Unlined G-10 folders

A

allenC

Joined
Jun 18, 2000
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This is for those who own or have owned G-10 folders without metal liners.

What is/was the make and model?
How well does it perform?
How has it held up over time and use?
Any other comments about your knife?

Thanks,
Allen.
 
I don't own one, but I participated in a passaround with the Spyderco Dodo, it has no liners. I was VERY pleased with the knife. It felt solid, and I have no doubts that it would hold up well over time.
 
The early Spyderco G-10 Police models didn't have a liner. To me, they felt "flimsy", and didn't seem as "strong" as they should be.
 
I assume the Spyderco Military fits this category as it only has a short, nested, liner to make a lock, the rest is G10 or blade.

If you go over to Knife Reviews and Testing you'll see Buzzbaits review of the Spyderco Military along with some interesting comments by Cliff Stamp about the strength of the knife. The lack of 'heft' was one of the things that put me off the Millie to begin with but strength doesn't seem to be an issue. I've only owned it for a couple of months however so can't comment on longer term, but there are plenty of blokes in recent threads who have owned them for years with good result. There is also some comments in the Spyderco forum in the 'Military as EDC' thread.

Even in 2 months I've used mine quite substantially every day and with other folders that I was auditioning for the role of EDC - by now they where exibiting some signs of wear that was beginning to put me off them - none with my Millie yet. By 'wear' I mean increased travel of the liner across the tang ramp and slight blade play without the pivot really tight. I've got the older version in 440c and I find it plenty strong, the newer one is supposed to have thicker G10 scales so will be even stronger.
 
I have an Al Mar lockback folder that I purchased in 1995. It has been constantly flicked open and is showing some sidewise play but is still in good condition. The lock will stillpass spine whacks and although the blade is all scratched up it will still take as good an edge as I can give it.
 
I had a Spyderco Military for a while with the nested liner. I didn't like it to be honest. It never did anything wrong such as unlocking accidently but it didn't feel as sturdy or as solid as some of my knives with dual liners.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I asked because I had been considering the purchase of a Rigid RG-81 G-10 folder.

After some deliberating I made the buy.
"Rigid" is a name used by United Cutlery, and while I've never been impressed with anything by United, this one seems different.

The knife is a lock-back folder with a 3-inch ATS-34 blade in a hollow-ground "bowie" style clip-point.
The blade is plain-edged and has an slot-like cutout as a thumb-hole.
The handle is made of unlined black G-10 and is shaped much like the Spyderco Chinook handle.

Although the fit-and-finish is'nt up to Spyderco standards, it is still acceptable and seems rather well-made.

I've carried and used Spyderco's unlined FRN knives like the Endura and the Delica for a long time, so I reckon that G-10 should hold up at least as well and should be much stronger than the FRN.
Even my regular EDC, the Spyderco G-10 Police, has only one steel liner.

The price was right and overall I like the knife so far.
I'll give it a good workout and see how it performs.

Thanks again,
Allen.
 
Rigid makes the highest quality tools for the plumbing industry and are regarded highly. If you don't use a Rigid pipe cutter, you ain't no plumber.

Is this the same Rigid? You say United is behind this knife so it would surprise me, but if that's the case... I'd buy the knife w/o hesitation.

However, i'm not real big on G-10. But i suppose compared to aluminum for handle materials it's six of one and half-dozen of the other.

Try the knife. I would. And please report back!
 
I should have known it was too good to be true...

Well, last night I was watching TV and "bonding" with my new knife when I noticed a small blunt spot on the blade.
Aha! A perfect opportunity to see how it sharpens up.
So after a few minutes of sharpening (just good ol' Smith's Arkansas stones), the blunt spot was gone.
I sliced up a little newspaper, and then a page from a magazine, and then I cut up a 12-pack beer carton.
The blade showed not even the slightest use.
The ATS-34 blade really took a very fine and sharp edge with minimal effort--I was very pleased.

I sat back down to the TV and continued to play with my knife, opening and closing it, getting used to the oval thumb-slot, trying it out with both left and right hands, ect...
I then decided to slice a few more pages of newspaper. About 1/2 down the blade the paper tore without being sliced apart.
I checked the blade under the lamp's light and noticed that the blunt spot had returned in the same area of the blade as before.

I resharpened the blade until the blunt spot was gone again. Then I opened and snapped shut the blade about ten times.
The blunt spot was back!
As I had suspected, the blade's edge was hitting the locking bar when it was closed!

So, I plan to take the knife back and see if Bill has another Rigid G-10 folder without this problem.

Allen.
 
I have/had a Rigid G-10 folder, the exact same model you have. I bought mine a while ago (about 4 years) from an online dealer. I got it for about $30, and it was a great deal, even then. I sold it to a guy I work with, and it has become his EDC. He loves the thinness of the package, and has had no complaints in the last two years. The ATS-34 was done very nicely, and the G-10 handles seemed quite sturdy. If I came across another one for under $30, I'd snap it up in a minute, and if the guy at work ever tired of his, I'd buy it back for the price he gave me, with no qualms. Great materials for a great price. It is actually the only G-10 folder I've owned. Sheesh, I need to get out there more!

Mine had no problem with the lock-bar coming in contact with the blade. Sounds like something you need to take back and get a replacement for.

Enjoy your knife, as it is a pretty good deal, for the money. It should last you as long as most of the higher-priced companies out there.

DD
 
The Rigid knives produced by United Cutlery are not produced or
licensed by the Ridge Tool Company a.k.a RIDGID. The names are also spelled differently. No affiliation exists between the tool manufacturer and United Cutlery.
 
I finally found a pic of the knife, and seen the Rigid logo was'nt the same...
Thanks for posting Towcutter, i'm glad to know for sure.


Still, the Rigid import looks kinda nice for the money. I'm adding it to the list. Never hurts to own another knife :D
 
G10 Spyderco Rookie Plain Edge G2 Steel..
It cool never really used it since it is rare to find one in Gin 1 aka G2 STEEL.

s/f,
Ceya..ceya Knife Designz
 
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