Delica 4 stainless steel handle versus the FRN handle/grip

S

sjm1580

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Jun 6, 2015
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Trying to decide between the stainless steel grip (which I like to the look of better) or the FRN grip without being able to handle them. Please let me know what the positives and negatives to help me decide which style I should order.

Thanks,

Steve
 
I have all the variations in Delica and my absolute favorite is the ZDP with British racing green FRN. Both the stainless and Titanium handles are too slippery because of the thiness and without texture it's hard to grab if your hands tend to sweat a little
 
My favorite is also the ZDP, although mine is fully serrated which I love. In a close second for me is the emerson waved delica and the blade ps one.

If your going for a smooth handle. I'd do the TI/Damascus before the SS handle. But I'm not a SS fan so consider that.

Either route you go your getting one of spydercos best designs in my opinion.
 
The stainless is almost a full two ounces heavier. Not heavy by any means but the frn version is a featherweight.

The stainless also gets scratched very easily. If you like the polished look it won't stay that way for long. I'm not a fan of the stainless handles myself.
 
Get a plain edge ZDP.

smooth scales are too slick. Look nice but.
 
To my eye the metal handle gives the Delica a more gentlemanly refined look .
If your knife requirements are of a more sedate nature then get the stainless , but if its to be a use it all the time , in the dust , in the dirt , in the workshop , in the yard type knife then get the FRN .
The FRN feels better in the hand in my opinion and it handles the bumps and knocks without blinking .
I don't have a stainless but I do have the Titanium handled Delica and a ZDP FRN one .
Of the two the FRN gets carried far more often .
The metal handled one is nice to look at but the FRN gets my vote because its so user friendly .
It sounds a bit crazy but the different handles really turn them into totally different knives .
Ken
 
wiredbeans said:
Or... Do the best of both worlds :)


Click to expand...

I actually have a second ZDP 189 in the cupboard that was purchased to do that exact thing , but I got nervous when the swap was mentioned elsewhere here and the obstacles that cropped up .
But .................

Heck that looks nice :)


Ken
 
The FRN versions are amazing because they are very light, yet strong. Also, they give a very positive grip without tearing up your clothing. The metal handles are heavier and very slippery. On the upside for metal, it can be engraved.
 
I asked the exact same question in General Knife Discussion and the answers I got were pretty helpful. The stainless version has more heft, is easier to take out of pocket, but you can't adjust the pivot. As for FRN, it's lighter, has much better grip, comes in different colors (i think blue, green, grey and purple look best) I was also leaning towards the stainless version, but I've changed my mind. Only negative is a few people mentioned blade play in the frn version
 
Now, according to Spyderco's web page, the stainless models have hollow ground blades and the FRN models are flat, is there any truth to this and does anyone know the reason why?
 
HotRodColt said:
Now, according to Spyderco's web page, the stainless models have hollow ground blades and the FRN models are flat, is there any truth to this and does anyone know the reason why?
Click to expand...

FRN models originally came with the hollow-ground blades. FFG followed after a few years, and I don't know if they still make them with hollow-ground blades. The stainless-handled Delicas only came with hollow-ground blades, at least in the standard VG-10. If they made a FFG stainless-handled Declica I'd buy one.
 
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