- Joined
- Aug 28, 2007
- Messages
- 2,587
I know I'm not the first to do this, but I thought I'd share my experience and impressions. I switched the blades between a flat-ground VG10/G10 Endura and a ZDP-189/FRN Endura. I am amazed at the results.
Concerning the original flat-ground ZDP blade in a G10 handle, I was surprised that Spyderco would put what I considered to be a more delicate blade into such a robust handle. One of the main points of the Endura 4 (pun intended) redesign was to provide a stronger point by dropping the tip.
Please don't get me wrong, the flat ground VG10 blade slices wonderfully, just like a high quality kitchen knife, but it's not what I would have expected to put in such a tough handle.
So, I took matters into my own hands and made the knife that I believe Spyderco should have made in the first place.
The G10 handled ZDP Endura has an entirely different feel now. It's a bit heavier and feels like a tank, yet it's still comfortable in my pocket and in my hand. The manufacturer's tolerances were tight and I worried a bit about the blade fitting, and I even tried to swap the lock bars along with the blades initially. That didn't work. The ZDP blade and lock bar from the FRN handle did not fit into the G10 handle at all, but the blades fit perfectly when I left the lock bars in their original handles and only swapped the blades. Though it's apparent that both knives come from different manufacturers, or are manufactured through different processes, the blades fit their respective new handles as if they were made for them.
The flat-ground VG10 blade in the FRN handle was a very pleasant surprise. It's very fast in the hand, has retained good balance, and practically disappears in my pocket. It's just a few grams heavier than a flat-saber ground Delica with FRN handle but with a longer broader blade. It's so light and comfortable to wear, I find myself carrying it a lot, especially when wearing shorts (I live in Southern California). It also makes a really good picnic knife since it's now like a folding kitchen knife.
So, I now have two entirely different knives. One that's as tough and robust a knife as I would wish for in a pocket knife, with super exotic steel, and another that is light and easy to carry, with a large thin blade that slices like no tomorrow.
Me very happy.
Concerning the original flat-ground ZDP blade in a G10 handle, I was surprised that Spyderco would put what I considered to be a more delicate blade into such a robust handle. One of the main points of the Endura 4 (pun intended) redesign was to provide a stronger point by dropping the tip.
Please don't get me wrong, the flat ground VG10 blade slices wonderfully, just like a high quality kitchen knife, but it's not what I would have expected to put in such a tough handle.
So, I took matters into my own hands and made the knife that I believe Spyderco should have made in the first place.
The G10 handled ZDP Endura has an entirely different feel now. It's a bit heavier and feels like a tank, yet it's still comfortable in my pocket and in my hand. The manufacturer's tolerances were tight and I worried a bit about the blade fitting, and I even tried to swap the lock bars along with the blades initially. That didn't work. The ZDP blade and lock bar from the FRN handle did not fit into the G10 handle at all, but the blades fit perfectly when I left the lock bars in their original handles and only swapped the blades. Though it's apparent that both knives come from different manufacturers, or are manufactured through different processes, the blades fit their respective new handles as if they were made for them.
The flat-ground VG10 blade in the FRN handle was a very pleasant surprise. It's very fast in the hand, has retained good balance, and practically disappears in my pocket. It's just a few grams heavier than a flat-saber ground Delica with FRN handle but with a longer broader blade. It's so light and comfortable to wear, I find myself carrying it a lot, especially when wearing shorts (I live in Southern California). It also makes a really good picnic knife since it's now like a folding kitchen knife.
So, I now have two entirely different knives. One that's as tough and robust a knife as I would wish for in a pocket knife, with super exotic steel, and another that is light and easy to carry, with a large thin blade that slices like no tomorrow.
Me very happy.
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