question on Spyderco's G10

[dogboye]

There is something about Spyderco's G10 that has been bugging me ever since I got my Military, which was my third G10 Spydie. My first G10'er was the BF Native, which had a g10 handle texture to die for, IMO. After having handled quite a few Benchmades, which all had the same semi-slick surface texture, the g10 of the BFN seemed to just <u>stick</u> to my hand. It was awesome.

So, later on I bought my C05 Standard. Well, when it came in, one g10 scale had the same sort of texture as the BF Native, while the other scale was smooth. Almost like it had been polished, or at least sanded smooth. The side with the grippy texture is the same side as the clip, and it seems to just grab onto my pocket. Maybe that was the purpose.

Then I got the Military. Well, it is sort-of in between. Both scales are the same. But, they are textured somewhere between the great texture of the BF Native, and the really smooth texture of the smooth scale on the Standard.

So, what gives? Was there a special finish/texture applied to the BF Native? Or is there some smoothing done to the one scale of the Standard? Or does Spyderco just use the g10 as it is supplied from the manufacturer, without doing anything special other than machining the nest for any liner?

------------------
"Absolute safety is for those who don't have the balls to live in the real world."
St. Mary's County, Republik of Marilundt

 

[Nakano 2]

That is quite common among quite a few production companies. This has been a bug with me since G10 was introduced into the knife industry! I' ve been asking WHY are a majority of these highly popular/ functional/ tactical/ schmactical folders that have G10 scales have either a SMOOTH or POLISHED finish?!?! It simply does not make sense for any knife to have this type finish if they were made to be used. For example: This is the only reason why I have never purchased any of the Kershaw Tasks series!

I recently obtained a Standard and found just the opposite where the slightly roughed scale is on the non clip side and the smoother on the clip side! My Harpy on the other hand has a decent enough texture to be used hard. My BF Native indeed has the best textured G10 of all of my Spydercos. I guess part of this is due to different lots of G10 being delivered or perhaps there are more than a single supplier. Signnn...

L8r,
Nakano

 

[pojim]

Very interesting thread! I have a Wegner with very smoothed out G10, and I had 2 Starmates, one had smooth G10 which I didn't like and the other had nice textured G10. My Military has a nice grippy texture to it. I just sold my BF Native because I didn't like the small size, but it did definitely have the best G10 I have ever seen on a production knife.

I've always wondered why the scales can't be standardized to provide a nice, grippy texture. It's gotten to the point that, when you order a knife, you have no idea what kind of G10 you're going to get.

It would be nice if Spyderco and other manufacturers could encourage suppliers to provide more uniform materials.

pojim

 

[Sal Glesser]

We've been experimenting with G-10 quite a bit. The BF Native ws a test material.

We've used 5 different G-10 materials from different manufactures both USA & Japan. Most of our G-10 is custom made for us. Which we are now also supplying Seki with. The G-10 used for the BF Native was custom made for us. We will be using that in future production. They are now also supplying our main maker in Seki.

It is because of companies like Spyderco working with G-10 manufacturers to improve G-10 for knives that changes are happening.

There are also a few very cooperative manufacturers.

sal

 

[dogboye]

Excellent Sal!!

It is good to know that this is not just random occurrences, but that there is a plan. I suspected pretty much just what you said (especially the part about the BF Native g10). <u>That</u> was some nice g10!

------------------
"Absolute safety is for those who don't have the balls to live in the real world."
St. Mary's County, Republik of Marilundt