FRN or G10 handles on Spydie ?

S

scriverdog

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Jan 10, 2009
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can someone tell me when an FRN handle can become advantageous?

I always seem to gravitate to G10. I like it's feel and grip. I can't help feeling FRN makes the knife seem/feel cheap. But enough are sold that I'm wondering if I'm missing out on something.

is this just about price point and preference or does FRN have performance characteristics worth considering ?
 
I honestly like the feel of Spyderco FRN more. If I had to list my three favorite scale materials, they would be aluminum, carbon fiber, and FRN. That's right, no G-10 or titanium.
 
FRN typically makes for a lighter knife.

It is also more durable than G10, and cheaper to produce (after the initial cost of a mold)
 
It's a toss-up on G10 vs. FRN but I definitely prefer either material over Carbon Fiber. My CF Spydies have been too slick with uncomfortably sharp-edged liners. Plus, CF only comes in black.

Right now, I have a Military, a Paramilitary, and an Ocelot in G10 and two Enduras, a Pacific Salt, a Delica, a Stretch, and a Native in FRN. They are orange, foliage green, black, toxic green, white, yellow, red, blue, and purple.
 
I actually really like FRN and if it comes down to a significant price reduction i'll take it. G10 is awesome but FRN is durable, light, and grippy.
 
I used to really be opposed to FRN handles, but after getting a delica 4 with zdp (only available in frn) It was really an eye opener.

Its hard to explain but spyderco's FRN feels denser, it doesn't dent or scratch much, and the molded corners are stiff and don't flex, after using it for a while it really doesn't feel like the cheap plastic handles any more than g10 feels like a piece of solid colored plexi glass that got sanded.

While I still prefer micarta or wood, FRN is on par with g-10 in my mind.
 
I much prefer g10. FRN is nice because it is light, strong and quite a bit cheaper. It does have that cheap platic feel though. Aethetically I dont find it very attractive either.

I love g10 and micata and wood inlays best (depending on the knife)
 
scriverdog said:
can someone tell me when an FRN handle can become advantageous?
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FRN is cheaper, i.e., a knife with FRN scales is significantly cheaper than one with G-10 or CF. FRN can be molded in shapes that provide exceptionally good traction in demanding environments.
 
Spyderco's FRN has a lot of grip to it, your hand will not slide in pretty much any situation. G-10 has been know to wear down pant pockets when clipped/drawn from pocket, FRN will not damage pockets. It makes for a lighter knife, certain models have steel liners under the FRN to make the knife stronger. FRN will not chip or break, it will "bend". I don't feel that FRN makes a knife "cheap", IMHO, it's an under-rated material. I prefer FRN to G-10.

Canis
 
i personally prefer G10. i have a spydie in FRN, ladybug, and a G10 spydie, paramilitary, the G10 is very grippy which i like. G10 feels warm to the touch which i like.
 
I really like FRN, if you couldn't tell from my earlier post, but my delica has torn up my pocket just as much as the rift I had for a while. If its grippy in your hand its grippy in your pocket.
 
scriverdog said:
can someone tell me when an FRN handle can become advantageous?

I always seem to gravitate to G10. I like it's feel and grip. I can't help feeling FRN makes the knife seem/feel cheap. But enough are sold that I'm wondering if I'm missing out on something.

is this just about price point and preference or does FRN have performance characteristics worth considering ?
Click to expand...

I have both the FRN Endura and the G-10 Endura. The G-10 is considerably stiffer when I tested the bladeplay. The FRN seems to have more "give", allowing more flex at the pivot point.

Granted, I'm not sure if this is also due to thicker liners on the G-10 model, but I believe that the an equivalent thickness of G-10 is stiffer than FRN.

I'm with you on the look and feel of FRN, I'll take G10 over it when given the chance.
 
I like FRN Spydies for lightness. But if the G10 version is not priced too much higher, I'd get that instead. G10 looks and feels better and I'll take the weight penalty.
 
EricV said:
I used to really be opposed to FRN handles, but after getting a delica 4 with zdp (only available in frn) It was really an eye opener.

Its hard to explain but spyderco's FRN feels denser, it doesn't dent or scratch much, and the molded corners are stiff and don't flex, after using it for a while it really doesn't feel like the cheap plastic handles any more than g10 feels like a piece of solid colored plexi glass that got sanded.

While I still prefer micarta or wood, FRN is on par with g-10 in my mind.
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Spyderco uses a special formulation of FRN that contains more glass fiber than the competition, which would explain the feeling of extra density. Such FRN is incredibly tough and stable and can be molded into configurations that would incur higher production costs if machined in G10.

Which do I prefer? A tough call. I can't imagine a Military being made of anything but G10 or CF and at it's value and price point, a Native in FRN rules supreme.
 
I have a FRN delica an i really like it...i think i would like g10 more, but

A.) Its more expensive

B.) the blade on mine is a ZDP SE which you can get in a g10 version with out a blade swap...

It really doesnt matter to me that much...if i can get it for a good price, ill take it:D

I have had a g10 endura, and i really liked it
 
Amaranth said:
I have both the FRN Endura and the G-10 Endura. The G-10 is considerably stiffer when I tested the bladeplay. The FRN seems to have more "give", allowing more flex at the pivot point.

Granted, I'm not sure if this is also due to thicker liners on the G-10 model, but I believe that the an equivalent thickness of G-10 is stiffer than FRN.

I'm with you on the look and feel of FRN, I'll take G10 over it when given the chance.
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Ditto. :thumbup: A while back, I exchanged blades between an FRN Endura 4 and a G-10 Endura 4. I noticed, when putting the FRN back together, that there was significant 'flex' in the FRN handles, even with the nested steel liners. The spring (for the blade lock) that is nested in the handle scale is a bit tricky to hold in place while trying to put the rest of it together, and the FRN handle scales kept trying to 'twist away' from the spring, causing it to frequently pop out.

I also have a green G-10 Rookie model from Spyderco (sort of a mini version of the Police model), and it uses a steel liner on only one side of the handle. The other side is linerless. But, the G-10 is VERY RIGID compared to an equivalent thickness of FRN (in this small model, the G-10 is about 1/16" inch thick), so the extra liner isn't really necessary.

The FRN handles from Spyderco are quite good for the money, but if you're really looking for strength (rigidity) over light weight, I'd choose the G-10.

Edited to add:
By the way, I noticed that after reassembling the FRN Endura, the FRN handles won't necessarily return to perfectly straight if they've been flexed very much. There's a noticeable warp remaining, which reveals itself in gaps between the handle scales and the backspring/locking bar.
 
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I love Spydercos FRN, I have an Endura 1 that is 16 years old and still going strong.
 
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