Zytel?

[dogstar]

What happened to zytel? I have a Browning signature lockback with a zytel handle that seems very robust. Why don't I see this handle material any more? How are G10 and Micarta better?

 

[knarfeng]

Zytel is a trade name used by DuPont for fiber reinforced Nylon, also known as FRN.
Spyderco has a lot of FRN handles.
So does Cold Steel.
Benchmade does also in some of their lines.

G10 and Micarta are grippier. Since they are machined, rather than molded, they are less expensive for short runs. FRN must be compression molded and the dies are very expensive. FRN is less expensive only if you are making a lot of knives with exactly the same handle shape (which allows you to use the same set of dies rather than making a new set at ~$40K per set.)

 

[dogstar]

Thanks a lot for the informative response :thumbup:

 

[zignal_zero]

Yea, thanks, that was a lot of info squeezed into a short easy to read post

 

[Planterz]

Zytel is an entire line of Dupont's nylons. Different nylons with different properties for different applications. Fiberglass reinforced might be what we're most familiar with, but there's other types as well. Unreinforced, mineral reinforced, and even Kevlar reinforced.