I Hate FRN

coolhand68 said:
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.
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Too bad you got rid of it. The clip was coated titanium, and you couldn't break that handle without using a cheater bar. The blade is more likely to break than the handle, and that isn't very likely given the strength of H-1. Don't hold your breath waiting for a G-10 salt. By the time they got everything rust-proofed for a knife like that, it would cost as much as a Sebenza. Maybe more.
 
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. :)
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I love FRN for all the reasons you listed. I prefer FRN over all else.
 
When using a knife, the most important thing for me is that the knife feels secure in the hand.

My handle material of choice would be blasted 6Al-4V Ti followed by hard anodized 6061-T6 Al (The texture is important; I have seen some HA 6061-T6 handles that were too smooth imho) . In my limited experience with FRN, I have found that it just doesn't wear very well. It soaks up oil, gets slick, and gouges easily. 6Al-4V Ti and HA 6061-T6 can scratch, but this doesn't seem affect my grip. YMMV, of course.
 
:confused:What brand of FRN handles did you try? The ones I've tried have been impervious to everything and harder to scratch than stainless steel (or at least the scratches don't show). I'd take Spyderco FRN over aluminum, titanium or steel any time.
 
coolhand68 said:
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.
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The Pacifics never, to my knowledge came with a plastic clip.
Im pretty sure the clip would have stood out in your memory. It is rather conspicuous, with the large barrel nut. The first ones came with a steel clip while the res of them and all newer models have the Ti clip.

Edit: FRN SOAKING UP OIL?! Sir, that statement may just call into question your credibility. The ONLY thing that has affected my Tasman Salt is black permanent Sharpie Ink and even that is fading out. But that knife has seen all manner of industrial oils, hydraulic fluids, lubricants and several different acid vapors since I bought it and its still in tip top shape.
 
It is curious that both the Griptilian and Spyderco synthetics were mentioned, as IMO they are both a good choice on their respective knives and give a secure grip.

Let no one question the toughness of FRN, as I have seen FRN bearings wear down a steel shaft. In addition, Spyderco use a higher degree of fiberglass filler than most FRN, which lends even greater strength to the mixture.

As has been mentioned, the perception of FRN as 'cheap', is more a state of mind. When I see a good design that uses FRN, I know that the FRN will provide great strength and a superior service life. In fact, a Native just wouldn't be a Native without FRN.
 
I like the fact that FRN is not prone to chipping or cracking like other materials. It's tough and flexes. I love knives that use FRN to reinforce slim stainless steel liners it is a perfect combination that keeps things lightweight inexpensive and durable.
Although I love the looks and feel of heavy knives to be honest a durable knife that weighs very little is something I would appreciate if I carried it very often. So don't let your mind trick you into thinking that it is a weak product.
 
Love FRN. Lightweight, stays with clip in your pocket, grippy when wet or dry... what's not to like? Byrd FRN is better than spyderco's G10 for everyday functional use, IMO.
 
SecSpyral said:
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.
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It may "feel" cheap in today's age, but when FRN first was used as a knife handle material, one really couldn't believe that it was so strong, and so light. At the time the market was filled with flimsy plastic, and FRN seemed very advanced.
I do EDC a FRN waved Endura, but I also EDC a P'kal with the steel liners and G10. I probably prefer the G10 for looks but the FRN feels just fine.
 
yablanowitz said:
:confused:What brand of FRN handles did you try? The ones I've tried have been impervious to everything and harder to scratch than stainless steel (or at least the scratches don't show). I'd take Spyderco FRN over aluminum, titanium or steel any time.
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It was a SOG, from years back.

DRod said:
...FRN SOAKING UP OIL?! Sir, that statement may just call into question your credibility. The ONLY thing that has affected my Tasman Salt is black permanent Sharpie Ink and even that is fading out. But that knife has seen all manner of industrial oils, hydraulic fluids, lubricants and several different acid vapors since I bought it and its still in tip top shape.
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To be honest, I havn't tried an FRN handled knife in many years. It sounds FRN has improved since then; I guess I'll have to give them another go.
 
It might not have been FRN, I can't imagine it soaking up anything, it's a very non porous material.

It's not pretty, but when you show it off to your friends you can tell them it's a very advanced type of composite, a fiberized polymer. There's been some talk of starting to use it to make bodies/frames for cars from similar composites.
 
SaMX said:
It might not have been FRN, I can't imagine it soaking up anything, it's a very non porous material.

It's not pretty, but when you show it off to your friends you can tell them it's a very advanced type of composite, a fiberized polymer. There's been some talk of starting to use it to make bodies/frames for cars from similar composites.
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Ah.. that might be it. The handle was described as being Zytel. Zytel is FRN, no? :confused:
 
Zytel is DuPont's brand of Fiber Reinforced Nylon.

Nylon is normally quite impervious to mineral type oils, Auto Trans Fluid, Gasolene, Ketones, paint thinner, lacquer thinner, ammonia, xylene, toluene. It does pretty good in most anything except acids.

So what was the fluid you said it absorbed?
 
I'm afraid I don't recall. It was about 10 years ago. Could it have been a silicone based oil? I used those quite a bit back then.
 
Nylon also is pretty much impervious to silicone oil.

If whatever oil it was had become strongly acidic, it is possible that it could attack the FRN. Skydrol phosphate ester hydraulic fluid (used in commercial aerospace hydraulic systems) becomes quite acidic when exposed to temperatures over 350F. But the result would be the Nylon dissolving in the acidic media, rather than the media being absorbed.
 
I love the FRN's, they are my beater knives.

I throw them in the toolbox of my truck, they can bounce around in the console, that's the whole point, who care's?

Now my G-10's and CF's, those get babied.:D
 
I totally dig FRN, Zytel, Noryl GTX, or whatever you want to call it.. Oakley's "O Matter" frames are a FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon). I consider it somewhat of a "space age" material. The one piece molded handle of the Native is a fantastic delivery of the product. I will admit that g10 and carbon fiber are fancier, but I can't see a particularly good reason to prefer them over FRN other than looks.
 
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