GEC F&F NiteBrite acrylic - how well does it hold up?

Planterz

Planterz

Іди на хуй Путін!
Joined
Mar 26, 2004
Messages
24,755
I've been carrying my F&F Hayn' Helper sheepsfoot jack (with pen blade) in orange delirin almost daily since getting it a few months back. However, I'm finding myself wishing I got the single blade one, as the 2 blade is rather heavy and thick, and I practically never use the pen blade.

Call me a child at heart (and you probably should, I'm quite young compared to most of you here), but I still love things that glow in the dark, or under UV (or both). Heck, I carry a UV flashlight on my keychain. So I'd like to try the Hayn' Helper in the NiteBrite acrylic, but I'm worried about how much it might "ugly up", since this will be a working knife for me. The orange delrin on the one I have gets scratched up, and if my hands are dirty, the grime gets into the handles and makes the orange dirty and dark. I fear that the same will happen with the NiteBrite acrylic, and maybe look even worse, given the contrast of dark grime against white. Should I worry about this, or should I stick with the orange, or even the black?
 
I think it would get dirty much like your orange. However, I don't have personal experience using it. A little dirt can always be cleaned up an it is a working tool afterall. I'd say go for it and just enjoy it :)
 
It will shine through all adversity!

Hope so, as it's a really interesting handle option. I could imagine that 2 blade effort is really too heavy and bulky for practical pocket use. So, go ahead and follow your inner child on this one, order today, be pleased the next.
 
While cool to be sure. Those materials lose their luminescence rather quickly. I have the Hayn Helper 2 blade and love it! But I think the glow in the dark will not last that long on mine given what Im seeing.
 
I have both a 1 and 2 blade #47 with nitebright. I feel it scratches just as easily as the orange delrin. I don't really get it covered in dirt or grime so I can't comment on how it would look like that.

The single blade model is very pocketable as its light and slim. I use my 2 blade one more often though as when I'm using this knife, the extra bulk is preferred and the weight isn't an issue as I don't usually carry the knife all day everywhere. The pen blade isn't noticeable when using the main blade which is most of the time. When I need it, the pen blade is pointy but stout.
 
Updating my own thread, in case anybody was wondering the same things I was...

Since starting this tread, I bought both a single blade sheepsfoot #47 in orange delrin and Nifebrite acrylic. The orange delrin got a lot of use right off the bat. I resisted carrying the Nifebrite because I didn't want to mess it up, but eventually I gave in, and have been carrying and using it for the past few weeks. I have to say that I'm impressed. The acrylic obviously isn't diamond hard, but even after a few weeks of use, it's still shiny, although roughed up some, and far less so than the orange delrin. Moreover, it hasn't darkened at all from grime like the orange delrin F&F tools I have. Maybe it's the contrast, maybe it's the material, but the Nifebrite acrylic doesn't seem to get crudded up.

Ironically, while I was finding that the single blade Hayn' Helper in delrin was a bit thick (and the 2 blade was very thick), when I switched to the single blade Nifebrite, I've almost been feeling like it's too thin. Good in the pocket, but a bit lacking when used in the hand. So on a (admittedly intoxicated) whim, I ordered a 2 blade Hayn' Helper Jack in Nifebrite, which arrived today.

And frankly, I think this knife just might be perfect for me. The thinner scales of the acrylic make it much more pocketable than the 2 blade jack in delrin. In fact, it's only a hair (and I mean a hair) thicker than a single blade F&F tool. And substantially thinner (and seemingly lighter, although that's just going off feel rather than a scale) than the 2 blade in delrin. I'll likely still carry and use my single blade when I feel like "going light", but despite what I said before, I like the option of the not-insubstantial "pen" blade the 2 blade jack includes.

I'm probably going to end up giving away my orange delrin F&F tools And I might even pick up a Bull Nose in Nifebrite as well.
 
Good to hear. I was thinking of getting a nitebrite sheepsfoot for my daughter as one of her first knives. Can you think of anything cooler from a child's perspective?

- Christian
 
kamagong said:
Good to hear. I was thinking of getting a nitebrite sheepsfoot for my daughter as one of her first knives. Can you think of anything cooler from a child's perspective?

- Christian
Click to expand...

As a child-at-heart who still gets a kick out of things that glow in the dark, or things that glow under UV, no, I can't. Except for maybe the EDCforum Spyderco specials, but those are modern, not traditional. Just be aware that the pull and snap on the #47 is sharp and brisk (a solid 5 or 6, depending on example). And while it's a sheepsfoot, the tip is still very pointy and sharp. It can be pinched open though, which makes it easier to open and less of a destroyer of fingernails. There are some SAKs that have GitD scales as well, if that's what you're looking for.
 
just saw this and appreciate the review -- I've been looking at the 2-blade gitd model a lot.
this does not help my won't power hold sway over the wallet. :D
 
I'm wouldn't actually let her use it, not for a while at least. I'm going to start her off with an Opinel or maybe a Taramundi. I'll let her carry the nitebrite around the house in her pocket. Just like Daddy.

- Christian
 
I'm looking forward to taking my Nifebrite Boys' Jack camping this summer with my Troop. While I know they didn't use Super Luminova (luminous stuff on watches and more costly than gold :eek:), I can't wait to charge it up and watch it glow as I fall asleep in my tent :D
Glad to hear it doesn't get too messed up from dirt, 'cause it will get dirty!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top