What Is Noryl GTX?

B

Bruise Lee

Joined
Aug 4, 2002
Messages
363
I ask this 'cause I'm contemplating buying a Benchmade Gripilian. Is it pretty much the same as Zytel? Is Zytel pretty much the same as Delrin? I assume it's injection molded, won't get really hot or cold, has no give to it like Kraton, etc.

The Benchmade website doesn't seem to have any details. Does any company other than Benchmade use this material?

I hear about blades breaking, but has anyone ever broken a Zytel/Delrin/Noryl knife handle in any non-prybar type of use?

Bruise
 
IMHO there is no difference looking from user’s standpoint.
All names are commercial ones only and probably they are registered for particular manufacturers. Basically each plastic (Noryl, Delrin, FRN, Zytel etc.) is short (about 2-3 mm) glass fiber filled nylon resin. The only difference could be in this resin composition but this is the least important for user.

Additionally Griptilian handle is reinforced with still liners what makes it inherently stronger than typical lightweight construction like for ex. SPYDERCO Delica. Rather it could be comparable in strength with liner-supported Zytel handles like TIMBERLINE Wortac or CRKT KFF.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I read the link and learned that Noryl GTX is made by GE, is used for car body parts, is cheaper to make that stamped metal, and doesn't need to be primed before painting (Wow! There's a hot selling point for a knife!).

But I guess Noryl, Zytel, etc., are all cheaper but inferior to G-10. Is G-10's main advantage strength?

Bruise
 
hello,

i have a dillema that is of concern to this thread. i will either purchase a 730 or a 556(benchmade). i am just discussing the handles, not the blade differences etc.

i looked at many posts here before i decided to post my own. again and again it is said that g10 is "better" than noryl(zytel). this is not really the case!

g10 is a electronic pcb material(has been for 20 years). it will snap when a large amount of lateral force is applied(hence the liners). after 10 years or so it starts to unlaminate when used as it would be for a knife. so does carbon fiber. if you drop it on the edge there is a good chance it will chip. it can withstand extreme tempertures(500+f). it resists almost any chemicals. it will not dent, whereas gtx will(if gtx rides in your pocket with change and keys it will have pits all over it). benchmade makes it look cool.

raw g10 in the same quantity as gtx actually costs less. it is much more expensive to fashion into a knife than gtx.

noryl gtx, is almost impossible for a human to snap, break or puncture(so is zytel). it does not resist all chemicals. it can have grips fashioned into it(such as the 556). it starts to melt at over 280f.it will melt instantly if a flame is applied to it, whereas g10 will be unscathed. it feals like very cheap plastic(but that is deceiving, it is tuff stuff!).

g10 also feals cheap when compared to aluminum or stainless handles.
although, aluminum or stainless handles will look horrible if you use them real hard and they ride in you pocket with change for a few years+.

g10 is very similar to carbon fiber in that it is a phenolic laminate.it's inherant strength means it has no give. it will not flex at all. but, push it too far it will snap. gtx will bend in half without breaking, but because of this it does flex. once good liners are added to either material i wouldnt worry about eithers strength.

so that is my dillema! handles are just like blades! there are only pros and cons. there is no handle that has it all. i always overhear someone say "whats the best blade?" that one gets the same answer as "whats the best handle".

i am actually leaning towards the 556. not because it is less expensive. because, the 440c blade will take more abuse and because the handle feals more substantial(weight, thickness) than the 730. albeit cheap. it is by no means a cheap knife though.

well, i would love to hear which all of you would choose(556 0r 730 only please.) cost independent.


sorry for such a long first post. i had to make up for never finding this great board before!


thank you,
holdanedge.
 
I accidentally let a soldering iron get a little too close to a Zytel handle, it sort of melted the finish off a bit, but nothing really major. It's really not noticeable next to the scratches on the Zytel. Hard use knife, I like how it looks like crap. :)

I have a CRKT Polkowski/Kasper Companion that has scales made of POM, polyoxymethylene acetal, whatever that means. It feels denser than Zytel, and pretty tough. Still scratches, but only where it meets the crappy sheath.

Conclusion is that I think thermoplastics from most manufacturers are built tough, and even the cheapest ones are strong enough to withstand a lot of abuse. I'd worry about the blade steel more than the handles. That being said, I like G10, it can be made to be very grippy.
 
A few clarifications:

g10 is a electronic pcb material(has been for 20 years). it will snap when a large amount of lateral force is applied(hence the liners). after 10 years or so it starts to unlaminate when used as it would be for a knife. so does carbon fiber. if you drop it on the edge there is a good chance it will chip.
Click to expand...

G10 has been used on many knives with one liner. The primary purpose of the liner is to provide the lock. I have never been able to break scale sized G10 or CF with my hands (anyone who knows me will tell you I DON'T have a problem with hand strength). I have never seen G10 chip when dropped. I have never seen G10 delaminate but I have seen CF delaminate after a catastrophic failure. I cannot think of a circumstance where you could cause a catastrophic failure in a knife scale.

g10 is very similar to carbon fiber in that it is a phenolic laminate.it's inherant strength means it has no give. not flex at all. but, push it too far it will snap.
Click to expand...

Micarta is phenolic resin based. G10 and CF are epoxy based. G10 and CF will bend but they are very stiff.
 
Thanks for all the great replies! I am learning almost as much here on the forums as I did at the university, and believe me the price here is a lot cheaper! I am genuinely impressed with the levels of knowledge in the forums!

Good to know that all those plastic handles are basically "soldier proof."

Bruise
 
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