FRN= A POS handle

Boats

Boats

Joined
Aug 7, 2003
Messages
3,330
Well, after years of avoiding FRN handled folders because they seemed cheap, I have found out I wasn't wrong.

I love the blade of my Spyderco Pacific Salt. The handle today showed me why it isn't up to rigors of being a primary EDC.

I got into my car today to go to the store. Coming out of the store, I had forgotten which pocket my keys were in, so I started patting around. I felt the clip of my Spydie all cattywampus instead of vertical.

It turns out that when I sat, the part of the handle that retained the clip had sheared away about thirty degrees worth of the plastic ridge molded in the handle to keep the clip aligned.

What garbage. I am never again buying a clipped folder without steel or titanium liners in it. To me, the weight penalty is more than worth the durability bonus.
 
I smell a fish. FRN just doesn't do that. I've never had a problem like that from any of my many spydercos or any cold steel knife either. And I don't go easy on my knives either.
 
:thumbup:
Walking Man said:
I smell a fish. FRN just doesn't do that. I've never had a problem like that from any of my many spydercos or any cold steel knife either.
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That sounds crazy to me too. FRN is a little flimsy when it's unlined, but I've beat my Salt I to death and the FRN shows no signs of damage at all.
 
Ouch, I did the same thing to my Pacific Salt. Now I never wear a folder clipped to my back pocket as they always snag the car seat on the way in.

I fixed the knife easy enough though. Just re-seated clip back into it's slot then gently heated the FRN with a mini gas torch. It looks a bit scarred and I doubt the knife is covered by warranty anymore. But it's solid and I've had no more problems.

mendedp-salt.jpg




ps: cattywampus is a most excellent word.
 
Mmmh, no I can see how this could be possible especially if the clip wasn't tightened enough. The question is though, how a lined folder would have come out of this. For sure with a clip bend beyond repair and possibly with some broken screws as well, not to mention the MAJOR scratches that it would have put into the handle material. :rolleyes:
 
Smell or hear whatever you want. Fact is the clip is made of sterner stuff than the handle and a combo of loctite and gorilla glue is holding the clip straight on mine for now.
 
Is the FRN the same in the newest Endura as it is in the Native found at Walmart?

Are there different grades? I ask this because the new Endura I held felt different than my Native, and I was wondering is some are not as strong as others.
 
wow - you don't hear that happening much. frn is pretty durable stuff, I beat the crap out of mine and so far its been bulletproof.
 
That's the only weakness FRN has. The clip can sheath the FRN around the bolt, but it doesn't usually happen unless the clip is snagged on something.

And if the clip is snagged on something, even in a non FRN knife, you're going to have problems, the clip may just snap off, the screws will strip, or the clip bends in a way that can't easily be fixed.

I wouldn't attribute FRN to a POS handle. FRN can handle a hell of a lot that get's thrown at it, and it's infinitely cheaper than other handle materials. That being said, I still prefer lined FRN, because I prefer the higher weight.
 
Yeah the longer I carry a clipped folder the more I prefer FRN. It doen't feel cheap to me at all and as stated above, snagging a clip always damages something.

I reckon a wire clip would be a better solution for the Salts - as long as they would have similiar grip, as the strong retention that my Salts have is a real plus for me.
 
I think the Salt is retired to the tackle box. I can't take FRN as a serious handle material, especially compared to lined G-10.

I'd rather deal with a buggered clip than handle.
 
Every knife handle has it's strengths and it's weaknesses...

Take your Pacific Salt and drop it off a four story building on to hard concrete (knife closed of course).

Now take any G-10 or metal handled knife and drop it off the same building.

Let us know how it comes out.

Thousands of folks carry light-weight FRN/zytel folders everyday and they work very well.
That many folks can't be wrong.

Allen.
 
I have carried FRN/plastic handled folders with clips for years. I can tell you right now that the clip will wallow out, catch on stuff, and sometimes shear off completely.

What the man says is true. The stuff is not indestructible.
 
Boats said:
Well, after years of avoiding FRN handled folders because they seemed cheap, I have found out I wasn't wrong.
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I have always felt the same way as you. I just don't like the FRN handles. They seem cheap to me too. I'm sure for the most part they're fine, with your exception, but I just prefer other materials, mostly the stainless steel. I like the extra heft.
 
Terry Newton said:
I have carried FRN/plastic handled folders with clips for years. I can tell you right now that the clip will wallow out, catch on stuff, and sometimes shear off completely.

What the man says is true. The stuff is not indestructible.
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I think this issue is more to blame on the barrel clips on the older FRN models than the FRN itself. Luckily the new Delica and Endura models have much better clip attachment, and I can't imagine the Salt series won't see some improvement eventually as well.
 
Let me add to my comment lest someone think I am only negative towards this material.

I love the Endura, and believe the FRN handle in any configuration of the Endura to be one of the best tacticals I have ever carried, and will eventually get back around to carrying one.

I love the light weight enough that I am willing to put up with the down side of less strength. Unless I snag the thing on something I usually do not have a problem until several years down the road.

I am not crazy about the steel scales b/c of the weight and slippery feel. They are much stronger, however.

I beleive the best compromise might be the scale with metal liner, as long as the clip screws are through the liner itself.

Thanks.
 
I've had my BM710's clip snag on things, but the result has either been whatever was snagged getting screwed up, or me getting snagged where I have to stop. This is usually pretty rare though. Never had anything on the knife break.
 
WadeF said:
I've had my BM710's clip snag on things, but the result has either been whatever was snagged getting screwed up, or me getting snagged where I have to stop. This is usually pretty rare though. Never had anything on the knife break.
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I've had the same experience with my Benchmade knives. I've had the clip get scratched up pretty bad but I don't care. Never have I had a knife handle or clip get ruined. I do think that Benchmade clips are way stronger than Spyderco clips. I think the only clip that is stronger would be the clip on the Striders or Buck/Striders.
 
What I did with my Endura II was just to flip the barrel bolt over. Lets the clip sink a millimeter or so lower, and it hasn't torqued since.
 
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