Who produces the best G10?

U

unclerod

Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
150
In your opinion who is producing the top G10 material for their handle slabs, could be custom maker or production. I only have 2 knives sporting it but there is a noticeable difference between them in terms of texture and grip. Durability could also come into play as wel as things styling/design innovation or fit/finish of the end product. Just curious what everyone has to say, cheers!
 
Rick H. of course... grippy yet not so much it hurts. Larger scale.. spyderco..
 
Probably Spyderco, but I have no problem with Benchmade's G10 either.
 
I like Spyderco the most. Benchmade is kind of too slippery and Emerson and Cold Steel are pretty abrasive. I own knives from all of these companies though so it doesn't make too much difference to me in the long run. If they tear up my pockets over time, so what? It's not like I don't have more jeans.

As Sal Glesser would say "All good, just different"
 
Im not a big fan of Benchmade's G10, not grippy enough for me

I used to think the best was Al Mar, Emerson, and Spyderco, grippy while classy, form WITH function

but the Cold Steels G10 has really converted me, it looks like the big jimping in the g10 is a cheap way to make a super grippy G10, even though it feels flimsy and hollow, and I used to think it was too grippy, but it wears down just a bit, so that it feels right in the hand.
 
What is best? G10 is all the same material, some companies just change the texture of it.

What is best for one person is not going to be the best for another.
 
I guess the OP means the best texturing of it?

and I want to add that the 3d contouring of the G10 in the 950 and the ZT series is pretty cool stuff
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
What is best? G10 is all the same material, some companies just change the texture of it.

What is best for one person is not going to be the best for another.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but all G-10 is not created equal. Spyderco has theirs custom made with extra layers of fiberglass so they can mill out relief cuts without compromising the strength. Does that make it the best? Nope. It just makes it what Spyderco uses. If there really was a "best" anything, the world would be an insufferably boring place.
 
yablanowitz said:
Sorry, but all G-10 is not created equal. Spyderco has theirs custom made with extra layers of fiberglass so they can mill out relief cuts without compromising the strength. Does that make it the best? Nope. It just makes it what Spyderco uses. If there really was a "best" anything, the world would be an insufferably boring place.
Click to expand...

+1.

I like Strider's G-10 slabs and Spyderco's G-10. The Orange Military's had some very nice grippy G-10. So did the peel-ply CF Millies, though I think they were even rougher.
 
I think Spyderco's g10 is just about perfect. It's definitely my favorite so far.
 
I now like Cold Steel's G10 the best. Very grippy but wears down to a perfect balance of grip/comfort.
 
yablanowitz said:
Sorry, but all G-10 is not created equal. Spyderco has theirs custom made with extra layers of fiberglass so they can mill out relief cuts without compromising the strength. Does that make it the best? Nope. It just makes it what Spyderco uses. If there really was a "best" anything, the world would be an insufferably boring place.
Click to expand...


I had never heard that. I know they add extra glass fibers to their FRN to make it stronger but never heard that about their G10. But I can't imagine that they can add much more since there is a maximum amount of layers of fiberglass that can be added and most G10 will already be close to the max. In a 3/16" thick slab of G10 how much more fiberglass can they add? 1 or 2 layers? You can look at some G10 from the side and see the layers and there aren't gaps as each layer is touching the next. So if there is a solid layer of fiberglass fibers with resin occupying the voids, would an extra couple layers compressed in there make it that much stronger? From what I understand G10 is made under pressure (including my home made stuff), so as I said before, when it is made and pressed down I would think most G10 would have close to the maximum amount of fiberglass layers already. And that for the most part, most of the G10 out there will have similar strength and stability across the board.

So the main differences will be how it is finished and the texturing that is added to it. And what one person likes and finds best is not necessarily what another person likes. That's why paper, linen, and canvas micarta are all used in handles, since different people like different textures and feel. But it is good to know that Spyderco goes a step beyond what is needed even with their G10.
 
I like Strider's. It is grippy without being chalky feeling like on some spydercos. I agree that Spyderco is certainly better than Benchmade in their G10 though.
 
Smooth G-10 is great if you don't want much of the benefit G-10 can offer. And smoother and thinner aluminum scales like on the benchmade 940 make for a easier to carry knife. But if you want a more heavy duty knife. Then grip is essential. So very gripy G-10 like on the Cold Steel AK-47 will afford that.
 
myowngod said:
Rick H. of course... grippy yet not so much it hurts. Larger scale.. spyderco..
Click to expand...

I agree I've had the XM-18 & XM-24 in hand and the scales were the best I'd handled - kinda like his knives. :thumbup:

They're all good to me. I like Spyderco, Benchmade, ZT too. They're just a little different but good. I would admit that my BM 710 could be a "bit" more aggressive.

I didn't know that the Cold Steel G-10 wore in?? I just got a Recon 1 the other day and can't imagine it getting broken in. I thought I'd be sanding it when I got around to it. Maybe I'll wait on that. Thanks for the tip! :)
 
cziv said:
I agree I've had the XM-18 & XM-24 in hand and the scales were the best I'd handled - kinda like his knives. :thumbup:

They're all good to me. I like Spyderco, Benchmade, ZT too. They're just a little different but good. I would admit that my BM 710 could be a "bit" more aggressive.

I didn't know that the Cold Steel G-10 wore in?? I just got a Recon 1 the other day and can't imagine it getting broken in. I thought I'd be sanding it when I got around to it. Maybe I'll wait on that. Thanks for the tip! :)
Click to expand...

yep! that is the only g10 I have ever handled that has worn down at all.

It wears down to a comfortable feeling that is just a hair grippier than say emerson
 
Slider817 said:
Smooth G-10 is great if you don't want much of the benefit G-10 can offer. And smoother and thinner aluminum scales like on the benchmade 940 make for a easier to carry knife. But if you want a more heavy duty knife. Then grip is essential. So very gripy G-10 like on the Cold Steel AK-47 will afford that.
Click to expand...

I love the smooth red G-10 on my sprint Persian. :)

00max00 said:
I disagree. The best does exist, just either you are not knowledgeable enough to know, or unpractical since not everyone can afford it.
Click to expand...

Okay, give me the best steel for a knife.
 
res1cue said:
yep! that is the only g10 I have ever handled that has worn down at all.

It wears down to a comfortable feeling that is just a hair grippier than say emerson
Click to expand...

I have a first generation BM Min-stryker that I carried for a long time in my back pocket. The g10 on that is very very smooth after years of work and carrying.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top