What Type of Scales Do You Prefer Poll

[Wowbagger]

We are having good participation here,
but smooth G10 is not getting much love.

In spite of that,
I wonder if there would be enough interest
for a sprint run of smooth natural G10
in a popular model, such as a Native.

In my uneducated opinion
that baby would glow like yellow jade
and feel great to the touch.

Here is my Dodo in Natural rough G10 for example.



The Company built the business
on grippy FRN and G10
for which we are all grateful.
I've purchased 40 of them.

However, I really like my smooth G10 Yojimbo 2.
But I could be wrong.
I often am.

When te natural first came out I was not a fan to be honest . Over time I have begun to appreciate the color and a Native would be a great choice to revive the G10 platform. Nice choice Mac ! Dan

And so we come , inexorably it seems , to the biggest delema in my life .
Something that has plagued me for a couple of years now .
Over and over I have asked myself : Should I do it ? ? ?

Should I hog this thread even more than I have . . . .
No seriouusly now .

The Natural G-10 Para 2 is one of the very last knives I would ever let go from my collection . It was my very first example of M4 and I was LUCKY TO GET IT !

I didn't exactly care for the "color" at the time but quickly told myself that if an Alien from outer space carried an EDC then this would be the color it would be .
And so being a terminal Si Fi movie watcher I . . . relaxed .

BUT at work the material shows every little stain especially oily black stains and so I don't carry it at work much .
For me that is where M4 shines though .

Once the Cobalt Blue G-10 came out I bought one all ready to swap blades .
then . . .
I see that the little tiny engraved letters in the Spy 27 blade reflect blue light .


I love that . Now I can't swap blades .
Do I order another Blue G-10 Para 2 ? ? ? ?

Every time I see one or the other I reach for the Torx drivers . . . .
then stop .
PS : I think that if I could get a second Natural G-10 M4 (at a sane price ) that I would get a second Spy 27 and do the swap .
Something makes me really want to keep the original Natural G-10 Para 2 original ; and not because of resale value .
Sal : just sell me an M4 Para 2 blade .
I love the work of art that the Spy 27 one is .
I've bought enough Cobalt Blue handled knives to have single handedly paid for the new factory . . .
. . . well . . . to have paid for the paint for the stripes in one of the parking lots . . . ish .

[Scandi Grind]

For no explicable reason I adore natural G-10 and mint green colored handles, but I don't own any. I really want a fixed blade in one of those colors.

[Naperville]

All this love for FRN is going to make purchase a knife with it so I can see for myself...lol. Please, tell me it is nothing like the FRCP on my Manix 2 LW.

I can't say it's "nothing" like FRCP because they're both still a sort of plastic, but what I can say is Seki's FRN feels softer to the touch and I like it a heck of a lot more than FRCP. FRN "Feels" a lot less likely to crack. There's a softer tone when tapping your nail on it.

Thank you. I'll be purchasing a knife with this material on purpose, so I can see if I like it or not. I can say without a doubt that I do not like the FRCP.

My compatriot, please have an open mind. When you open the box. Smile. Be happy.

It isn't highly engraved titanium, does the same thing by enhancing your grip, and it costs $150 less per scale!

[silver & black]

All this love for FRN is going to make purchase a knife with it so I can see for myself...lol. Please, tell me it is nothing like the FRCP on my Manix 2 LW.

I can't say it's "nothing" like FRCP because they're both still a sort of plastic, but what I can say is Seki's FRN feels softer to the touch and I like it a heck of a lot more than FRCP. FRN "Feels" a lot less likely to crack. There's a softer tone when tapping your nail on it.

Thank you. I'll be purchasing a knife with this material on purpose, so I can see if I like it or not. I can say without a doubt that I do not like the FRCP.

My compatriot, please have an open mind. When you open the box. Smile. Be happy.

It isn't highly engraved titanium, does the same thing by enhancing your grip, and it costs $150 less per scale!

I get it. I just don't like the plastic look/feel. The Manix 2 that I have with the FRCP scales is growing on me, but I still can't get over the look and feel of it for what I paid for it. I found an Endela in K390 with blue FRN scales. I think I might pull the trigger on that since I love the steel.

[M_J87]

I can't say it's "nothing" like FRCP because they're both still a sort of plastic, but what I can say is Seki's FRN feels softer to the touch and I like it a heck of a lot more than FRCP. FRN "Feels" a lot less likely to crack. There's a softer tone when tapping your nail on it.

Thank you. I'll be purchasing a knife with this material on purpose, so I can see if I like it or not. I can say without a doubt that I do not like the FRCP.

My compatriot, please have an open mind. When you open the box. Smile. Be happy.

It isn't highly engraved titanium, does the same thing by enhancing your grip, and it costs $150 less per scale!

I get it. I just don't like the plastic look/feel. The Manix 2 that I have with the FRCP scales is growing on me, but I still can't get over the look and feel of it for what I paid for it. I found an Endela in K390 with blue FRN scales. I think I might pull the trigger on that since I love the steel.

Good choice. Hard not to recommend. If you're looking at the ~3.5" blade length the stretch 2 in K390 is pretty venerated across the internet, although I've never owned one. I opt for its big brother.

[M_J87]

.

[sn0wman72]

As others have mentioned combining G10 and Micarta as one choice in the poll is a juxtaposition of sorts

If pressed I would choose Micarta as my scale material of choice. However I might suggest that the first factor in scale preference (for me) is texture, next would be shape/contouring, with the last factor being material

[VandymanG]

My favorites by Spyderco in order -
Carbon fiber
Micarta
Titanium
G10

Other ones not on list-
Kirinite it gets tacky when wet
Exotic hard woods
Paracord it makes a great hiking knife on fixed blades

[silver & black]

Thank you. I'll be purchasing a knife with this material on purpose, so I can see if I like it or not. I can say without a doubt that I do not like the FRCP.

My compatriot, please have an open mind. When you open the box. Smile. Be happy.

It isn't highly engraved titanium, does the same thing by enhancing your grip, and it costs $150 less per scale!

I get it. I just don't like the plastic look/feel. The Manix 2 that I have with the FRCP scales is growing on me, but I still can't get over the look and feel of it for what I paid for it. I found an Endela in K390 with blue FRN scales. I think I might pull the trigger on that since I love the steel.

Good choice. Hard not to recommend. If you're looking at the ~3.5" blade length the stretch 2 in K390 is pretty venerated across the internet, although I've never owned one. I opt for its big brother.

[Actinolite]

Lumping micarta in with G-10, that’s like trying to start WWIII.

Agreed. They are quite different in feel and function, especially in wet usage.

[silver & black]

Well, I wasn't decisive enough on the Endela K390 and It was gone when I checked on it. I'll find another FRN knife in a steel I like..... and just buy it...lol.

[Mad Mac]

Lumping micarta in with G-10, that’s like trying to start WWIII.

Agreed. They are quite different in feel and function, especially in wet usage.

Okay, okay! I give up.
I just ordered some Micarta scales on eBay
for a Tenacious I've been neglecting.
That way I will learn the difference
between G10 and Micarta.
Thank you.

[silver & black]

Update: I missed out on the Endela K390. I don't want to wait for it to be restocked. I found an Endura 4 in K390 at Cutlery Shoppe with FRN scales. I'll carry it, use it and get a feel for the FRN. I hope I like this stuff..... there are a lot of Spydercos I would want if I liked it.

[VandymanG]

Lumping micarta in with G-10, that’s like trying to start WWIII.

Agreed. They are quite different in feel and function, especially in wet usage.

Okay, okay! I give up.
I just ordered some Micarta scales on eBay
for a Tenacious I've been neglecting.
That way I will learn the difference
between G10 and Micarta.
Thank you.

I think you need one of the Spyderco Crucarta knives. I have the PM2 micarta handles with Cruwear blade. It’s one of my favorites.

[StuntZombie]

FRN for me, but it has to be unlined and from Japan.

[kobold]

FRN for me, but it has to be unlined and from Japan.

May I ask, what's better about japanese frn?

[silver & black]

FRN for me, but it has to be unlined and from Japan.

May I ask, what's better about japanese frn?

Me too! I have read on here how Seki City FRN is the best. Why? How? In what way? I have a Seki City Endura 4 coming with FRN scales. I'm really hoping I like it.

[ladybug93]

this is a tough one. i've curated a collection representing many different materials and i like all of them. i prefer not to have slick scales or cheap, plastic scales, but honestly there's a place for both of those.

for slick scales, i have a vollotton (polished g10), a nishijin stretch 2 xl (cf), and spydiechef (ti). all of them are great. they typically fill the gentlemen's knife roll for me, but due to good ergonomics they could be pushed to hard use as well. i don't prefer slick scales, but ergos are king and can make them acceptable.

for cheap plastic, i have a handful of salts with no liners. frn feels cheap, but it's been proven plenty durable for most applications and it's perfect for salts, which i love for their light weight and low maintenance.

g10 and micarta are my favorites for every day, with micarta slightly edging out g10. both are great though.

i think this is summed up well by sal's comment on steels... none are better, they're just different. it's more important than the knife is purpose built and ergonomically sound.

[Manixguy@1994]

this is a tough one. i've curated a collection representing many different materials and i like all of them. i prefer not to have slick scales or cheap, plastic scales, but honestly there's a place for both of those.

for slick scales, i have a vollotton (polished g10), a nishijin stretch 2 xl (cf), and spydiechef (ti). all of them are great. they typically fill the gentlemen's knife roll for me, but due to good ergonomics they could be pushed to hard use as well. i don't prefer slick scales, but ergos are king and can make them acceptable.

for cheap plastic, i have a handful of salts with no liners. frn feels cheap, but it's been proven plenty durable for most applications and it's perfect for salts, which i love for their light weight and low maintenance.

g10 and micarta are my favorites for every day, with micarta slightly edging out g10. both are great though.

i think this is summed up well by sal's comment on steels... none are better, they're just different. it's more important than the knife is purpose built and ergonomically sound.

Very well stated and agree . I recently switched out my Salt Sage to Micarta not because of the scale material just to do something different with no regrets. Different is good , may not be for everyone but have realized it works for me . Dan

[StuntZombie]

FRN for me, but it has to be unlined and from Japan.

May I ask, what's better about japanese frn?

I just don't like the feel of the Golden FRN. The US FRN handles feel blockier compared to the Japanese ones. On the flip side, I hate that most of the Seki FRN models are fully lined, and much prefer solid FRN handles.