Spyderco Carbon Fiber?

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Sal actually posted on the Spyderco factory forum that some of the scales were "a mix of CF and G10."

He's not trying to fool anyone. I'm sure someone here will link to the thread. Someone always does when this comes up. :)


kreole said:
I certainly don't care from a materials perspective, but it does bother me some that Spyderco clearly lists it as carbon fiber in their description, which is at best a bit underhanded. They actually mention it three times on their page for the GB, including the name/title http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=445

"SPYDERCO GAYLE BRADLEY CARBON FIBER"
"handle material Carbon Fiber"
"The handle is twill carbon fiber"

If there's nothing wrong with the whole thing not being CF, don't hide the fact it isn't.
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CrimsonTideShooter said:
Sal actually posted on the Spyderco factory forum that some of the scales were "a mix of CF and G10."

He's not trying to fool anyone. I'm sure someone here will link to the thread. Someone always does when this comes up. :)
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I remember the thread, but that was well after the Sage 1 and GB came out, and not every buyer of either is going to look through all of his posts to make sure things are what the blurbs say.

Underhanded was perhaps the wrong word to use due to the connotation of direct intent when I meant regardless of whether they were trying to hide the fact or not, it's hidden, and the description seems to imply the opposite of how it really is.
 
kreole said:
I remember the thread, but that was well after the Sage 1 and GB came out, and not every buyer of either is going to look through all of his posts to make sure things are what the blurbs say.

Underhanded was perhaps the wrong word to use due to the connotation of direct intent when I meant regardless of whether they were trying to hide the fact or not, it's hidden, and the description seems to imply the opposite of how it really is.
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No denying that. I would imagine that since it does contain some CF, they just call it plain CF instead of "carbon fiber laminate" just to stave off confusion. Most people wouldn't care either way, especially since it looks good despite it being a laminate.

That's just conjecture though. Who knows.
 
Unfortunately I happen to be in the minority who thinks the peel-ply carbon fiber on the Taichung models is quite unattractive. I would much rather just have smooth black G10, but I'm sure polishing the G10 costs more than applying the laminate.
 
Misanthropia said:
Unfortunately I happen to be in the minority who thinks the peel-ply carbon fiber on the Taichung models is quite unattractive. I would much rather just have smooth black G10, but I'm sure polishing the G10 costs more than applying the laminate.
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I'm not crazy about the looks of it on my Sage 1 either, as compared to the matte CF on my customs(and a Benchmade). But for $100 I can live with it, and it does grip well when wet, where as a smooth G10 doesn't.
 
We've used all of the various combinations on many models. Carbon fiber is a laminate very similar to G-10 laminates and glass laminates. Some of the models have been "pure" CF, others with various laminate combinations. Some are glass fiber laminates which look like carbon fiber, same process, just no carbon fiber in the laminate, only glass fiber. Some is peel ply, some is smooth some is processed differently for different surface.

With the Carbon / G-10 laminates, there is really not much difference in strength or even weight, mostly cost. Also the carbon fiber is made in different countries and each has its lamination process. Some of our outisde makers use USA made carbon fiber and G-10 as well.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
We've used all of the various combinations on many models. Carbon fiber is a laminate very similar to G-10 laminates and glass laminates. Some of the models have been "pure" CF, others with various laminate combinations. Some are glass fiber laminates which look like carbon fiber, same process, just no carbon fiber in the laminate, only glass fiber. Some is peel ply, some is smooth some is processed differently for different surface.

With the Carbon / G-10 laminates, there is really not much difference in strength or even weight, mostly cost. Also the carbon fiber is made in different countries and each has its lamination process. Some of our outisde makers use USA made carbon fiber and G-10 as well.

sal
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Well there you go, straight from the horse's mouth, the Taichung cf is a layer of cf laminate on top of g10. Not sure why some of you guys were fighting this one so hard, it's been known for quite some time the Taichung cf isn't "pure" cf...
 
bh49 said:
I read on forums about CF on Taiwanese models being just a layer on the top of G10, but why should I care? As far as I know benefits of CF over G10 are lighter weight, strength and the look. Per Spyderco web site CF Military is 5 gram lighter than standard. Will anybody noticed this in a blind test? Seriously? I never heard that G10 is not strong enough for knives scales. So basically all of this comes to look. So why should I care if this is solid or laminate? I do not own many Taiwanese models, but IMHO their CF is best looking and giving you sufficient grip at the same time. I can only wish that Spyderco would use it on Golden and Japanese models. BTW, CF on new Dodo is very nice too.
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for some reason I care, I dont know why but that matters to me and if I am buying a knife that is carbon fiber I think I want it to be all carbon fiber. I dont think I would buy one of these models knowing that its carbon fiber laminated over G10.
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
Yep. And the sun revolves around the earth!


You either haven't read the thread or I can't read sarcasm.
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Or there was a change in materials, perhaps. I've got three GBs from the first shipment and they are solid CF. The second run could easily be something else. Even the latter part of the first run could possibly have had a materials change.
 
Misanthropia said:
Unfortunately I happen to be in the minority who thinks the peel-ply carbon fiber on the Taichung models is quite unattractive. I would much rather just have smooth black G10, but I'm sure polishing the G10 costs more than applying the laminate.
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FYI That's not peel ply cf on the taichung models. The s90v sprint runs use peel ply cf.

Ken44 said:
I'm not crazy about the looks of it on my Sage 1 either, as compared to the matte CF on my customs(and a Benchmade). But for $100 I can live with it, and it does grip well when wet, where as a smooth G10 doesn't.
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I'm not a fan of it either. I like the cf on the new dodo and the stuff Benchmade uses on their limited mini onslaught.
 
JNewell said:
Or there was a change in materials, perhaps. I've got three GBs from the first shipment and they are solid CF. The second run could easily be something else. Even the latter part of the first run could possibly have had a materials change.
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Or you are just mistaken? What is making you so convinced that it's full CF? Is it something you can show us?

I'm just using Occam's razor here. Is it more likely that you're mistaken, or that Spyderco changes their handle materials? I too had two of the first GBs, even before the Texas stamp was put on the blade. Those were G10/cf as well.
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
Or you are just mistaken? What is making you so convinced that it's full CF? Is it something you can show us?

I'm just using Occam's razor here. Is it more likely that you're mistaken, or that Spyderco changes their handle materials? I too had two of the first GBs, even before the Texas stamp was put on the blade. Those were G10/cf as well.
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Or are you just being argumentative??? ;)

Here's a pic. Lighting is not great, so the bevel looks darker, but you can see that the scale is uniform all the way through.

PB260723.jpg
 
JNewell said:
Or are you just being argumentative??? ;)

Here's a pic. Lighting is not great, so the bevel looks darker, but you can see that the scale is uniform all the way through.

PB260723.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a nice pic clearly illustrating LAMINATE carbon fiber. See is single shiny wavy layer on the very outside of the scales? That's the carbon fiber. The rest is g10, which is also layered.
 
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