I'm really starting to love Endura FRN handles, BUT...

B

bk400

Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
172
I'm really liking the FRN handles on the Endura 3 and 4. I work with both, and I find that the light weight and the handle flex in the E3 actually provides me with a better grip than the stiffer steel-lined handle in the the E4, and definitely better than, say, a Benchmade Griptilian. The flex in an unlined Spyder FRN makes the grip feel "squeezable", so to speak. That, combined with the high blade length to knife weight ratio make those E3s perfect for me.

Is there a real practical downside to handle flex? I'm not using either Endura as a pry bar, and the hardest use it is going to see would presumably be in a SD context, which, I'm hoping never happens.
 
handle flex can mess up lock engagement.

My first good quality folder was a Benchmade AFCK. I still have it but I rarely use it. The handle flexes badly. My Vuck/Strider tanto dfolder doesn't flex at all! Well, I'm sure it does a bit but not that one can notice anyways.

Generally, any kind of squish in a folder handle is going to be worrysome regarding a solid lock-up.

P.S., I really need a Manix!
 
Point taken. But don't you have to virtually use the knife as a pry bar in order to get enough "squish" to cause an Endura lockback to disengage? I'm just wondering if FRN folders with steel liners are really overkill -- if you're going to use the knife hard enough to flex the handle enough to disengage a 3mm-wide lockbar, you'd go with a fixed blade or at least a knife with a metal handle, no?
 
Hi BK400,

liners offer additional strength in that the blade and lock pivots are anchored in steel. It also provides a steel base for the clip screws, which permits 4way positioning. We skeletonize the liner to remove any weight that does not serve a function.

While there is argument for "yield", there is greater argument for stiffness aiding performance. This is also true in racing; cars, motorcycles and boats.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
........ stiffness aiding performance. This is also true in racing; cars, motorcycles and boats.

sal
Click to expand...

....and bicycles, bicycles shoes, kayaks, paddles, windsurfers and anywhere else that you don't want energy wasted. :)

Glad to see that there is still a non-lines FRN knife in the lineup though, I like the light weight minimalism of my Pacific Salt.
 
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