Protecting the edge on Zytel folders?

[AmadeusM]

Am I correct to assume that Cold Steel's Voyagers have direct contact between the edge and the handle? If so, are Zytel Spydercos in the same boat? Big deal or not significant? Can the user correct this?

Thanks.

 

[Planterz]

I can't speak for CS folders, but if the edge on your Spyderco is touching the inside of the back of the handle, there's something wrong with it. All of Spyderco's lockback knives have what's called a "kick", which is a small protruding nub under the ricasso that contacts the lockbar, preventing the edge from hitting anything inside. Most other lockbacks and slipjoints have a kick as well. If a knife doesn't have some sort of prevention method for the edge contacting the internals, then avoid that knife.

 

[yoda4561]

it's not an issue normally. sometimes there is a "very" small amount of contact, but usually the kick on the blade keeps it from touching the inside of the handle. If you notice dulling due to blade/handle contact or maybe a deep gouge in the handle contact cust. service and have them take a look at it.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Amadeus, I just checked my CS folders (2 Voyagers, a Gunsite, and a Vaqeuro Grande). None of the blades make contact with the inside of the handle unless you squeeze them tight when they're closed. They all have a small kick that meets the backstrap inside the handle to keep the blade off the Zytel. There seems to be about 1/8" clearance.

Not a big deal, even if they did touch lightly, since Zytel is not nearly hard enough to dull steel. If any of yours seem to touch, you should be able to gouge the Zytel to form a groove for the blade to avoid contact.

 

[Don Luis]

I'm looking at my VG10 Zytel Delica and the blade does indeed rest on the rear part of the handle when closed, touching the zytel material not the steel back spring, it does not seem to affect the edge at all. I'm also looking at an Opinel and the blade rests on the wood handle when closed, does not seem to affect it at all.

I have other knives in which the blade touched the back spring when closed and that was bad, I fixed them but should not have had too, one was a Laguiole cheapo, I put some duct tape inside for the blade to rest on, the other one was a British rigging knife, I enlarged the kick a bit with hammer and chisel and dremeled a slot in the back spring with a carbide wheel.

With the Delica and the Opinel I see no problem, they are both scary sharp, the handle material seems to be be too soft to cause any trouble.

Luis

 

[Sal Glesser]

"Zytel" (Dupont) or any FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) will have anywhere from 20% - 65% fiberglass (average in high quality knives is 30%-35%) in the nylon which will certainly affect a sharp edge. Try to not let the edge hit the FRN.

You can see if it's really hitting by looking at the inside of the FRN handle where the edge would hit. If the edge is hitting, you will see a cut mark in the FRN.

Your Delica should not be hitting the handle.

sal

 

[Don Luis]

...If the edge is hitting, you will see a cut mark in the FRN...

There is a clearly marked groove in the handle of my Delica, I checked my Native and my Jester and in these the blade does not touch the inside, so I guess there is something wrong with the Delica.

I will not worry about it since I don't have much of a problem despite having reprofiled to 15/17 degree double bevels, If I decide to do something it will be making a groove for the blade tip to go into (I have no plans to send it across the border for service), I thank you Sal for your comment and I'll add that you make great products.

Luis

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi Luis, Thanx for the kind words and the input.

Borders do present their problems.

The kick is hand ground to fit the blade properly into the handle. We spend a lot of time and attention on those details. Sometimes something does slip through. Pobody's Nerfect.

Should you decide to send it, we'll be happy to sort in out.

sal

 

[underaged!]

"Zytel" (Dupont) or any FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) will have anywhere from 20% - 65% fiberglass (average in high quality knives is 30%-35%) in the nylon which will certainly affect a sharp edge. Try to not let the edge hit the FRN.

You can see if it's really hitting by looking at the inside of the FRN handle where the edge would hit. If the edge is hitting, you will see a cut mark in the FRN.

Your Delica should not be hitting the handle.

sal

Whould you say that Zytel and your FRN is just about the same?

 

[Sal Glesser]

We use Dupont Zytel in our USA product. We use a different FRN in our Seki product. We call out the requirements so they are similar in their performance.

sal