I Hate FRN

SecSpyral

SecSpyral

Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
1,156
Am I alone here? I just got a Spyderco Native from a friend for christmas (great gift btw :)) Anyway, I'm sorry to have to say that this is my first knife with FRN handles. Now, don't get me wrong, I love this knife, I love the hollow grind and the s30v steel is fine, etc. However, I really don't like that cheap plastic feel. It doesn't even give a decent grip for the material. I will definitely EDC this knife until my Osborne comes in the mail, I just think that it could be so much better with a different handle material. Is FRN used just for the price point, or is it lighter than g10 or something along that line? Am I the only one that hates this material?
 
I agree, my Endura has FRN and I recently got a Byrd with G10 for 20 bucks and it blows the feel and lock up of the Endura away... When I bought the Endura I was disappointed with the blade play and wondered why they didn't make it in G10. Well I'm savin up for A waved Endura in G10 now.....
 
I also don't care for FRN, molded plastics feel bad to my hand. Generally speaking they are lighter too. Now for me at least I like a knife with heft to it. The FRN handled knives lack the heft and feel of a more robust material. It seems FRN is a fine material just not one I care for.
 
FRN is used for its combination of toughness, strength and cost.

I don't mind it, but its a personal preference thing.
 
I don't mind it as long as the price is reasonable. Go above $80 and I'd hate it. I don't mind it on guns either.
 
It is light. I run on the road with my Native and never notice it. A Mini Manix might be a similar and more solid feeling choice, but I really don't like having a 5 ounce knife clipped to my pants. One thing about FRN, it's as light as it is tough. I agree that it looks and feels cheap. So does my Glock 17.

Sharpen it to get the most out of S30V. Then take it and just use it. I think you will appreciate it for what it is, a light, tough, slicer.
 
I find myself ripping things open because I forget my native is there, it's very light.

I love FRN, or any type of polymer, like on the glocks, kahrs and spydercos. It feels nice and cool in my hands.
 
I like it. I think that the more you use it the more you will like it.

Here are reasons I like it.

::Strong as heck......-Doesn't break, chip, or dent when dropped like G10 or metal.
::Light....................-Doesn't weigh much at all.
::Resists slippage.....-G10 does well with this too but most metals don't.

I used to not like it at all. However after using FRN for a while I really like it. It's almost a first choice on my Spydies now. :)
 
David Lowry said:
I like it. I think that the more you use it the more you will like it.

Here are reasons I like it.

::Strong as heck......-Doesn't break, chip, or dent when dropped like G10 or metal.
::Light....................-Doesn't weigh much at all.
::Resists slippage.....-G10 does well with this too but most metals don't.

I used to not like it at all. However after using FRN for a while I really like it. It's almost a first choice on my Spydies now. :)
Click to expand...

hmm, maybe i'll grow into it then. Like I said, I love the knife, It's just when I pick it up it "feels" cheap.
 
It doesn't suit me aesthetically, but I have immense respect and trust for it when executed properly. I buy FRN handled Spydercos as gifts, frequently.
 
I think it is fine, especially for the price point, at first I didn't like FRN but it grew on me and proved that it will hold up well to use.
 
In some designs I like frn and its brother materials.

But, I am hopeful that since the technology for CNC machining micarta and thicker G-10 has become more prevalent we will see more such handles replacing what would/was previously be the molded materials. Of course costs will rise (give and take, etc).
 
I think it depends on the knife. For example, I'm about to buy a Spyderco Ladybug 3 for a small keychain knife. On that knife, FRN is great because it keeps the price low and makes the knife lightweight. On a larger knife, I prefer aluminum or G10. I had a Native and did not like it because the clip dug through the FRN and rotated until it fell out of my pocket. I started to call Spyderco and have it replaced but decided I just didn't like the design so I removed the clip, smoothed up the plastic with a dremel and threw it in my tool box.
 
FRN has its place for me. It's amazingly light and darn tough, so my Spydies and a Benchmade go well with dress pants and don't end-up as a pendulum in my pants. Thick FRN on my SOGs is heavier, but stiff.

On the negative side, they're not as stiff as G10 for a given thickness, particularly with metal liners. It's not often that I'm putting that much torque on a blade though...that's a job for another tool (pry bar).
 
For some reason, people associate any kind of plastic as cheap, flimsy, and easily breakable compared to metal. Spyderco's FRN, Benchmade's Noryl GTX, HK and Glock's polymer are all a type of plastic and are some of the most durable materials out there, for a lot less weight than metal. You just have to get over the mentality that if something is made of plastic that it's cheap.
 
David Lowry said:
I like it. I think that the more you use it the more you will like it.

Here are reasons I like it.

::Strong as heck......-Doesn't break, chip, or dent when dropped like G10 or metal.
::Light....................-Doesn't weigh much at all.
::Resists slippage.....-G10 does well with this too but most metals don't.

I used to not like it at all. However after using FRN for a while I really like it. It's almost a first choice on my Spydies now. :)
Click to expand...

Dave pretty much summed up my views here. Also it can easily be modded or sanded down without worrying about messing up your lungs
 
FRN is the reason I got rid of my Pacific Salt. Loved the blade and the rust-proof steel, but the handle felt very cheap and light. I think it came with a plastic clip as well. Just didn't feel secure that the handle wouldn't snap under usage or clip would break one day. Would love a Salt model made with G-10.
 
I'm totally with you. I can't imagine showing a $60+ knife to a friend that looks/feels like it came from a gas station for $5.

Makes a knife look like cheap junk, even though it might not be.
 
I'm very proud of my ZDP-189 Caly Jr., M2 Ritter Griptilian, and SGPS Fallkniven U2, despite the 'plastic' handles
 
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