Now I get it

[JBoone]

I like FRN- may have to do with my first spyderco being FRN in the mid 1990s.
G10 is awesome as well.
Very impressed with the sage 5 - probably my favorite in FRN

[Manixguy@1994]

I have no problem with FRN at all , great way to experience a different steel and the benefits of having a lighter platform works for me . MG2

[cycleguy]

Delica 4 FRN is my go to EDC.

CG

[Tristan_david2001]

Meh plastic is plastic, it’s acceptable for me in doses and depending on the knkfebut generally my attitude is keep the fossil-fuel-petroleum based materials outta my knife handles.

I appreciate FRN, but prefer G10 and Micarta.

I will say however that G10 and Micarta are similarly plastic to FRN. All of them are composite polymer matrices.

You'll need to stick to wood, bone, antler and metal to avoid plastic handles.

Always a wise guy..jk. When I say petroleum based, I mean the base/majority of the material is made up of polymer. Materials that have traces of it like micarta and g10 aren’t quite the same. Basically, if it’s too the level where it has a plastic-y look and feel, then that’s what I’m talking about.
I don’t hate the idea of polymer based handles but I will always have a more special experience with a knife with more natural/old school handles and I’m fine admitting that

[Enactive]

Meh plastic is plastic, it’s acceptable for me in doses and depending on the knkfebut generally my attitude is keep the fossil-fuel-petroleum based materials outta my knife handles.

I appreciate FRN, but prefer G10 and Micarta.

I will say however that G10 and Micarta are similarly plastic to FRN. All of them are composite polymer matrices.

You'll need to stick to wood, bone, antler and metal to avoid plastic handles.

Always a wise guy..jk. When I say petroleum based, I mean the base/majority of the material is made up of polymer. Materials that have traces of it like micarta and g10 aren’t quite the same.
I don’t hate the idea of polymer based handles but I will always have a more special experience with a knife with more natural/old school handles and I’m fine admitting that,

I feel similarly and poke fun at myself about it too. Thanks for rolling with it.

I get my wood, bone and stag handle fix from my GECs and other traditional knives

[jwbnyc]

That’s the thing. People seem to think G10 is some sort of premium material over FRN. Its main advantage, as far as I can tell, is that you don’t need to make expensive molds to utilize it in a design.

[Tristan_david2001]

That’s the thing. People seem to think G10 is some sort of premium material over FRN. Its main advantage, as far as I can tell, is that you don’t need to make expensive molds to utilize it in a design.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe frn models are cheaper to manufacture in the long run after you’ve created the molds, you just pump em full of that polymer goo and ur off to the races. G10 has to be milled to shape and I believe is just a more costly material to buy. Regardless, g10 definitely has a different feel because it is quite a different composite, sometimes it can be just as simple as people just prefer the feeling of g10 over frn.

[Tristan_david2001]

Meh plastic is plastic, it’s acceptable for me in doses and depending on the knkfebut generally my attitude is keep the fossil-fuel-petroleum based materials outta my knife handles.

I appreciate FRN, but prefer G10 and Micarta.

I will say however that G10 and Micarta are similarly plastic to FRN. All of them are composite polymer matrices.

You'll need to stick to wood, bone, antler and metal to avoid plastic handles.

Always a wise guy..jk. When I say petroleum based, I mean the base/majority of the material is made up of polymer. Materials that have traces of it like micarta and g10 aren’t quite the same.
I don’t hate the idea of polymer based handles but I will always have a more special experience with a knife with more natural/old school handles and I’m fine admitting that,

I feel similarly and poke fun at myself about it too. Thanks for rolling with it.

I get my wood, bone and stag handle fix from my GECs and other traditional knives

cool. my favorite knives are when spyderco does old school traditional handle materials and fit and finish, balanced with modern high performance ergonomics. Typically Moki have given us the most examples of those; kopas, kiwi’s calypsos’.. schempp persian etc.

[Fine Swine]

I think a large part of the differing opinions on FRN versus G10, metal, etc. has to do with the reason a person generally carries a knife. If I were constantly using my knives as tools, I might well favor FRN and constantly be chasing the next big steel, but I don't. My use is light office carry. Honestly, my knives are more pocket jewelry than anything, so I want titanium or something else that brings me aesthetic pleasure.

[Evil D]

That’s the thing. People seem to think G10 is some sort of premium material over FRN. Its main advantage, as far as I can tell, is that you don’t need to make expensive molds to utilize it in a design.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe frn models are cheaper to manufacture in the long run after you’ve created the molds, you just pump em full of that polymer goo and ur off to the races. G10 has to be milled to shape and I believe is just a more costly material to buy. Regardless, g10 definitely has a different feel because it is quite a different composite, sometimes it can be just as simple as people just prefer the feeling of g10 over frn.

Significantly more expensive initially to create the injection molds but once that cost is recuperated it's much cheaper. This is why most new models debute in G10 as opposed to FRN (though the Rock Jumper was a recent exception).

[sal]

Hi David,

I flt that if we make the Jumpers in Seki and we used G-10 for the initial test, the high cos of the G-10 version would taint the test of the handle forward concept.

sal

[zhyla]

There’s been many threads on this but it’s funny because FRN is objectively better than G-10 in any practical sense, and slab G-10 scales don’t really float most people’s aesthetic boat these days, yet G-10 is still seen as “premium” inside the Spyderverse.

Micarta is a much nicer material for pocket jewelry, though it must be more expensive or harder to work.

[Enactive]

Funny indeed. I do tend to enjoy my micarta, G10, Pakkawood and metal handled Spydies as feeling more premium and sexy. In my use, I think that this is mostly about texture and tactile experience. It's funny how irrational we can be. I can know that the FRN knives are objectively more high performance by many metrics-- but the haptic experience doesn't always line up.

The pure function of Spyderco FRN knives is undeniable-- both with and without liners. And the value to get incredible blades with FRN handles is unbeatable in the industry. I am a carpenter and most of the time at work i am carrying an FRN handled Spydie. I always have other knives around with my tools and a Victorinox Alox farmer with me at work too.

It's very human to not be that good at living with these kind of tensions-- such as-- that two things [eg FRN and G10 handles] can be simultaneously subjectively better than each other to the same person in different contexts. Horses for courses in simpler terms.

I find that the dialectics of my knife hobby are a good part of what keeps it interesting to me... that and continually working on sharpening skills and outcomes.

I ended up buying too many Spyderco knives today during the holiday sales-- all of which are FRN handled with tool steel blades. This includes three folders and a Temperance CruWear sprint. These are all models that i have never handled nor seen in person, but i have wanted to try out for a while and found deals on them. I will comment more on these later, but they include my first SE purchase in a few years-- a K390 Police SE as well as a K390 Leafjumper and a PD 1 Endela.

I try not to buy so many knives at once, for several reasons. So much for that this time.

[ChrisinHove]

Polished G10 feels significantly more premium than textured/peel ply and moulded frn.

The finishing cost adds greatly to the product price, I assume, and although I would be interested to know the precise cost of each, this is undoubtedly very sensitive information. What’s probably more relevant is how important is to us, the customer.

[OV1kenobi]

I am one of those people that loves the look and feel of FRN scales and the way my hand feels more locked in when the knife is in use. I appreciate the tactile sensation of the aggressive texturing - something very secure and reassuring about it. The translucence of the blue FRCP scales of my one (so far) Manix 2 LW is very visually appealing to me when the knife is held up to the light. I wish Spyderco would offer more translucent scales. At this time all of my Spydercos have FRN or FRCP scales.

On the other hand, one of my future purchases will be a Spyderco with micarta scales either from the factory or aftermarket for the same reasons I have a fondness for wallets and knife slips in natural vegetable tanned leather (preferably undyed) and knife blades in steels like K390. They develop their own unique character and patina over time making them unique to the person who owns them.

A knife with the combination of a blade in K390 and micarta scales would be a dream come true for a man like me who loves patina.

[Cowboyfromhell]

I actually prefer seki city frn to golden Colorado frcp....

[nerdlock]

I actually prefer seki city frn to golden Colorado frcp....

100%.

Seki FRN > Golden FRCP, any day of the week.

[Wartstein]

100%.

Seki FRN > Golden FRCP, any day of the week.

I am sure you know that anyway, but for those who perhaps don't:

There is only one Golden FRCP platform, the Manix 2 LW.
All other FRN Golden Spydies have, well, FRN handles.
Though Golden FRN does feel a bit different to Seki FRN imo.

[Aladinsane]

Luv the FRN!!!

[TkoK83Spy]

I agree, Seki frn is very nice...I love everything about Golden knives, but I just can't get on board with their frn/frcp. My first Golden knife was a Manix LW. I loved the ergos of the knife but hated how it felt in hand. Definitely glad I gave a G10 version a try and it's remained my favorite model for the past 8 years or so now.