Wanted: Layman's explanation strength and duty with different handle materials.

E

Emanym Ton

Joined
Sep 21, 1999
Messages
762
Did a search on FRN to get more of an idea what it is but now I need a simple but adequate explanation of one handle material over another. Any ideas out there? I need to compare/contrast FRN, G10, CF, Wood, Steel. I need to answer the Newbie Knife Collector or Buyer question: "Why should I pick one material over another?". Or if I need to recommend one type of material over another in a given situation like Police Carry versus Light Duty carry. Everyone is familiar with Steel and various Wood strengths so that is the easy part. The three composite materials are where I kinda get fuzzy.

Thanks for any help!

Shawn

------------------
"Paranoia is merely a heightened
sense of awareness."

-(What do you mean who said that? I don't know and if I did I wouldn't
tell YOU! Why are you looking at me like that?! Ever hear of PERSONAL
SPACE?! Step back outta my face and look at someone else!.... Is that
a reflection off a camera lens? What do you mean 'Why do I carry $100
in quarters?' Don't you know they put those tracers in the paper money?)
 
Hi Shawn.

Carbon Fiber is a layed up fiber, similar to fiberglass, but the material is carbon fiber instead of fiberglass. This material is woven, then mixed with an epoxy resin and hardened chemically under pressure.

It is extemely light and very strong. Race cars are often made from CF.
It is generally more expensive.
It can be textured for better grip but the texture removes the aesthetic appearance of the material.
It is usually made in sheets and handle scales are cut out from the sheet.

G10 is also a layed up material made much in the same way as CF. The material woven is e-glass. It is also made in sheet with the handle scales cut out of the sheet.

It is very stable.
resistant to most chemicals.
can be textured for grip or polished for appearance.
Less expensive than Carbon Fiber but more expensive than most other laminates.

FRN (Fiberglass reinforced Nylon) is a nylon that has had fiberglass strands mixed in while the material is melted and it is injected into a mold that gives it the shape of the handle. "Zytel" is a brand of FRN made by Dupont.

It is possible to form into 3 dimentional shapes without grinding.
It is less expensive in the material side than CF or G10, but more expensive on the tooling side to make the molds.
It is impervious to most chemicals.
Texture is built into the mold.

hope this helps.

sal
 
Thanks Sal, I was going to reply to this post but realized I lacked more than a general knowledge of the strengths/weaknesses of the materials involved. I'm curious; how do G-10 and CF compare in terms of strength? I know CF is very rigid and lightweight, but is it actually *stronger* than G-10? I had a friend with a CF mountain bike, and he managed to chip it up pretty good going over gravel.
 
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