Large Westinghouse (Black) Paper Micarta Knife Scales For Any Knife

Please Note: We purchased all the remaining inventory from a South Carolina supplier who just sold out to us. This material is limited, scarce and rarely offered. Order with confidence.

The 2 blocks you see are each .562" x 1.5" x 6" long. These are Black in color. Each order is for 2 blocks as described.

This is vintage Westinghouse paper micarta which was heat pressed into sheets.  This is the real deal. 

This is ideal for Duck or Goose Calls and knife handles or scales as you see fit.  It cuts easily and polishes to a high shine.  This is a rare and high quality material that is very hard but easy to form and work with.

You will not be disappointed.  We're here to assist you with your Game calls or knife making hobby or profession.

Micarta And Its Many Myths

What is micarta? The actual word and definition has become diluted through the decades since it's invention in and around 1911 by Westinghouse Electric Corporation.  Micarta was actually produced as an industrial laminate for electrical insulation.  Soon afterwards it was started to be used as a decorative laminate and thus Formica was born.  Both products were marketed under the trade name 'micarta'.  As such, it became used generically.  Micarta today has been used by any laminated composite material including glass epoxy otherwise known as G10.

Westinghouse produced what is called 'antique ivory', better known as a grade FR-2 laminate.  This was comprised of paper sheets which were soaked in epoxy resin and then baked and pressed into huge sheets.  The color was incidental as it was an industrial product.  Color was really never a goal of any industrial laminate.  In fact, the color from run to run varied greatly.  The purpose of the FT-2 was to be an electrical insulator with different characteristics than the much more common paper grades which were manufactured with phenolic resins.

As for the asbestos laminates we hear so much about, there were actually two grades.  We believe neither of these two grades have been produced in the USA since the mid 1960's or so.  They were indeed manufactured in Europe during the 1970's.  This material was for industrial use as an electrical insulator as well.  This material is extremely dangerous as it is asbestos based.  Fortunately, little remains today.

The Westinghouse micarta division was eventually sold to International Paper (IP) in 1995 an was run for several years.  They manufactured these micarta laminates for decorative purposes while based in South Carolina.  Eventually IP sold the facility and it was subsequently sold again.  It was eventually liquidated and sold off around 2004 or thereabouts.