the frn fan thread

hardheart

hardheart

Joined
Sep 19, 2001
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I like frn. It is strong, light, and tough. It provides all the strength a handle needs for a 'broken' (folding) knife with a fine tip and thin edge grind that is meant for cutting, not prying. It is easily molded to ergonomic grips and suitable texturing for comfort & security. It doesn't get searing hot or freezing cold to the touch (my experiences ranged from 14 to 102F while working) My first one-hander was an integral clip delica (which was a bad idea, frn doesn't work for the clips) and my hardest used was a med. CS voyager. My biggest gripe is that it usually means pin construction, and I'd at least like a pivot screw so I can remove the blades for additional cleaning.

Anyone else like frn for a using knife? True, it's no good for pocket jewelry, but it's hard to care about any scratches it receives. An emery board is about all you need to work on it if you want to modify it.
 
I like good quality FRN (I can tell you from experience, there IS bad FRN out there). The temperature stability is a major consideration here, as our temperature range is -15 to +118 F. Anyone who has laid a stainless handle knife down in a sunny spot for a minute at 110 F should know what I mean :eek:
 
A lot of people say FRN looks cheap. It doesn't look cheap to me at all. I love the stuff. It's tuff, it feels good it's just plain awesome.:thumbup: :thumbup: :D
 
I think it looks and feels cheap compared to G10 and Micarta, but I do like it in a user. I really like how light it is, and it is more than strong enough for the things I would do to a folding knife. I've got a second hand El Hombre (Large Vaquero sans serrations) that looks like it's been beaten on and pried with and the handle is still fine. The blade has dents and a bent tip. CS does use some pretty thick FRN though. Seems tough enough to me.

My biggest gripe with my FRN handled knives is also that they are all pin constructed, and I like being able to adjust the pivot to adjust the tightness as well as fix any blade play. The option of taking a knife apart is also a plus.
 
Yep, I like FRN for many of the reasons already mentioned. When done right I think it's a lot stronger than many people believe as well. Mostly though I like the light weight and self-lubricating quality of the nylon ... IMO has a lot to do with why the Caly Jr. is one of the slickest knives ever made, weighing in at under 2ozs. and silky smooth with no washers.

Coincidentally, I just finished completely taking down and reassembling an FRN Cara Cara (which I don't recommend, and hope never to do again.) No pins in this one. What surprised me most is the way the back spacer is made to retain the lock spring ... particularly when the handle scale and liner is removed on one side, the force on this FRN part has to be huge, and it handles it no problem.
 
I have been carrying FRN Enduras and Delicas daily since about 1992. I use my knives to cut and I take care of them. They have never let me down or failed except for the previously mentioned integral clip. This clip was replaced by a metal one with screws screwed directly into FRN and they have held for years. I never liked the slipperiness of the SS Spyders. I also never seemed to be able to justify the price of an EDC G-10. FRN is for me!
 
I could go on and on about Spyderco's FRN. But I can't think of a lighter, tougher or better priced knife than the Native. Or a more well engineered knife than the Endura IV. Or a ZDP knife under a 100 bucks like the Calypso Jr, Jess Horn etc.

FRN for President :D
 
FRN looks cheap, and it probably is cheap, but...

I like it!

I'm not afraid to drop it (I like G-10, but scared to death of dropping the stuff), not afraid to scuff it up or whatever, it's just a great durable material. I'm sure using FRN is a great way to keep cost down both for production and the ELU, and I don't mind that a bit, especially when there's color involved :D

The only thing I don't like so much is pinned construction, but I'm sure it has it's hidden benefits too.

FRN is tough stuff, and it works for you!
 
FRN looks cheap, is cheap and feels cheap. But... it make sense on some knife than any other material. Could you imagine a G-10 Pacific Salt? Not me. I love my FRN Resues and now my Pac Salt.

It is like anything else, it has it's place and work great if used in it's place. It is still a good handle material and I don't mind seeing it on Spydercos because I trust what Spyderco does with their FRN.
 
I have.. let me think.. nine Spyderco knives. The only one that isn't FRN is my BG42 CF Military.

They are:
Two Calypso Jrs (one in VG10, one in ZDP189)
Two Pacific Salts (1 in my kitchen, one at work to take out on the boat)
One Endura (in my firejacket)
One Rescue (an old Aus8 in my locker at work)
Two Delicas (one ATS55, one VG10)

So yes, I like FRN. It is light, grippy and offers all the strength I need.
 
I like FRN most. More than G10, more than carbon fibre, more than anything I tried, because I use my knives a lot, they get dropped - into puddles, on concrete et cetera - and I carry them almost night and day. And I like relatively low cost. So I need something imprevirous to elements, light, grippy and cheap to make. FRN is The Answer for me.
 
FRN is pretty awesome stuff. And modern improvements in technology are making it better and better. formed, tough, impervious to most elements, grippy if you want, cost effective, close tolerance, colors impossible to do any other way. It doesn't rust, has good abrasion resistance.

Our FRN knives have performed well all over the world, in all environments and come back begging for more. They been dropped from tall buildings, driven over. What other material does all of that? And at what cost?

In my opinion, it was one of Blackie Collin's best ideas, and I thank him and Gerber for that. Revolutionary for the industry. When I hear someone say "it looks cheap" as their decisive comment, they are telling me that they have much to learn.

One maybe hung up on a certain "style" or "material", but that doesn't in any way make FRN knives less knife than your particular preference.

Also you can no more tell a good FRN from a cheap plastic by looking than you can an exotic steel vs a cheap steel. Too much "look" and too little "brain", IMO. (sorry for the rant)

sal
 
FRN caly jr was and still is my favorite spyderco, next to the manix. Polar opposites, those two.

What confuses me is that of all the knives i've had, I am left with the temperance FB and an SS kiwi. I dont get it
 
Another FRN fan here. My trusty EDC was a FRN Delica far a few good years. The "cheap" FRN handles is in better shape than the VG-10 blade. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to pick a FRN knife (especially if it's a Spyderco) ;)
 
You can count me in too; I think FRN is terrific handle material.

(My EDCs are a Delica SE and an Endura ZDP-189 PE.)
 
You can count me in for FRN as well:) Allows me to carry more blades:D The majority of my Spydies (I think I'm over 25 now, I lost count....) are in FRN - my D3 and and E3 have been used quite hard and still tickin'

- gord
 
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