FRN or G10 handles on Spydie ?

FRN is great from a functional perspective, but honestly it feels cheap to me. G10 has a much nicer feel, and that alone is enough to sway me to G10.
 
If you haven't handled a Spyderco w/ FRN you owe it to yourself to try one. FRN is one of my favorite handle materials, especially for hard use knives that are likely to get dirty etc. The Spyderco FRN feels much different that the plastic/Zytel handles of other manufacturers. It's solid, durable, and doesn't feel cheap at all, imo.
 
I generally prefer FRN to G10 on a folder. G10 quickly destroys the lips of my pockets and is abrasive against my skin while IWB. Long ago, I had a Kershaw LH Random Task with smooth G10. It looked, felt, and performed great. If more widely available, I would probably choose smooth G10 over micarta.

The only G10 I have now is my LH Millie which I smoothed down with 1500 wet-dry anyway, and my BRKT kitchen knife, also smooth. Oh, and the annoying little G10 inserts on my BM707. In the kitchen, I prefer the G10 to canvas micarta -- my other canvas micarta kitchen knife scales tend to look dried-out after a while.

All my other Spydies are FRN, SS/Kraton, or CF. I appreciate the light weight, cold-weather comfort, grip comfort, pocketability, colors, and strength of FRN, especially with nested liners.
 
I just wish the FRN handles had a steel backspacer on the lockbacks instead of the FRN one, or that you could order one. I know a lot of delicas and enduras that get very dirty and need to be taken down and cleaned, its very easy to mash up the little molded pin in the back spacer. Thats one big advantage i'll give the g-10 models, I think the construction is just a bit tougher. Of course I could be nuts... :D
 
EricV said:
I just wish the FRN handles had a steel backspacer on the lockbacks instead of the FRN one, or that you could order one. I know a lot of delicas and enduras that get very dirty and need to be taken down and cleaned, its very easy to mash up the little molded pin in the back spacer. Thats one big advantage i'll give the g-10 models, I think the construction is just a bit tougher. Of course I could be nuts... :D
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You're not nutzo. One of the most difficult aspects of putting the FRN back together was that the plastic flexed too much!

I know that voids the warranty, but i don't care. I don't think my Spydie is going to break!
 
Its a good thing the leightweight parts kit comes with a back spacer. Anybody know if the back spacer from a g-10 spydie will fit an frn one? Not that I can even think of an effective way of getting one.
 
A.P.F. said:
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.
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What, you can't imagine a titanium, framelock Military?? :D

I like both FRN and G10 equally right about now. G10 seems to give a more solid feel, and grip. Love the feel in hand of my Tenacious, the grip is perfect, etc...

That said, both the S30V Native, and Centofante have very classy, and nice feeling FRN handles. I clip those to my pocket for dress pants, or occasions where a lighter knife might come in handy. And they don't seem to lack any grip in practice.
 
EricV said:
Its a good thing the leightweight parts kit comes with a back spacer. Anybody know if the back spacer from a g-10 spydie will fit an frn one? Not that I can even think of an effective way of getting one.
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I believe that they do fit the FRN spydies.
 
FRN :thumbup:

Textured G-10 :thumbup: :thumbup:

Both make excellent knife handle material, but the 'warmer' feeling of G-10 will always win out for me. G-10, if textured properly and contoured, has a knack for feeling like it's 'melting' into your hand after prolonged use.
 
Both are great. I go back and forth on what knives I am drawn towards. The last few days it's been all FRN (Ladybug on my keys, D4W, and my Salt I SE for work). Next week it will probably flip back to my UKPK or Manix 2. I do like the CF knives for look, and especially the Taiwan CF on the Bob T and Sage, so that rolls in there sometimes as well.
 
My G10 Endura hasn't knocked my FRN Endura3 out of my pocket yet. Light weight carry and blade heavy not handle heavy feel in your hand. Keeping the G10 though, it's nice too.
 
I've become a FRN fan. I used to like G10 better. But FRN is so much lighter.

I carry my S110V Manix 2 more than my second generation G10 Manix 2 - even though the G10 Manix 2 has a combo blade, and I prefer combo blades.

I also just got the new Native 5 Lightweight with FRN too and I like it a lot.
 
FRN = Zytel = Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon - comes in a bunch of different flex modulus ratings depending on fiberglass content. Spyderco's FRN has a high fiberglass content.

G10 = fiberglass reinforced epoxy resin, originally designed for making printed circuit boards.

Which one you like is really just a matter of personal preference and feel. I personally prefer G10 for scale material over metal and zytel for handle material without metal underneath. High glass content Zytel/FRN is a little stiffer in my hand than G10 without metal underneath.

Oh, and just in case you wondered: Micarta is phenolic resin with reinforcing fibers. Some claim Micarta and G10 are the same......chemically they are not, thought both were created for use in electric/electronic materials. Phenolic resins are what makes Formica, which is phenolic impregnated paper with a melamine top layer.

Bottom line: G10 and Micarta are thermoset plastics, which means that once fully polymerized they don't melt anymore. Zytel/FRN technically will melt but nylon's melt temperature is so high that it pretty much might as well be a thermoset. Confused yet?
 
FRN is a big word and can technically be a lot of things. it's part of what turns me off of a lot of Spydercos...along with funky color and the silly patterns they put in it. For me it cheapens the look of an otherwise undeniably good brand.

Personally, I'll take G-10 hands down. It's probably my favorite scale material. It's tough, too. Some FRN's (not necessarily Spydercos) feel to me like a sweaty palm.

Isn't Zytel a close relative of FRN? I've even heard that sometimes FRN is really Zytel. If so, I can say Zytel is the material of probably the most comfortable fixed blade handle I own. So when done properly I guess it can be good. I haven't found a folder I like with it though.​

If you're new to G-10 and want to see perfect, see if you can get an Emerson in your hands.
 
Hivey said:
FRN = Zytel = Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon - comes in a bunch of different flex modulus ratings depending on fiberglass content. Spyderco's FRN has a high fiberglass content.

G10 = fiberglass reinforced epoxy resin, originally designed for making printed circuit boards.

Which one you like is really just a matter of personal preference and feel. I personally prefer G10 for scale material over metal and zytel for handle material without metal underneath. High glass content Zytel/FRN is a little stiffer in my hand than G10 without metal underneath.........Bottom line: G10 and Micarta are thermoset plastics, which means that once fully polymerized they don't melt anymore. Zytel/FRN technically will melt but nylon's melt temperature is so high that it pretty much might as well be a thermoset. Confused yet?
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I should have read yours first I see. Welcome (??). Everything you wrote is pretty much in line with everything I've heard so it has to be true. :)

Seriously, I will concede the comfort of the Zytel handle on my Gryphon M-10 fixed. Amazingly perfect handle, for me anyway. It is full-tang. It fully encloses the tang though. As I said, maybe the most comfortable handle of all my knives.

I noticed long ago that G-10 is great around campfires because it doesn't really melt. It will char but not melt. Another reason I prefer it so much.

Thanks for the post. It was informative.
 
I've had a few spydies with FRN, and I like it. I only have one knife in it, a Dragonfly 2 ZDP-189. Its the knife I carry when I go downtown to see my doctors, as the blade length limit is 2.5" so it works. Its so light I don't notice it.

I prefer plastic handles to metal, even though about half of my knives are. G10 can be heavy, especially with non-nested liners. My Manix 2 and Gayle Bradley are quite heavy.
 
I really have no preference. I have numerous knives in both materials as well carbon fiber and I like them all. I base my decision on what knife I buy and use based on overall design, fit, finish and utility. As I carry more and more stuff daily, I gravitate toward lighter weight items, including knives. FRN has proven to be durable, comfortable and lightweight.
 
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