What is most popular handle material for ELUs?

J

James Y

Joined
Feb 18, 1999
Messages
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I have Spydercos with FRN and Stainless Steel (SS) handles. G-10 and Aluminum on BM knives, perhaps on future Spydie purchases.

What, sales-wise, is the most popular handle material? I like all, but with Spydies seem to have a special affinity for SS handles. Although they may be more slick than others, I like the strength, thinness, heft, and the fact they clip snugly but yet don't eat up pocket material as readily. I also don't mind too much over minor scratches that occur on the handle with use...I feel it adds personality to the knife over time.

I do like FRN as a lightweight material that you don't worry too much about.
Jim
 
Hi Jim,
My preferred handle material for Tacticals is G10. Mostly the extra secure grip and no scratches. I would think G10 is the sales leader too. I also like wood. But Spyderco doesn't make any... yet.
smile.gif

John

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A day without Spydies is like a day without ... WELL, Spydies!!!
 
I prefer G-10 on a user knife. Lightweight, grippy, and tough.

I would say that FRN is the most popular if you base it on sales.

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Dennis Bible

mylogosmall.gif
 
G-10 definately.
If there was a way to get more traction on the SS models, I would own many more of them. As things are, the Native is the only model that, IMO, made the transition from FRN or G-10 to SS and got better. For me, there just isn't enough of a finger well on the other models to keep me pinkies from sliding on that smooth steel on up to those wickedly sharp blades.
Some form of traction would go a long way to alleviate this concern on my part.

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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
For the most part I am a huge fan of G-10. I recently have been carrying an MOD Trident that has a Al handle, and I must say that the grip on it is awesome. I would buy more knives with Al handles if someone could replicate the kind of ergos this knife has. I also tend to like Ti if it is an intergral lock, but other than that don't see much use for it. I have no complaints about FRN, just not my favorite, but I still own/carry FRN knives on occasion.
 
Hey Guy n gals,

Let's go for the nice Carbon Fiber with texture and Titanium. I love the light weight of these materials. I also love G-10

Liong
 
For most of my carry knives, it's gotta be G-10. FRN feels cheap, SS is slippery, shiny, & scratches, anodized Al scratches, don't own any Ti, but it's kinda ugly (turd). No matter what I do to G-10, it still looks the same (hell, I strike matches on my G-10 knives!), always a good grip, & the black camoflagues against my clothes.

Now for a dress knife, wood, CF, MOP, bone, horn, antler, DDR's colorfully anodized Ti, shell, etc.

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"To give is a need, to receive is mercy." - Thus Spoke Zarathustra
 
For me, G-10 is first choice, FRN & aluminum tie for second, and "Slippery Steel" (SS) is third.

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

 
I like G-10 a lot, but I think the design and texturing of a grip makes more difference than the material. I am very happy with knives I own in G-10 (REKAT Sifu, Spyderco Native, Benchmade Ares, CRKT Wasp), FRN (Spyderco Native, Spyderco Ladybug), carbon fiber (Microtech LCC), and aluminum (Kershaw Boa).

The only material I have generally not liked is stainless steel. I blame that on the tendency to make it smooth and pretty, and therefore hard to grip, rather than on the material itself. Polished G-10 is no fun to hold onto either.

--Bob Q
 
Dude - FRN, first choice, least expensive
- G-10 on some heavy used blades -- more
on tactical applications
- Micarta for that pleasant look and
lightweight feel!
biggrin.gif


Sam

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have spydies
will travel...
AKTI Member #A001148
 
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