Stainless vs Zytel

Thomas J Ekman

Thomas J Ekman

Joined
Jul 29, 2000
Messages
555
Has anyone done any testing with stainless versions and zytel versions of for instance the delica, native, endura, police etc.

I think that the stainless versions will be more durable.
 
Not sure what you mean by durability testing. Certainly, stainless steel that doesen't rust should last a very long time. I have a Gerber LST, with Zytel handles, that I've had and carried most of 15 years. You can clean it up until it looks virtually new. That seems pretty durable to me. I'm no longer carrying it, but believe it would last as long again, without looking much the worse for wear.

If you mean strong, then of course SS is stronger than Zytel.

I'd worry a hell of a lot more about the slipperiness of SS than anything else. I only have 1 SS-handled knife, and that's plenty for me. I have a good number of Zytel/FRN handles, and am sure will buy more.

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
I totally agree with Bugs. I've tried 3 stainless steel handled Spydies, and couldn't get a good grip on any of them. Some much for that whole one hand opening advantage.

Now if Spyderco were to skeletonize those stainless handles for a better grip, or inlay some G-10 in spots...... I would have to seriously rethink my position on stainless handled Spydies.
biggrin.gif
 
I found the same problem with SS handles, and since I like my stainless Harpy so much, I added stipling to the handles in strategic places to aid in grip. I'm happy to report that it now feels as good as it looks!

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Life Member NRA & PMA, member AKTI, NKCA, ATA, and any other worthy cause I can find.

 
In particular, I was thinking of shock resistance, blade play, thrusting, slashing etc. The ability to use the knife as intended. If it differs between SS to FRN.

I can agree that the SS versions can be harder to grip.
 
I carry everyday, and I find that when I carry IWB, I don't like FRN. I am in a tropical country, and it's hot and wet all year round. The FRN seems seems to heat up, absorb moisture and swell up, affecting the blade movement.

Because of this, I only use G-10 or CF tip- down models IWB, and the FRN tip-up ones only in the side pocket.

FRN is also softer than SS or G-10, so when you squeeze the handle, it will bend. Also IWB, if you bend over, it will bend.

SS is nice but as others say, it is slippery. Also the blade-rivet is not exposed, so if your blade gets play, I don't know how to deal with it. I don't mind SS for the small 2 inch knives, though.

I have all the delica versions. The G-10 standard(tip down)with the single steel scale(plainedge)(I think serrated has no steel scale)is the one I carry most.

The SS delica(tip down) has the blade tip almost not covered by the handle when closed, so if it opens a bit, it can poke you.

The FRN delica(tip up) is OK, but it bends, and as I said, my FRN expands.

Best wishes from the far east

[This message has been edited by SYK (edited 06-04-2001).]
 
SYK,

I live in a very hot and humid country myself (it's almost wintertime and the temperatures here are in the upper 90's!), but I've yet to experience the problems you mention with Zytel, even though I carry everyday, all day long too, often IWB. No noticeable swelling or expansion.

IMHO, FRN/Zytel is an excellent, very underrated material. Stainless steel, OTOH, is heavy and slippery, and I personally have no use for it as far as handles go.

I do like G-10; however, as far as I can remember, Spyderco doesn't offer any ambidextrous folders in this material. As a southpaw, that makes a difference to me.

As far as durability goes, I still have my first Spyderco folder, an old style Endura with an integral clip, which I bought more than 10 years ago. Lockup is as solid as ever.

Regards,

Leo

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"Though the meek shall inherit the Earth, they won't keep it past Saturday night..."
 
Leo Daher, thanks for your reply.

I was not completely accurate in my first post.

My FRN expanding problems only occured with a CPM 440 native. It has a very "soft" spring and I was a bit stupid to carry it in my back waistband for two weeks. It basically just opened up twice and the second time, I pricked my thumb on it. I noticed that the blade movement became very stiff and I attributed it to the FRN expanding. The FRN also felt different, more spongy, bendy and slick. But after letting it breathe for a few days it went back to normal. From then onwards, it became a letter opener.

I did not have this problem with the FRN delica.

I also think these tip-up knives are best worn in the side pockets, with the blade pressed against the pocket seam.

I also often carry my baby son and it's tip down, no FRN all the way for me.

Incidentally, the average temp here for the last few months has been abt 31C. It's so humid, if you walk on the road for five mins, you'll be covered with sweat.

Every few days, I'll wash out my knives and my wife's knives to clean them of sweat and oil them.

Sounds icky, but has to be done.

[This message has been edited by SYK (edited 06-05-2001).]
 
SYK, I hear you on the sweattin' and cleanin'. Pretty much the same routine here.
Summertime, of course, is a lot worse.

I don't own a Native and do not carry my folders in the back IWB, so I cant really comment. I'm still surprised that FRN/Zytel would be that afected by body and ambient heat.

Leo


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"Though the meek shall inherit the Earth, they won't keep it past Saturday night..."
 
I personally like the SS-handled knives. I also like the Zytel ones, but I find I love the feel of cutting more with the SS ones. Just preference, I guess. And I have found the extra weight not bothersome at all, and sometimes that extra heft just feels better for some cutting jobs.
Jim
 
I hear yah on the low use of FRN for cutting.

I find that FRN seems almost odd for kitchen use. I used it a couple times for kitchen, and the handle on my Delica almost felt like the finger side was rolling in.

G-10 is a hell of a lot better then FRN. Stainless is just hard to get a good grip on, even with food juices on it.

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~Alea iacta est
~Par Palam e Flamma Fert Spiritus
~Regere Sanguine Regere In Veritatem Est
~Moritori te Salutamus
~Mortem Recipis, quod Vita in Morte Venit

What's sharper? Your Mind, or my Spydie?

[This message has been edited by VampyreWolf (edited 06-06-2001).]
 
I really enjoy the stainless steel handled Spyderco knives. I have been using my friends s/s Rookie lately and it is very nice indeed. It doesn't seem the least bit hard to hang onto or slippery.

The way this knife "drops open" by virtue of the momentum borne from it's handle weight is really neat. I thought at first that the stainless knives would be "too heavy", but really, what does that mean? We're not talking about hunting rifles here, where heavy vs. light means a difference of 2 pounds or so. The heaviest s/s Spyderco knife that I know of is the Police model and it's only a scant 5.5 oz's. I have one of these on order right now, in fully serrated form. Grin.

Another good thing about the s/s knives is that they are thinner than their Zytel or G-10 counterparts, and "glide" in and out of the waistband (where I tend to carry all of my knives) beautifully. The only other handle material that is as smooth to draw is Micarta, in my experience.

Finally, I really enjoy the "heft" of these steel handled knives. They just feel strong and solid.

Jeff/1911.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by SYK:
I also often carry my baby son and it's tip down, no FRN all the way for me.</font>
Click to expand...

You carry your son tip down? Doesnt all the blood rush to his head?
smile.gif


(back to knife content) I prefer FRN to stainless. A year ago I would never have considered carrying an FRN knife and carried a stainless worker all the time, but my Calypso Jr. made a believer out of me.

--Matt


 
I might also mention that if slickness is a problem with the SS handles, I got an idea in the latest Tactical Knives mag about using stair tread tape to provide a more no-slip grip to metal handles. That would solve that problem perfectly, while still maintaining the solid heft/strength many love about the SS-handled models.
Jim
 
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