I think that's green linen; I got a pair of them. A big part of what makes the Vex lighter than most of the Micarta-handled knives are that the handles are slim -- it doesn't fill my hand like a Res-C Mudder. I think they're OK (I like them better than the day I received them) and will hold onto mine, but I don't know that I'll ever choose the to carry one over either an S5 or a BAD.