth to the touch, requiring quite a bit of handcrafting and then carving some sort of texture into the knife. This makes it expensive, which translates into a higher price point knife. Micarta is a relatively soft material and can become scratched if not handled correctly.

6. G-10: Epoxy resin laminated alkali-free glass fiber cloth, an epoxy-filled glass synthetic material. The fibers are woven in an 'E' shape. It has properties very similar to carbon fiber. (Maybe slightly worse), but almost at a fraction of the cost. Manufacturers take layers of fiberglass cloth and soak them in resin, then compress and bake them under pressure. This material is extremely tough and hard, very lightweight and strong. In fact, G-10 is considered the hardest of all fiberglass resin laminates and is stronger (and more fragile) than Micarta. It has unusually high strength and wear resistance, and is very lightweight. It is commonly used in high-end folding knives and fixed-handled knives. G-10 material is available in a variety of colors. Knives can have a beautiful appearance. Although cheaper to produce than carbon fiber, it still must be cut and processed into shape, making it less economical and practical than FRN handles.

7. FRN/Zytel: Zytel is a glass fiber reinforced nylon (FRN), a thermoplastic material introduced by the American chemical company DuPont. Zytel is super strong, resistant to bending, wear and tear, and is extremely sturdy. What's more, it's cheap! ZYTEL has a slight surface texture, but knife companies that use this material add additional, better surface texture to add texture to their knives.

8. Bone: Bone handles have been used since mankind and are still very popular in the knife collecting community; in fact, it is the most common material for classic pocket knives today. The bones come from animals that died naturally, and from a variety of animals including elephants and giraffes. However, the most common and cost-effective bone used today is rich beef bone. In addition to bones, similar materials such as antlers (deer, elk, etc.), horns (sheep, cattle, buffalo, etc.) and ivory (i.e., elephant, walrus) are often used. Of course, many people like bone handles just because of tradition. Bones can be dyed for bright colors and textured for easier gripping. Unfortunately, Bone is a bit slippery for heavy-duty use, it's porous, affecting its stability, and it's prone to warping and cracking. Temperature, light, and humidity can all affect the characteristics of bone stems, making them unsuitable for many people.

9. Wood: Like bone, when knives began to exist, wood was used as the handle.

Quality wooden handles can be durable and attractive, making wood a relatively inexpensive material for heavy-duty knives. Wood also adds a lot of beauty to knives, making wood handling knives popular among collectors. Knife handles are made from various types of wood, so there's a lot of choice. You don't want your knife handle to be a soft wood like black walnut if you'll be using it frequently in wet conditions; it's better to use a hardwood or a stable wood. Examples of stable woods include Dymondwood, Staminawood and Pakkawood which are plywood usually made from birch. Manufacturers inject polymer resin and then press it under high pressure to create an extremely dense and durable material that still expresses natural beauty.

10. Mother-of-pearl: Found in molluscs such as oysters, mother-of-pearl is what eventually turns into pearls (hence the name). It's certainly an expensive material, but it's very stylish and strong enough for dressy and high-end knife production. Mother-of-pearl material is relatively easy to work with in a workshop and can be ground into a variety of shapes. Among the exotics, there is black mother-of-pearl from Tahiti, but it is very rare. On the slightly cheaper end, consider abalone from the mollusk shell, which is also beautiful but lacks durability.

11. Leather: Occasionally you will see knives with leather handles. Apart from the classic hunting and saber knives, they are basically rarely seen. Usually involves wrapping the leather tightly around another material. While leather knife handles look great, they do lack durability and strength, so you'll rarely see them on tactical or utility knives.