Paramilitary 2 lightweight

anycal said:
The Japanese model's handle description is FRN , whereas the Golden handles are FRCP. Not sure if it is just marketing or actually different material.
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I don't think they use that description anymore. The 2018 catalogue shows the LW Golden model handle material as FRN. For whatever it's worth, I don't think there were ever two different materials being used on the Golden lightweights, I think they just tried calling it FRCP for awhile and then went back to calling it FRN. I have zero evidence to back that up, it's just what i've come to believe. If there WERE actually 2 different materials used in Golden then I find it interesting that they all felt exactly alike while they all also felt different from the Japanese FRN.
 
And....upon further inspection, I see that I'm wrong again. haha. I looked in the catalogue and the Native shows FRN while the Manix shows FRCP.

I guess the only true statement in my firs post is at the end where I said "I find it interesting that they all felt exactly alike while they all also felt different from the Japanese FRN".
 
Surfingringo said:
And....upon further inspection, I see that I'm wrong again. haha. I looked in the catalogue and the Native shows FRN while the Manix shows FRCP.
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Yeah it's listed the same as it's always been. I'm still curious to know why they use two different materials.

Surfingringo said:
I guess the only true statement in my firs post is at the end where I said "I find it interesting that they all felt exactly alike while they all also felt different from the Japanese FRN".
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I could certainly be wrong but I think the difference you're feeling has to do with the finish used on the molds more than differences in the chemical make up of the materials.

As far as a FRN Paramilitary 2 goes I'm in! Not sure why since I don't think there'll be a big reduction in weight and I really don't need another PM2.
 
Put me down for one. I really like the FRN and I'm always up for some high speed blade steel. Is that a thing FRN vs FRCP? I never really noticed it but now I want to run home and check. Either way the thought of an even lighter PM2 sounds cool, please no more green/yellow zome tho
 
Sharp Guy said:
....
I could certainly be wrong but I think the difference you're feeling has to do with the finish used on the molds more than differences in the chemical make up of the materials.
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Could be I suppose, but man, it sure does feel like a different material. They feel different to me when I squeeze or bend them and even when i tap the handles on a hard counter i hear a slightly different pitch.
 
Surfingringo said:
Could be I suppose, but man, it sure does feel like a different material. They feel different to me when I squeeze or bend them and even when i tap the handles on a hard counter i hear a slightly different pitch.
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I’m pretty sure the FRCP is a polyester vs FRN’S nylon and believe Sal said it was a slightly better and slightly more expensive material.
 
So which Spydercos beyond the BD1 Manix 2 LW use FRCP instead of the popular FRN?

Just curious as I have a FRCP Manix and Spydercos in FRN (all black), and I can’t tell the difference....
 
SharpieB said:
So which Spydercos beyond the BD1 Manix 2 LW use FRCP instead of the popular FRN?.
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As far as I know, only the Manix 2 LWs use FRCP.

SharpieB said:
Just curious as I have a FRCP Manix and Spydercos in FRN (all black), and I can’t tell the difference....
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I can't really feel the difference either. The Manix 2 LWs (FRCP) feel just like the Native 5 LWs (FRN). Some of the Japanese models feel a little softer than any of the US models but I think that's due the finish and the fact that the outside edges of the handles have more radius.
 
Just comparing a couple, I think the FRN Salts feel exponentially better than the FRCP blue Manix Lightweight.
 
At first I thought the lw PM2 sounded like a good idea. That s because I like my lw Manix 2 with xhp steel so much better than my g10 Manix 2.
Then I got out my lw M2 and my Stretch with frn and my Endura and my PM2 and compared them side by side.The Stretch and Endura feel slightly more radiused. Which is a good feel. The PM2 and the Stretch and the Endura all weigh about the same. The M2 is lighter. The Endura and stretch are lined. The M2 isn't but feels just as strong.
Bottom line. All four knives are light with the Manix 2 being the lightest. The Manix 2 looks to have possibly the strongest blade. The PM2 is already quite light, and I think that the frn would not add that much and might detract from the overall feel. I d leave the PM2 alone. But what do I know. I thought the PM2 was already small enough and have had no interest in the PM3. I guess the PM2 already hits the sweet spot for me.
 
I guess I'm the odd man out but I actually like my PM2's with a little more heft. When I've swapped out the stock scales for Ti or Al they feel a little nicer to me.

Mike
 
Surfingringo said:
An frn pm2 would also be cheaper, probably bringing the street price down close to $100.
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Normally I m all about anything to lower the price but not the strength or function of a working knife. I also like lightweight knives. But I think the PM2 with g10 is already light and cheap enough. It is a bargain. Just the right weight and size for me.
 
whp said:
Normally I m all about anything to lower the price but not the strength or function of a working knife. I also like lightweight knives. But I think the PM2 with g10 is already light and cheap enough. It is a bargain. Just the right weight and size for me.
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Do you think frn lowers either the strength or function compared to g10? Serious question. It’s debatable, but I’ve found the strength and functionality of the Japanese frn knives to be on the extreme end. At any rate, I can pretty much guarantee you that since they sell like hot cakes they will keep making them in g10 so your bases are covered. Even better, now we are going to have more options for those of us who like frn and saving a few bucks. ;)
 
Surfingringo said:
Do you think frn lowers either the strength or function compared to g10? Serious question. It’s debatable, but I’ve found the strength and functionality of the Japanese frn knives to be on the extreme end. At any rate, I can pretty much guarantee you that since they sell like hot cakes they will keep making them in g10 so your bases are covered. Even better, now we are going to have more options for those of us who like frn and saving a few bucks. ;)
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The G10 will be stronger, but likely nothing most of us would ever encounter...like hanging 45# weights off the end of it.
 
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