Spyderco Forums

Hello everyone,

So unfortunately one of my FRN Spydies (a Para 3 LW) fell about two and a half feet to the floor. Everything looks alright including the blade except for some scratches and tiny white gouges that cannot be seen unless really close and scrutinizing the knife. Is there any way to restore or repair the FRN? Any ideas would be appreciated.

You could sand it with some fine sand paper if you want, just be careful not to take off too much material.

At the end of the day, FRN is a working man's knife handle. If the scratches don't detract from the utility of the knife, just keep on using it.

Just own it, marks of pride.

One of my dogs briefly got hold of my K390 dragonfly and put some tooth marks in the FRN (fortunately, down by the lanyard hole). Sandpaper took care of smoothing out the rough spots, but there's a definite difference in the color where the FRN was damaged. Such is life.

Edit: After posting this, I got to thinking. If WD-40 will restore the color to faded G10, why not with FRN? Short answer, yes it works.

Might be able to use RIT dye after the sandpaper to get the color to all match again.

Maybe rubbing some pivot lube or just generic oil on the scuff will help even the color out? Sometimes that works with G-10, if temporarily. What’s the worst that could happen?

Deadboxhero wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 19, 2021 1:42 am

Just own it, marks of pride.

This.

Once you've scratched it, it's easier to use it like a knife.

That's a pretty good reason to get a new knife.

chuck_roxas45 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:27 pm

That's a pretty good reason to get a new knife.

Best response yet! :spyder:

Enactive wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:31 pm

chuck_roxas45 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:27 pm

That's a pretty good reason to get a new knife.

Best response yet! :spyder:

An old pro. Makes me realize that we are not quite the enablers we used to be. :D

I lost my HAP40 Delica in my recliner for a while and when I dug it out it had some small gouges in the frn. I didn’t do anything about it and in all honesty I forgot about it until just now. Life goes on, chicks dig scars, badges of honor and all that.

I know this isn’t answering the question, but...

As some others have said, just own those little dings. I have several Spydercos, in FRN and even one in SS, that have dings from being dropped. My first Military (in 440V) has a couple dings in the G10 from accidentally being pulled from my pocket and falling onto a rough-asphalt parking lot. My CRK Insingo became heavily scratched on the clip and part of the titanium scale from accidental impact on a rough street. IMO, it just adds to the ‘story of the knife’.

Sometime this year, I’ll be going in for another hernia surgery and will have another scar on my body, which will be permanent. IMO, scars are simply a part of life, on a body or on a knife.

Jim

Wear it as a badge of honor.
I enjoy looking at pictures on this forum of knives that have been carried & USED.
Those knives tell a story.

Pictures of pristine knives remind me of collectors that use their cameras more then their knives.

Knives like guns are tools & are meant to be carried & used. JMHO

Of course some sandpaper anywhere in the 1000-2000 grit range will clean up the gouges and leave it looking and feeling nice if you really need to.

But for a knife, I look at scratches and other signs of use like I look at dirt on my mountain bike.. I say, "you can't buy 'em like that". Embrace the journey, be proud of the experience the wear marks indicate and go collect more proof of experience. :D