The microstructure and the abrasive wear characteristics of two binderless carbides (WC-Mo2C and WC-TiC-TaC) have been studied. The microstructural analysis identified differences in the amount of mixing between the gamma-phase and WC. Mo2C and WC showed a large tendency to form mixed carbides, whereas WC and TiC did not, In both materials grain boundary segregation of metallic species was found. Compared with alumina ceramics and WC-6 wt% Co the WC-Mo2C material showed the lowest abrasion rate and WC-TiC-TaC an intermediate. The wear mechanism was surprisingly ductile for WC-Mo2C, whereas WC-TiC-TaC suffered from grain pullout of TiC.