Spyderco Police 4 K390

At .02, my opinion on this is very much overvalued :D... but here it is anyway. I value performance over everything else. I've knocked a very noticeable chip out of a G10 handled folder when I dropped it and it hit a concrete deck where I was working. I've dropped FRN handled Spydercos from 10-15 ft in the air onto a concrete warehouse floor and you couldn't even tell it once I wiped the floor dust off. G10 seems to be more rigid while FRN seems tougher in my personal experience. I'm OK with that.
 
Reswob said:
I understand FRN is a perfectly adequate handle material, but it LOOKS and FEELS cheap, and greatly diminishes the overall quality impression of a knife. On a more 'budget' knife that's kind of expected, but to put FRN handles on a more premium model like the Police is a sin! I hope the G10 Spydie's aren't going away.
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Hi Reswob,

I just teasing you. We sell lotsa both FRN & G-10. I think it's more like Bikerector mentioned, it's more of a personal preference. But I do think that the price is important in both the FRN models and the lower cost Chinese G-10 models.

sal
 
For me the best Spydercos were the FRN Delica and Enduras w/o metal liners. They were lightweight and slim. A family member has one of the original Enduras. I got it for $5 at a street market. It's been used so much the serrations are about 30% worn off and its missing 1\3" off the tip. The FRN liners may flex in the middle if pres hard, but that knife still opens fine, locks up solid and has taken even more abuse over the last 6 years since I bought it.

FRN doesn't need liners, but for a 4 position clip and due to the impression of "cheapness," Spyderco added metal liners. I think it was Blackie Collins who first used the material. Cold steel licensed the Spyderco FRN handle design with integral pocket clip and created their classic Voyager line, w/o liners and sold thousands of them in 3 sizes and two blades. One of the worst consumer trends in knives is the mistaken impresion that lightweight linerless FRN knives "aren't strong enough for hard use." Some times customers are not right :)
 
jstrange said:
I prefer the FRN models. They are usually lighter, more grippy, are available in multiple colors, and being less expensive is a great bonus.
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Yeah, I was anti-FRN when I first got into Spyderco knives...that was until I bought one! :) My favorite model is the Native, and I have a few each of the G10, linerless G10, and LW FRN, and I find myself reaching for the FRN more than any for summer EDC. I wear lighter weight khaki shorts and it feels like there is nothing there. But then I reach in my pocket and there is a powerhouse of a knife that can handle pretty much anything I can throw at it. I enjoy the G10 models, and I carry them in the winter if I am wearing heavier jeans, but for summer EDC the FRN is perfect. It is VERY tough, plenty rigid, and I enjoy the bi-directional texturing and feel in my hand. I don't think it feels or looks cheap at all. But I do appreciate the cheaper price! :)

I am dying for Cruwear in the Native and guess which version I want it in most??? Yep, the FRN LW Native...and that has nothing to do with price...I'd still get it if they were the same price as the G10 or linerless G10.

My second favorite knife is the Dragonfly 2 btw, and I have a few FRN versions and the G10 version. I'm selling the G10 because I love the FRN DF2s so much.
 
Reswob said:
I understand FRN is a perfectly adequate handle material, but it LOOKS and FEELS cheap, and greatly diminishes the overall quality impression of a knife. On a more 'budget' knife that's kind of expected, but to put FRN handles on a more premium model like the Police is a sin! I hope the G10 Spydie's aren't going away.
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Have you ever owned an FRN Spyderco? Take the "FRN Challenge" and buy, carry, use, and abuse an FRN Native 5 LW. Grab one in Maxamet, S110, S90V, S35VN, or whatever your preferred steel is. This knife is rock solid and feels great in the hand. Doesn't look or feel cheap at all and is exceptionally tough. The Native 5 LW in FRN is my favorite model they make. I like it more then the G10 PM2, Para 3, Military, Manix, etc., and even more than the G10 Native and Linerless G10 Native. This knife can't be beat for lightweight summer EDC. My grail Spyderco is a Cruwear Native LW FRN. Sal mentioned a few months back he was looking into it. I REALLY hope this one becomes a reality!
 
I actually prefer frn over g10 in my users...and all my knives are users. Lighter weight and better grip in wet/slippery conditions. Also less expensive. What’s not to like? I guess there are still folks going around saying that Glocks are junk because they can’t get past the material but those who know better, know better.

For the record, I do like the “feel” of the Japanese frn better than the Golden frn. The USA frn seems to be a little harder and gives the impression of being more brittle. I’m sure Spyderco has tested the hell out of them and I don’t have any fear of actually breaking them, but given the choice I’ll take the Japan frn recipe.
 
Surfingringo said:
I actually prefer frn over g10 in my users...and all my knives are users. Lighter weight and better grip in wet/slippery conditions. Also less expensive. What’s not to like? I guess there are still folks going around saying that Glocks are junk because they can’t get past the material but those who know better, know better.

For the record, I do like the “feel” of the Japanese frn better than the Golden frn. The USA frn seems to be a little harder and gives the impression of being more brittle. I’m sure Spyderco has tested the hell out of them and I don’t have any fear of actually breaking them, but given the choice I’ll take the Japan frn recipe.
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Yeah, I didn't even dive into the Salts. Fantastic models. Pacific Salt, DF2 Salt, Spyderhawk, Salt 1. All great knives. And i'm with you on the Japan vs Golden FRN. Definitely a slight difference in feel and perception, and I do like the Japan FRN a little better.
 
Gotta love that FRN and the FRCP is not bad, either. I do like the Japanese FRN "feel" better, but I do not think it actual is better. I vastly prefer this on my users, as well, though I do not mind G10 at all.
 
I like both FRN and G10. However, I found it is difficult to get knives with FRN handle without steel liners to be super smooth.
 
steelcitysixteen said:
Have you ever owned an FRN Spyderco? Take the "FRN Challenge" and buy, carry, use, and abuse an FRN Native 5 LW. Grab one in Maxamet, S110, S90V, S35VN, or whatever your preferred steel is. This knife is rock solid and feels great in the hand. Doesn't look or feel cheap at all and is exceptionally tough. The Native 5 LW in FRN is my favorite model they make. I like it more then the G10 PM2, Para 3, Military, Manix, etc., and even more than the G10 Native and Linerless G10 Native. This knife can't be beat for lightweight summer EDC. My grail Spyderco is a Cruwear Native LW FRN. Sal mentioned a few months back he was looking into it. I REALLY hope this one becomes a reality!
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Hahaha! I've been taking the "FRN challenge" for oh about 15 years? My first knife was a Native. Got it because it was afordable and I was on a budget. Definitely my LEAST favorite knife. Also have an Endura 4 that was gifted to me. Much nicer than the Native, but still a very "budget" feeling knife. I also have an Ambitious (G10, liner lock) I picked up on a whim, after fiddling with it to get it running right, I actually like it better than the Endura. If Spyderco made the Ambitious/Resilience/etc line in America I would be willing to pay twice what the Chinese ones go for. I also have a Benchmade Griptilian that was gifted to me. It would be a great knife except for the horrible, horrible, FRN handle (although I admit half my hatred of the Grip is the bulbous shape, the other half is the material). I also bought a Delica as a gift a year or so ago, so I know the FRN hasn't changed any since my Endura4. My opinion (based on my experience) is that FRN Spydie's are very much budget knives. At this point, G10 should be considered a basic handle material, and I will never buy another FRN knife, from any manufacturer.
 
Good to see though that your dislike of FRN is not based upon any type of performance problem, just its "feel". Many would have said the light weight and durability when dropped are performance advantages. I would rather have a Delica in FRN than G10, as would others.

What's wrong with budget knives? Budget knives was what brought me to Spyderco, $25 serrated kitchen knife and $25 US flag Q. My lady has a thing for flags.
 
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