So whats REALLY wrong with FRN?

[AllenETreat]

To : ALL -

I've noticed alot of "cons" against FRN

being "cheap" & "not durable". I

remember when it was first made by the

Israelis as "Zytel"; I seen so-called

"glass daggers" made of zytel hammered

into 1/2" of plywood. It's lightweight,

VERY "moldable" & inexpensive to produce

and IMO is befitting of a good Spydie

design. So "flame away" & give punditry

'til the cows come home! No likee FRN?

TOO BAD. It's here to stay!


-AET

[The Cool]

I like FRN. Cheap, strong, tough.

I like G10 better <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[yog]

As far as I'm concerned there's nothing &quot;wrong&quot; with FRN, if G-10, CF, Ti, micarta, wood inlays or SS weren't available I'd go for FRN every time <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

The only real problem I have with it is that it feels too light in the hand to me, and to my mind slightly unbalances the knife. This is probably why it feels &quot;cheep&quot; to me, too light for it's size.

It's a very competent material, it's just in my mind the alternatives are better, in some case much better.

Walk softly, carry a big stick.

[yog]

Just to add ...
The way FRN is molded and patterned makes an enormous difference. The smooth compacted form found on the Meerkcat and Vesuvious to my mind feels far better than the FRN on the Calypso Jnr Lwt, Delica and Endura with their scaloped and volcano patterns.

It's probably no concidence that the two FRN handles I listed as liking both have SS liners or spacers.

Walk softly, carry a big stick.

[Zrexxer]

IMO the only thing wrong with FRN is that it *looks* just like all the Chinese knives thrown in a pile on a table at the gun shows @ 3 for $5. Even though it isn't... that's what it reminds me of.

Although, I think the Spiderweb design on the FRN Native is clever and effective... I'd rather see that on ALL the FRN knives than that &quot;volcano&quot; business.

Dan

[4 s ter]

Allen

Here's a link to a thread on BladeForums that I must take the blame for starting. I had heard a number of opinions but hadn't heard Sal's, so.......

You may find it of interest.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&amp;threadid=228809&amp;highlight=FRN

David

"Not all who wander are lost"

[CKE]

Just think no FRN then the Calypso Jr. Ltwt. would never have come to be. A very scary thought indeed...
FRN is fine in my books, all handle materials have pros/cons.

"everything else is just a jeep"

[sam the man..]

can't find any fault at all with FRNs.. they keep prices low and besides being durable, its also lightweight.. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have scars will travel..

[Carlos]

Due to knives like the Spyderhawk (Endurahawk?) and Rescue 93mm, I am actually beginning to prefer FRN for EDC. I used to sneer at it before, but no longer. An FRN monocoque is one of the most technically elegant solutions for a knife handle.

[Jurphaas]

Samo and others commenting along the same lines sum it up pretty well.
FRN is an excellent material, cheaper as micarta, CF and G-10 which materials were initially designed for totally other uses as knife handles! Micarta was designed ages ago as an isolator material in the electrical industry. Carbon Fibre is a high tech woven material of glas fibers. G-10 is about the same but not woven into matts, it is pressed and satturated like plywood or MDF. Much more expencive materials! If your bread &amp; butter knives are Delica's and Endura's you will want a material that is cheap and easy tp produce. Don't mistake FRN to cheap plastics! Just MHO.

Clipits work!

[dialex]

FRN is not that appealing as SS, thus it may have that cheap look. However, I am very fond of this material and as far as I'm concerned, there's NOTHING wrong with it. Anyway, fancy stuff like damasteel and mother of pearls just isn't my style. Gimme that &quot;cheap&quot; FRN, I'll accept it gladly <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[fredswartz]

Have been thinking about the FRN thing all week. It must be good since zillions of FRN knives have been sold. I am ignorant of its attributes since I don't own a knife with FRN handles. I just don't like its looks. Guess that I am too much of a traditionalist. G10 and Micarta spell quality to me although FRN may be better in some cases. Am thinking about a G10 Navigator now. If The Endura and Delica were available in G10 or Carbon Fiber I would have both.

[vampyrewolf]

FRN provides duability and light weight, as well as being nearly indestructable...

I still prefer SS or G-10 though. Thin scales, minimal extras, superior strength. Micarta is appealing, but the only time I was looking at one, it was slippery(and no easy grip like the SS 'Fly). Alum is a bit on the light side, not really offering any heft, and Ti is a bit pricy.

I prefer handles that will take punishment, and not slow down. FRN is still susceptable to temp and chemicals.

My Word, My Honour, is my Life.

[4 s ter]

vampyrewolf

Sal once said that FRN was susceptible to temperatures below -40 degrees F (at -40 it's the same in Celcius). Only us &quot;Northerners&quot; have to worry about that problem! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

"Not all who wander are lost"

[Shiden]

It's just a matter of taste.

I unfortunately don't have experience with G-10 (yet<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>) (Shame on me), but I just prefer SS because of its looks. Someone else will pick FRN, while having strength and durability in mind.

But those are BOTH SPYDIES!

Shiden-Kaj

&quot;Fear causes hesitation, hesitation causes your worst fears to come true.&quot;

[vampyrewolf]

4 s ter&gt; It's been that cold here for a while. Most days are the -25c range, and wind taking them to around -35 to -40c. Last week was &quot;warm&quot; being in the -4c to -10c and relativly no wind.

My Word, My Honour, is my Life.

[Joe Talmadge]

FRN is an awesome solution for a lightweight, inexpensive, tough-for-the-price handle material. It is noticeably softer and weaker than something like G-10. Without liners -- which is the way most FRN folders are made -- it's pretty easy to twist and torque the handles. And getting structural failure on FRN is a whole lot easier than the other materials we could choose like aluminum, stainless, etc.

The point is, FRN is an awesome handle material for a particular kind of knife -- and in fact I EDC an FRN knife a lot (the endura, the best knife in its niche!). But, you do get advantages (with the disadvantage of higher price) with higher-end materials, no question.

Joe

[pyton357ru]

Well, I like the weight and flatness of my FRN Enduro, but thing I don`t like really, is that flimsy feeling of unlinered FRN handle.

[Dijos]

everyone knows that the proof video uses frn knives, and if they suck so muck, then why do so many people use them for training, and instruction. also, the blade would break before the handle will, from mu experience.

[Blades]

Nothing. It works well for me. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>


Blades

[Buzzbait]

I have no problem with FRN, but the linerless FRN knives do feel kind of cheap.

Here's a question that I've seen asked many times, but nobody has ever answered it. Will DEET react with FRN?

[dialex]

Just a last minute notice. For a very short period of time I had to part with my FRN Delica and I carried another knife. Heavier. Much heavier. Cold. Nasty feeling. Pyjama pants slipping off <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
Conclusion: Let me express my admiration to the makers of FRN (Zytel or whatever) and to Spyderco for using this great material.

[Sword and Shield]

Howdy Buzzbait! Welcome to <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>Land! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

N,N-diethyltoluamide, otherwise known as DEET, is fairly corrosive stuff. It shouldn't react with FRN, as the nylon in FRN is pretty inert, and fiberglass is totally so. I'll do a little MSDS search and be back with more.

Never underestimate the impossible.

[ken]

Just to keep this goin'

I think &quot;FRN&quot; looks cheap and should only be used on cars and cheap toys!!!
Why would you buy a vinyl jacket when you can get leather?????

ken