FRN scales - Do they feel as cheap as they look?

00ChevyScott said:
I haven't held one in my hand. Going by looks alone they do look cheap, but just asking how they felt/performed.
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Maybe try a Centofante 3 or 4 (both great--same handle.) If possible, and even if you don't buy one, you really ought to at least handle one at the shop. The handle on my C3 helped me get a much better tactile 'sense' of what FRN is as a material. Tough, high-quality, almost luxurious. Almost, but not quite, like aluminum. Made me appreciate my D4 scales a little bit more!

Hope this helps and good luck! :)
 
I have several Spyderco folders with FRN and they are excellent. For a light weight carry knife it works very well. The Endura is a must have.
 
00ChevyScott said:
So would you say the Delica 4 is a better knife than an Endura? I guess I should do the "smart" thing and buy both ;) but I'll have to think about it. The only question now is which one first?
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The Delica 4 and Endura 4 are extremely similar, only the Delica is smaller. For city carry the Delica is perfect, while some find the Endura a tad too big.
00ChevyScott said:
How is FRN on the pockets? I know my G10 likes to wear them pretty good, is FRN near as bad?
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FRN is easier on pockets than G-10.

I agree that FRN looks cheap, but it is excellent in the real world, strong, light, tough, and inexpensive because it can be molded to final shape at high rates of production, whereas G-10 has to be machined to shape from sheets of flat stock.
 
I have both a Delica and Endura in FRN, and to me they don't feel cheap at all; in my opinion, they're more akin to the feeling on my Glock than anything picked up at a gas station. For what its worth, I've used both for over two years and have yet to see any signs of degradation on the handles themselves, and a lot of members have Enduras and Delicas from the early 90's that are still going strong.
 
mr-winkie01 said:
I have both a Delica and Endura in FRN, and to me they don't feel cheap at all; in my opinion, they're more akin to the feeling on my Glock than anything picked up at a gas station. For what its worth, I've used both for over two years and have yet to see any signs of degradation on the handles themselves, and a lot of members have Enduras and Delicas from the early 90's that are still going strong.
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Which one sees the most pocket time? I'm EDCing a Manix 2 right now, and it seems to be about the perfect EDC size for me, if not just a tad too wide.
 
On the knives that I own, I really like Spyderco's FRN, G10, and CF very much. Heck, I even like the old-school stainless steel/Kraton (sp?). That being said, if the OP suspects that the utilitarian charm of the FRN might be lacking, then IMHO it will indeed be so. The above suggestion of a G10 Endura is an excellent one -- although I have not owned one, I have handled them at knife shows and they just ooze quality. Not cheap at all.
 
somber said:
I have a mini-grip. I've dropped it several times from several feet up (I'm 6'3"), I don't have any chips in my handle. Also, keys causing the handle come apart? Please... that sounds ridiculous. Even if it were so, it sounds like you need threadlocker, not a new knife.

Ridiculous.
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I'm 6'3' too, and my pocket is about half of that. One drop onto ceramic tile floor = a trip back to Benchmade on a yellow handle. One drop while sitting from about 1' two 2' = a chink taken out of my black handle. It hit riparian rip rap aka limestone. And tiny marks have been made onto it from keeping it in the pocket with my keys.

It isn't as tough or wear resistant as FRN. I've droped Spydie FRN onto concrete. It got some minor scratches, but no big chunks taken out of it.

Maybe someone else can chime in who knows the toughness of materials. FRN seems way tougher than Valox. They can't even use the Yellow Valox on the larger grips it is so weak. That is what I've read.

FRN may look cheap, but it'll last hundreds of year. IMO
 
Went and handled both the Endura and Delica today. It was a bit more solid feel than I was expecting, but after carrying my Manix 2 a lot lately these two felt much different. I'm not sure if I'll be buying one or not, but this is not due to FRN anymore, but how it feels in hand. Thanks for the info guys!
 
The Endura FRN is outstanding. Not "plasticy" at all...except for the molding. I think it a great material for folder handles.
 
Silverdagger said:
It isn't as tough or wear resistant as FRN. I've droped Spydie FRN onto concrete. It got some minor scratches, but no big chunks taken out of it.

Maybe someone else can chime in who knows the toughness of materials. FRN seems way tougher than Valox. They can't even use the Yellow Valox on the larger grips it is so weak. That is what I've read.

FRN may look cheap, but it'll last hundreds of year. IMO
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The FRN does seem more impact resistant (less brittle?) than the Valox.

Another observation -- look at a minigrip that has been used to open a few beers (using the lighter/lever technique). The handle gets chewed up pretty bad.

...not that I'd do such a thing (seriously), but I have seen such use by buddies.
 
00ChevyScott said:
How is FRN on the pockets? I know my G10 likes to wear them pretty good, is FRN near as bad?
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I've been EDC'ing a Kershaw Skyline with G10 scales for two years. I haven't noticed any more wear from the G10 compared to knives with FRN. The G10 is much smoother now than when it was new, and though it still offers a decent grip, I like how molded FRN texture feels better.

What I do notice is that metal pockets clips are 100 times rougher on pockets than molded clips are.

Overall, I'd say that the Skyline is about perfect design wise, for pockets. The G10 isn't so abrasive that it ruins pockets, and the clip is wide enough with no sharp edges that it doesn't ruin them either.

I've had other knives that have destroyed the lips of my pants pockets in a couple of months.
 
Caught my Atlantic Salt clip on something and it tore the FRN up. I didn't catch it hard and the screw was tight so I'm not sure what to say. Spyderco told me it wasn't covered under warranty.

But this it an Atlantic Salt and not a Delica or Endura which has the clip mounted differently in the FRN.

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rmc85 said:
Caught my Atlantic Salt clip on something and it tore the FRN up. I didn't catch it hard and the screw was tight so I'm not sure what to say. Spyderco told me it wasn't covered under warranty.

But this it an Atlantic Salt and not a Delica or Endura which has the clip mounted differently in the FRN.
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Ouch! Sorry to hear about your Salt... nice knife.

If you can't get the clip back on to function properly, perhaps you can get someone to make a custom clip that mounts on the opposite side and wraps over the top (functions kind of like a bayonet clip.) Would ride lower too! Been looking for something similar for my Native 1...
 
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timberweasel said:
Ouch! Sorry to hear about your Salt... nice knife.

If you can't get the clip back on to function properly, perhaps you can get someone to make a custom clip that mounts on the opposite side and wraps over the top (functions kind of like a bayonet clip.) Would ride lower too! Been looking for something similar for my Native 1...
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I melted it back into place with a wood burner as best I could. I still use it, but I have no faith in the clip and wont be buying anymore FRN.
 
rmc85 said:
Caught my Atlantic Salt clip on something and it tore the FRN up. I didn't catch it hard and the screw was tight so I'm not sure what to say. Spyderco told me it wasn't covered under warranty.

But this it an Atlantic Salt and not a Delica or Endura which has the clip mounted differently in the FRN.

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First of all, it appears to me that Spyderco might want to beef up the perimeter of that clip area. However, to take something as dull as the metal clip, and to push it through a small FRN wall would appear to take quite a bit of force. People tear clips off or bend them all the time when they twist and turn, etc. Again, Spydie might want to beef up that perimeter, but if the dull edge of a clip cut through FRN and left paint all over it, quite a bit of weight and force was used, IMO.


Remember, something. I believe it was famous mathematician Archimedes who one time said, if he had a long enough lever, he could move the world. I think the clip was accidentally levered an a perfect storm kind of way. A fast turn on a loose clip that caught at the very end of the clip would creat a lot of leverage. JMO Valox would have just cracked and chipped away. At least the FRN held together at the cutting surface.
 
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rmc85 said:
Caught my Atlantic Salt clip on something and it tore the FRN up. I didn't catch it hard and the screw was tight so I'm not sure what to say. Spyderco told me it wasn't covered under warranty.

But this it an Atlantic Salt and not a Delica or Endura which has the clip mounted differently in the FRN.
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The steel lined FRN handles have the clips screwed into the threaded holes in the steel liners, not the FRN.

It's a shame about the Salt though. I would just put the clip back on and keep using it. I guess corrosion resistance had to take precedence over handle reinforcement. I also wouldn't consider that a warranty issue though. It was damaged in use, it did not come from the factory damaged.
 
FRN is a cheap material compared to G10 or Carbon fiber. But dont let that fool you. It is very impact resistant, cold weather or warm weather do not affect it. All in all it is a great material to give you the user an affordable knife that will last you a life time.

There are images floating around where FRN handles on the older Delicas have been through the worst of places (one guy had it for more then a decade on military duty) without issues. FRN has been beaten and battered in very cold conditions http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44375&page=3

It has proven itself no matter how it feels.

If you are afraid it might be dissapointing then save the extra cash and buy something with G10 etc....Note. Titanium handles are very strong, but it is terrible when subjected to cold weather and you have to touch it!
 
It was just caught when I was walking around the house. Nothing major. I know there plenty of Spyderco lovers here and I an one of them. I've just decided to stay away from FRN after this. Steel and G10 will be the way to go from now on.

I've bent knife clips before and the clip did bend when it got caught.

Just putting the info out there for others to see.
 
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