I've been missing out with the FRN models...

jstn

jstn

Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
3,737
I love Spydies; I own tons of them and most days have one in my pocket. But I've always avoided the FRN models. I just thought it looked cheap and flimsy. Mostly I was afraid the FRN would be slick, especially when wet. Recently, I decided to try an Endura on a whim. Man have I been missing out! What a great, useful knife, and light too! Then I got a Native 5 Salt, which I love as well. The traction provided by FRN seems to be even better than G10. Now I think I need a Delica, an Enduara Wharnie, probably a Delica wharnie, a Manix 2 lightweight, and a Para 3 lightweight. A whole new world of Spydies has been opened up to me. How could you guys let me miss out on these for so long?

I'm not mad, just disappointed.

IMG_20190124_181049673.jpg
 
Weirdly enough I dislike the bi-directional pattern on most of their FRN models. I lusted after a HAP40 Stretch for a long, long time. Once I finally got one in hand I knew instantly it wasn’t for me. I’m actually all for FRN on a lot of models too, I’m a huge fan of the stock Griptilian scales from Benchmade, and I love the FRN on my K390 Urban. So I’ve come to blame the pattern on most Seki and LW models. Which is too bad too, I like a lot of the knives!
 
jstn said:
Recently, I decided to try an Endura on a whim. Man have I been missing out! What a great, useful knife, and light too!
Click to expand...
I'll tell you what !
Good stuff !
Maybe it doesn't win the best in show with the pearl handled dudes.
When it comes to a user I'll take the FRN thank you very much.
 
jstn said:
I love Spydies; I own tons of them and most days have one in my pocket. But I've always avoided the FRN models. I just thought it looked cheap and flimsy. Mostly I was afraid the FRN would be slick, especially when wet. Recently, I decided to try an Endura on a whim. Man have I been missing out! What a great, useful knife, and light too! Then I got a Native 5 Salt, which I love as well. The traction provided by FRN seems to be even better than G10. Now I think I need a Delica, an Enduara Wharnie, probably a Delica wharnie, a Manix 2 lightweight, and a Para 3 lightweight. A whole new world of Spydies has been opened up to me. How could you guys let me miss out on these for so long?

I'm not mad, just disappointed.

View attachment 1060369
Click to expand...

Oddly the same people who love Glock pistols ( and other polymer guns) will complain that FRN feels too plasticky.

Btw we tried to tell you, you just didn’t want to listen.
 
The FRN models are some of the best. My favorite Spyderco is probably the Pacific Salt.
 
I like how the molded FRN can be "sculpted" along the edges. More finger friendly.
The slab sided G-10 puts me off in comparison because there are sharpener corners, less / no curve to fit the hand and often a higher price tag to boot.

Yes I have a bunch of Para2s with the G-10. Doesn't mean I don't want sculpted handles on them like my Endura4, Dragonfly, Delica and Tasman Salt.
 
Wowbagger said:
Look close at the Salt.
The little squares are different than the normal FRN; has a little dimple in the middle of each. Tiny suction cups for when wet ?
Click to expand...
Just checked my Dragonfly zdp, Manix 2 and Native, all have little dimples on each square
 
Wowbagger said:
Look close at the Salt.
The little squares are different than the normal FRN; has a little dimple in the middle of each. Tiny suction cups for when wet ?
Click to expand...
That is interesting, and it makes some sense.
 
My main issue with the FRN is that with harder cutting tasks it doesn't feel as strong as most G-10, Micarta, or CF this could also be due to most knives I have used in those materials also featured stainless steel liners while I think many Spyderco FRN, and Spyderco designs in general, go linerless.

Wowbagger said:
Look close at the Salt.
The little squares are different than the normal FRN; has a little dimple in the middle of each. Tiny suction cups for when wet ?
Click to expand...
My purple Delica 4 has small dimples in the squares and looking on some sites at pictures of various Spyderco FRN handles they all appear to have small dimples in each square.
 
Yeah, I'm a huge fan of FRN. Yes it may look a little "cheap" compared to other scale materials but it works great for me, especially on my fishing/watersport specific Salt knives. Sorry you missed out for all this time!
 
I started out exactly the same way that you did. I though FRN looked cheap and felt cheap but after some time with a Delica, I was sold on the material. It's grippy and very durable. I like it as much as G10.

That said, I still hate the FRCP material Spyderco uses on the Manix LW. That feels lime brittle plastic to me.
 
While I usually prefer g10, I love my Stretch in frn and didn't care for the g10 version at all. It just felt too slim.
 
I carried an Endura for a few years... until the molded FRN clip snapped off after catching on a door handle.. Went with a Micarta Goddard... Then a G-10 Millie stole my heart...

ps... I carry a Stainless Steel Colt Commander...
 
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