Sal, question about GITD FRN

[jdw]

I would like to see any GITD runs across the Seki lineup. Like others, I bought my original for the novelty but I've found it really useful. I would particularly like an Endura for camping but a Jester sprint would be too cool to pass up.

[legOFwhat?]

I've made a few mule handles with gitd Kirinite (green and blue) and could only get a couple of hours "glow" time. Recently used Raffir Blue Uranium curly and it only lasts a little longer. All night would be awesome!

If FRN could last 6-8 hours and glow like this:


I'd be all over a salt version, just to take caving :)

[Doc Dan]

Those of us who have the Delica will tell you it glows all night. I don’t know how long, 12 hours is all the dark we get. It glows the duration if it is exposed to good light beforehand.

[Doc Dan]

This was actually taken at night in a lighted room after I charged it up with my flashlight. It was so bright the camera dimmed the background.

It won’t glow this bright all night but glows with a nice soft glow all night. It is easy to see.

Imagine if you dropped your knife in the water or in the woods. You’d be able to find it.

[Surfingringo]

This was actually taken at night in a lighted room after I charged it up with my flashlight. It was so bright the camera dimmed the background.

It won’t glow this bright all night but glows with a nice soft glow all night. It is easy to see.

Imagine if you dropped your knife in the water or in the woods. You’d be able to find it.

Exactly. The more I think about this, the more I feel like this could be a good functional option for an outdoor knife like something in the Salt line.

[Surfingringo]

I am curious about a couple of things. First, how much “glow” could you get out of other colors? It appears that that pale green provides the most glow but what about something like yellow or orange? Could you do a version of those colors that would glow in the dark? Maybe a darker “toxic” green? Also, would this work on G10? What was the EDC forum GITD Manix handle made of? Was that G10 or another material?

[Doc Dan]

I’ve been tempted to buy another one. However this is at least the 3rd thread, maybe the 4th, since this knife came out. There is some interest. I hope Spyderco makes this a regular catalogue item. I love a Pac Salt like this, or an Endura.

[ladybug93]

I am curious about a couple of things. First, how much “glow” could you get out of other colors? It appears that that pale green provides the most glow but what about something like yellow or orange? Could you do a version of those colors that would glow in the dark? Maybe a darker “toxic” green? Also, would this work on G10? What was the EDC forum GITD Manix handle made of? Was that G10 or another material?

what about in place of the yellow layers of the caribbean scales? that would be pretty cool. it wouldn’t look that much different, but it would add a practical advantage.

[Doc Dan]

This was actually taken at night in a lighted room after I charged it up with my flashlight. It was so bright the camera dimmed the background.

It won’t glow this bright all night but glows with a nice soft glow all night. It is easy to see.

Imagine if you dropped your knife in the water or in the woods. You’d be able to find it.

Exactly. The more I think about this, the more I feel like this could be a good functional option for an outdoor knife like something in the Salt line.

Lance, since you da man, when the Siren lightweight comes into being, request it be GITD FRN.

[steelcity16]

I am curious about a couple of things. First, how much “glow” could you get out of other colors? It appears that that pale green provides the most glow but what about something like yellow or orange? Could you do a version of those colors that would glow in the dark? Maybe a darker “toxic” green? Also, would this work on G10? What was the EDC forum GITD Manix handle made of? Was that G10 or another material?

I think for a Salt knife a bright neon yellow GITD FRN would be PERFECT. I think Victorinox did a great job with their "Stayglow" Yellow knives. They are highly visible in the day with the neon yellow and glow brightly at night. If Spyderco could make an FRN similar to this it would be great. I've actually been asking for this exact thing for some time now. Hope it happens! The GITD Delica rocks!

[legOFwhat?]

Those of us who have the Delica will tell you it glows all night. I don’t know how long, 12 hours is all the dark we get. It glows the duration if it is exposed to good light beforehand.

After reading this yesterday, I decided to grab up the GITD handles I've made and charge them up just to see how long they lasted. Both the Kirinite and Raffir Uranium only lasted around 2 hours . I ran a UV flashlight over both materials for about 10 minutes and they were glowing quite nice. Turned out the closet light and set the knives on a stool then planned to returned every 20 minutes or so. After the 2nd check you could tell there wasn't much left. Lost track of time for a bit, but by the time I remembered they were dead

Not the most scientific test but gave me an rough idea anyway. Hearing how long the glow of FRN lasts makes me eager to see more models with GITD scales. Love to have a small glowing Spydey on my keychain like the Jester or Man\ladybugs.

[T_MAC686]

I think for a Salt knife a bright neon yellow GITD FRN would be PERFECT. I think Victorinox did a great job with their "Stayglow" Yellow knives. They are highly visible in the day with the neon yellow and glow brightly at night. If Spyderco could make an FRN similar to this it would be great. I've actually been asking for this exact thing for some time now. Hope it happens! The GITD Delica rocks!

How long does the Victorinox stayglow stay illuminated in the dark? Similar times to the reports of the Delica?

[Doc Dan]

I tried to take pictures in the dark. They turn out nothing like reality. This is 5 hours in the dark and still going strong.

[Doc Dan]

I’ll try again tonight and see if I can get better pictures, but taking pictures in the pitch black is hard.

[Surfingringo]

I really like the idea but I don’t know what type of production challenges it would create. I think if the GITD material is something that can just be added to resin then FRN would probably be the easiest to create. More choices on what type/color and how much dye is used too. As far as using a pre-made material, that could work for certain knives but I would be dubious about just slapping something like that on a linerless salt knife. G10 has proven itself to be plenty strong enough for a linerless knife. It’s also stable in harsh conditions. A knife that is constantly soaked in salt and sitting in blazing sunlight has to be made with very stable materials. It’s been shocking to see what has happened to some of the materials I have tested on the water. If a material has any stability issues then you find out very quickly out there. G10 is tried and tested.

[Doc Dan]

Well, since you know FRN holds up well where you are, you might buy one of these Delicas to test in your environment.

[Danke]

This is one of the EDC forums GITD Manix 2 XLs and a Maratac glow skull. They look similar in output but the skull will last over 8 hours and the knife will last a few hours.

Glow in the dark materials have a few issues. First they're not UV safe. So over time they glow will cease. Could be years or longer but it will stop glowing. The best glowing materials will also lack structural strength. Probably the best compromise between light output and handle strength would be a G10 with a glow insert or inlay.

[Doc Dan]

I’ve been thinking on this. I have an Omega Seamaster, constantly exposed to sun, that stills glows as bright as it did 27 years ago. I have a set of Lumenova sights on my pistol ( not tritium tubes ) that still glow as bright as day now fir 15 or 16 years. I think it has a lot to do with the glow material and the material quality it is placed in. I do not expect G10 or FRN to stop glowing or crumble away.

[JacksonKnives]

I’ve been thinking on this. I have an Omega Seamaster, constantly exposed to sun, that stills glows as bright as it did 27 years ago. I have a set of Lumenova sights on my pistol ( not tritium tubes ) that still glow as bright as day now fir 15 or 16 years. I think it has a lot to do with the glow material and the material quality it is placed in. I do not expect G10 or FRN to stop glowing or crumble away.

As far as I can tell, the "quality" boils down to the size of the particles of metal, and how high the mix ratio is. Lume on watches and sights (which is what this stuff was developed for) can maximize the strength, since all it has to do is stick on the surface. Mixing into solids gets trickier.

[Doc Dan]

I’ve been thinking on this. I have an Omega Seamaster, constantly exposed to sun, that stills glows as bright as it did 27 years ago. I have a set of Lumenova sights on my pistol ( not tritium tubes ) that still glow as bright as day now fir 15 or 16 years. I think it has a lot to do with the glow material and the material quality it is placed in. I do not expect G10 or FRN to stop glowing or crumble away.

As far as I can tell, the "quality" boils down to the size of the particles of metal, and how high the mix ratio is. Lume on watches and sights (which is what this stuff was developed for) can maximize the strength, since all it has to do is stick on the surface. Mixing into solids gets trickier.

I do think this is a solvable problem. So far, my Delica is not showing any signs of weakening. Time will tell, but FRN and G10 are pretty tough things.

BTW, how did you get out of the Stargate Universe?