non-frn zdp

delkhouri

delkhouri

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
738
zdp is the new "it" stell. it is harder and according to articles ive read its sharper and stays sharper then pretty much anything on the market. Its is still fairly new and is considered "exotic" because of its rarity. My question is why is spyderco putting this new exotic steel on frn handles. You dont have to defend FRN i know of its good attributes but its probably the least expensive handle material that spyderco produces and they are putting their most expensive (dont know for sure) or atleast most exotic steel on it. I know the CF caly just came out but are the any new higher end handled zdp knives comeing out soon. I myself would love to see a titanium handled one but g10 or micarta would be nice too. I just hate frn even if it is good.
 
Almite/ZDP Lum Chinese and CF/ZDP Stretch are due out later this year. Blade on that will be solid ZDP. I think there were a number of reasons for making the original ones in FRN. First, it made the steel available to those who might be more willing to spend $60 to $75 on a knife than $150 or better. Second, it encouraged people to use the knives HARD, something they'd be less likely to do with an expensive knife. Third, the more expensive an item is, the more it needs to match our tastes, so the fewer people any given combination of design and materials will appeal to.
 
I think The Deacon has hit the nail on the head. I'm pretty sure that I read either a post from Sal or a magazine article where he stated that they wanted to get ZDP-189 into the hands of as many people as possible. We ELUs are testing that steel out in a huge variety of conditions and giving feedback to Spyderco. Ahhh, the circle of knife :D (apologies to the Lion King)
 
those reasons make sense its just unusual or atleast to me it is. When s30v broke in they put it in higher end fancier knives as usual with new steels sot when zdp came in id just expect them to do the same.
CombatGrapple, forgive my ignorance but what is an ELU
 
ELU = "End Line User" or "Ever Lovin' User", take your pick. :D Think the situation with S30V was a bit different. As I recall, 440V was receiving some bad press, and the price difference between the two steels was negligable compared with that between VG-10 and ZDP-189.
 
well most of the FRN knives are made in japan, and ZDP is a japanese steel. S30v is an american steel, and most of the g10 handled knives are made here in america.

I think the initial zdp/frn knives were as much products of convenience as anything else.

I appreciate Sal getting a ZDP caly jr to us as soon as he could. I really like that knife, and I like the ZDP/CF caly3 as much or more.

We're now seeing the beginning of nicer materials coming from Japan with the Caly3, zdp version included:D

I think the conundrum of zdp and frn is one of supply geographics rather than poor decision making. Additionally I like the affordably priced high performance FRN ZDP knives, for their value.
 
geographic convenience not something i even romotely considered

I also like the affordable price os the frn zdp knives but i just hate frn so i guess i just have to be patient and wait for some more offerings.
 
Its really a shame in many ways that FRN doesn't have a higher class look to it. I think people are generally turned off by 'plastic' or at least the look of it and don't really give FRN the credit it deserves for its ability. As far as durability, holding threads, which I feel it does better than both G10 or Micarta when threaded without the help of steel or titanium liners and also regarding strength FRN has a lot going for it.

Then of course there is the fact that not all FRN is the same. I've tested some of the scraps leftover from doing Spyderco rebuilds and other brands I have done against some of the Gerber and Meyerco and Cold Steel knives. In my opinion the Gerber and Meyerco brands don't seem to compare to the quality of either the Spyderco or the Cold Steel FRN material. I don't know exactly why but the Gerber and Meyerco FRN snaps in half with less effort than either of the other two FRN materials.

STR
 
Yep, not all FRN is created equal. Sal doesn't settle for anything less than the best he can get, and if that isn't up to his standards he goes with something else.

I for one am glad he put those ZDP blades in FRN handles. It put the steel in the hands of people who actually USE their knives. It gave him feedback on how it performs in the real world.

Guess what? We now have regular production ZDP blades. Would that have happened if the first run had been a high end safequeen lookie-no-touchie knife? Maybe, but I doubt it. That has not been Sal's style in the past.
 
My first experience with ZDP-189 was with a sprint run Delica 4. I usually buy sprint runs two (or more) at a time. One for the safe, one for the pocket. At the time the store only hade 1 zdp delica. I bought it to use it and beat it up. If it had been a $150 ++ knife, I never would have put it to hard use like I did that one. I am a TRUE believer in ZDP-189, And lets face it....The Delica (4) is an awesome platform for testing.
 
What puts me off the FRN models is that (lockbacks) usually also have the lock spring holder made of FRN.
 
You say that as if it were a bad thing. Have you ever had a lockspring come loose on a Spyderco FRN knife? As has been mentioned, not all FRN is created equal. Some of it quite frankly is crap that gives the concept a bad name. I have a Delica from the molded clip days that has been used hard enough and resharpened enough to be a quarter inch shorter and an eighth inch narrower than it was new, and I have never had a problem with it.

That's why I like Spyderco's FRN. It never feels really hot or cold to the touch, offers plenty of grip, and is tough as hell. What more can you ask for on a work knife?
 
I dont have a problem with FRN because of its functionality. I just dont like the look or feel of it. TO ME it looks an feels like plastic (even the higher end spyderco or other frn) thats just my opinion. I buy knives to use them so if i buy a 75 dollar knife a 150 dollar knife or a 400 dollar knife im gonna use it. so if i have a 75 doallar frn knife, a 150 dollar G10 knife or a 400 dollar titanium framelock i wouldnt be afraid of using any of them and i none would be shelf trophies. but the frn one would never get use because i just plain dont like it and that is sadly why i dont have a spyderco zdp yet. Im sure that will change when more releases come out
 
If the lockup is good and the blade is sharp, the handle comfortable and the price right. I will stick it in my pocket and use it!

I own knives that cost many many many times more than even the most expensive Spyderco knife, but I keep a Spyderco in my pocket most days.

Because they work and work flipping well!

Laminated ZDP 189 in one of the best value knives going? The caly is the knife for me!:thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top