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Frn qualities

J

jec88

Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Messages
833
Being new to spydercos, I notice where a lot of people seem to not like frn? I'm really liking the FRN. It feels good in the hand to me. Does this stuff ever age or wear or fade? If so, anyone have any good pics of worn FRN? I like the looks of a good worn knife.
Thanks.
 
I find myself carrying FRN knives more than others because of its qualities: light, durable, thin knives, good grip, etc.

As far as fading (from use, from the sun), G10 and natural materials will also so and perhaps at a higher rate. Its not really a problem and certainly not unique to FRN.

People hate on it because it is a plastic and many fail to realize that its an advanced polymer, not merely tupperware material. Like I always say, it works on my Glocks, it works on my knives as a handle. Bottom line is, it works great for US, from first hand experience. Who cares what they think. Let them carry their heavy thick Edc's in the middle of summer while carrying a Glock and everything else LOL.
 
Nylon is a relatively soft plastic so, in theory, textured FRN should wear faster than textured G-10. In reality, unless subjected to severe abrasion or falls of several stories onto rough surfaces, Spyderco FRN handles show incredibly little wear and tear while their peel ply will start to become smooth around the edges fairly quickly just from normal carrying. As for fading, pretty much every man made handle material will fade if exposed to direct sunlight long enough.
 
In years past, I had only handled a new FRN knives and didn't really care for them. I bought a UKPK that I carried for a while, and loved the ergos, but I never really cared for the FRN handle. Keep in mind it was the older style texture. I later got rid of it for two reasons. One, I didn't like the FRN. Two, I didn't like that it was non-locking. Earlier this year, for Father's Day, I got a Dragonfly Salt. After actually using and handling it for a few months, it has me completely re-thinking my opinion of FRN. I see more FRN models in my future.
 
I would guess more people like it than those that don't. If it were so unappreciated as some folks make it seem, they'd have stopped making ir and selling it over 10 years ago.
 
jec88 said:
Being new to spydercos, I notice where a lot of people seem to not like frn? I'm really liking the FRN. It feels good in the hand to me. Does this stuff ever age or wear or fade? If so, anyone have any good pics of worn FRN? I like the looks of a good worn knife.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

The stuff is extremely tough and wear resisitant so there is really nothing to worry about. If you like the look of a worn knife, you might want to look into one of their offerings in Super Blue with FRN handles and get a good patina going on it.

Im one of the people that hates FRN, but there is no denying its toughness and how light it is.
 
I got no problems with FRN Spydercos. They are light, tough, and relatively inexpensive. The Delica 4 FFG remains my top overall EDC.
 
BradT85 said:
The stuff is extremely tough and wear resisitant so there is really nothing to worry about. If you like the look of a worn knife, you might want to look into one of their offerings in Super Blue with FRN handles and get a good patina going on it.

Im one of the people that hates FRN, but there is no denying its toughness and how light it is.
Click to expand...


You must be a mind-reader! I just picked up a super blue stretch!
 
The first time I held a knife with FRN scales, I wasn't impressed simply because compared to G10, titanium, wood, pearl, and many other handle materials, they look and feel kind of cheap, not much different than cheap plastic.
That been said, although it's still not my favorite handle material, it works on a lot of knives, and has definitely grown on me. Especially from a practicality standpoint, you can get FRN handles knives for cheaper than many materials but they really hold up well and are very lightweight. It's a great balance for most people.
 
Tough as nails. Won't show much wear unless you come into contact with something extremely abrasive. I had an old pacific salt that was all scuffed up from prying open big snapper and mackerel teeth to get hooks out. Alas, it was lost at sea. May we have a moment of silence please.
 
I like it but I've been seduced by G10 and CF like most of us. My first Spydercos in FRN were without liners and felt a little light in the hand. However, the FRN material wore well and I had no complaints about it. Currently, many of the FRN knives have full steel liners that give them more tactility, IMO. I really like the current Delica and Stretch models based on that extra weight in the hand.
 
I usually reach for FRN when I'm wearing light material shorts or pants. Spydercos heavily textured variety offers outstanding grip while allowing the knife to slide easily in and out of pocket. I'm no material snob but, come to think of it I hardly find myself carrying anything with g-10 on both slabs. Framelocks and FRN are just so much easier to pocket.
 
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I carry my Delica 4, Endura 4 and Native 5 FRN WAY more than any of my other knives. It's not because G10, stainless or micarta is terrible. On the contrary, I love my knives that have those handles. It's just that FRN works so well for me in an EDC knife. It is strong, light and, the way Spyderco designs their handles, is extremely grippy. I suppose the hate just comes from those that have either never owned a Spyderco FRN knife or are the type of person that can only see and appreciate things from a very narrow perspective. I never have understood those that have to hate one thing to enjoy something else.

Bottom line is that FRN is not the prettiest or most "tactical" handle material but sure makes for a nice EDC knife.
 
Plastic in general can feel "Cheap", but you can sort of tell from the feel that it's a little more solid than most plastics. My first Spyderco from over a decade ago was an FRN Native...got lost on a job site after 2 years and I had an identical replacement in my pocket within a week. This exact Native was accidentally squeezed out of one of my pouches while I was climbing through the torsion resistor of a tower with a very narrow face width...if fell (Closed) 275 feet and landed on gravel. When I was back on the ground I found it half open but the blade never hit anything, and the mark left on the FRN is so small you'd likely be unable to find it if I gave you the knife to examine. It's pretty light, and gravel can shift which absorbs the impact quite a bit compared to concrete or asphalt, but I was still impressed. FRN works VERY well as a knife handle. I'll include a shot from the same height, but on a different tower (Didn't have a camera phone 8 years ago).



 
I've read posts where FRN has been trashed for one reason or another. As for me, I've never had any kind of an aversion to it. I like it just fine. The Deacon mentions that "pretty much every man made handle material will fade if exposed to direct sunlight long enough." True. Unless testing the properties of FRN, I can't imagine anyone just leaving their knife unattended out in the sun long enough to see effects of UV light. In that case I'd call that knife..."lost."
 
I have a picture from 375 feet...the highest I've been on the job is 550 feet, but sadly I have no pictures. Most towers we work on are ~300 feet. There's a Spyderco on my person every time...in this case you can see the butt end of my FRN Goddard LW.

 
I'm an FRN "hater." When I see or read FRN cheap comes to mind. Then again I prefer FRN to G10 peel ply. But guess what, I own and use a dozen FRN spydercos. Oh yeah, and they're cheap - that's why I can afford a dozen. Although I prefer the look and feel of solid G10 like many I don't allow this preference to deter my use of a great knife. Then again, I see less and less solid G10 handles offered. Shame.

Along the lines of 3rdGenRigger and others FRN takes a beating and uses great in all practical elements/environments. I've never had it crack or powder/sand away like G10.
 
It is some really tough s**t. Great for knife handles...and cheaper than something with G10 scales. I think a solid one piece FRN handle would fare better than almost anything in a large fall...less weight, less impact force. I prefer something more solid for EDC (Though not enough for me to stop carrying my FRN Spydercos regularly by any means...carried my SB Stretch today)...but my top 5 doesn't include any FRN models.
 
This post by 3rdGenRigger above seems meaningful. I have shortened it.

It is some really tough s**t. Great for knife handles...and cheaper than something with G10 scales.... my top 5 doesn't include any FRN models.

I've had FRN in several Spydercos...don't like it. I've had two Spyderco Stretch models, the wonderful Manix2 in S110v, and various others in FRN. I tend to get rid of them quickly. Now, give me two Manix2's, S110v in G10 and I'll buy several and love 'em.
FRN seems very slippery to me, and seems very light-weight, which is NOT necessarily a good thing to inspire confidence in your grip. I'm sure that it's light and probably wears well, but I don't like the feel of it AT ALL.
 
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