G-10 vs FRN - Is it model based

[WilliamMunny]

G-10 vs FRN:

This topic has been covered… a lot. It seems it’s just personal preference and it’s split down the middle.

But I wanted to know everyone’s thoughts: Does the model impact your choice of G-10 vs FRN?

For example:

I like FRN more than G-10 on the Para 3. I just find the G-10 to be blocky.

But I like G-10 on the Manix 2 over FRN, just makes it feel like a beast of a knife.

I have also heard the G-10 scales on the Sage 5 a well contorted and well liked.


Part of the reason I as is I am considering selling my LW Native 5 Maxamet to fund the G-10 Native 5 15v. I just don’t want to get ahead of myself if I find I don’t like the G-10 on the Native 5 vs FRN.

I don’t need to money to buy the new Native but I just do not need both knives, too similar.

[S-3 ranch]

I’m from Texas and it’s usually hot as **** and I’m in shorts or summertime clothes
And weight is a major factor, so I avoid g10 , All my knives are FRN or CF by necessity for me
But I’m weird because I edc ed a delica clip it G2 for years as a boat captain and now a endela
Because I like the size and weight

[hobbyist]

I prefer FRN over G10 on every model. The only G10 I tolerate is on the smock because I love the button lock and they don’t have an FRN version.

[endura3]

I also prefer FRN, but models with well-contoured/chambered G10 scales work great for me too. A prime example is the Siren, or G10 versions of Seki knives like the P4 or Stretch. I imagine I'd like the Shaman handle a lot although I've never owned one.

Models with "blocky" G10 like the N5 are really uncomfortable for me in use unless I sand down the corners of the G10 on the back of the handle. If I were to buy another Native or Chief, I'd pick a lightweight as the FRN handles are just more comfortable for me to bear down on, in addition to being lighter, cheaper, and grippier. I'd prefer the Para 3 LW over the Para 3 G10 for the same reason.

[nathanours]

I prefer G10 as a material, and it’s my preference when weight isn’t critical. For me this is on models like the PM2, PM3, and Sage lines, that I’ll likely be carrying in a jeans pocket.

For backpacking, gym shorts/pants, or biking I prefer a FRN Dragonfly, Delica, or Native. I also like my FRN H1 Pac Salt for ocean and lake use.

[WilliamMunny]

I also prefer FRN, but models with well-contoured/chambered G10 scales work great for me too. A prime example is the Siren, or G10 versions of Seki knives like the P4 or Stretch. I imagine I'd like the Shaman handle a lot although I've never owned one.

Models with "blocky" G10 like the N5 are really uncomfortable for me in use unless I sand down the corners of the G10 on the back of the handle. If I were to buy another Native or Chief, I'd pick a lightweight as the FRN handles are just more comfortable for me to bear down on, in addition to being lighter, cheaper, and grippier. I'd prefer the Para 3 LW over the Para 3 G10 for the same reason.

Is the N5 G-10 blocky? From pictures it looks like it has some contouring. I find the Para 3 to be too blocky, it’s why I like the LW version a lot more.

[WilliamMunny]

I’m from Texas and it’s usually hot as **** and I’m in shorts or summertime clothes
And weight is a major factor, so I avoid g10 , All my knives are FRN or CF by necessity for me
But I’m weird because I edc ed a delica clip it G2 for years as a boat captain and now a endela
Because I like the size and weight

Totally agree, in the summer in shorts my Manix 2 LW is my go to.

[endura3]

I also prefer FRN, but models with well-contoured/chambered G10 scales work great for me too. A prime example is the Siren, or G10 versions of Seki knives like the P4 or Stretch. I imagine I'd like the Shaman handle a lot although I've never owned one.

Models with "blocky" G10 like the N5 are really uncomfortable for me in use unless I sand down the corners of the G10 on the back of the handle. If I were to buy another Native or Chief, I'd pick a lightweight as the FRN handles are just more comfortable for me to bear down on, in addition to being lighter, cheaper, and grippier. I'd prefer the Para 3 LW over the Para 3 G10 for the same reason.

Is the N5 G-10 blocky? From pictures it looks like it has some contouring. I find the Para 3 to be too blocky, it’s why I like the LW version a lot more.

I do find the back of the N5 pretty "blocky", as there isn't really much contouring at least along the back edge of the scales. The place this really bothers me is right on the front edge of the scale, where the "point" creates a hot spot for me in hard cutting with a hammer grip while using the choil (pics are from a retailer as I no longer own a G10 N5):





The only non-LW Native I currently own is the fluted CF one, which I never really used much until I sanded down that front corner of the scales very slightly. That actually helped a lot:



But yeah overall, I would say the G10 natives are "blockier" than the FRN versions in the sense that they don't have the same level of contouring around the edges of the scales.

Granted, it's a great knife in many other ways. If I had known adding some very slight contouring to my older G10 one would make such a difference for me, I do think I would have enjoyed using it far more.

[Wartstein]

...
But I like G-10 on the Manix 2 over FRN, just makes it feel like a beast of a knife.
...

I´d take FRN over G10 any day of the week. All my Spyderco folders actually have FRN handles, except my custom Micarta scale Endura. (The only G10 Spydie I still own is a fixed blade: The Waterway, and I´d rather have it FRN handles too)

Now for "G10... makes if feel like a beast of a knife":

With the G10 Manix most of the "beast" aspect might come from the heavier weight that is mainly due to the steel liners and not the G10 - ? So a FRCP Manix WITH liners would not feel that much different?

When looking at the Tenacious for example: The weight difference between the FRN - and the G10 version is actually not THAT big (3.8 oz / 108 grams vs 4.2 oz / 117 grams), and I figure the FRN handle even has a bit less "volume" / "mass" due to the chamfering (basically coming from removing material) that the G10 does not offer... ?

[Wandering_About]

I'm one of those that tends to prefer G10. FRN is nice for truly lightweight models, but if it comes down to choosing one I prefer G10, and model doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to me.

[Landshark99]

For the most part I do not like either, I have changed all of my PM3 LTWs to AWT aluminum, PM2s to AWT aluminum or titanium, except the Salt with it's new style G-10, Sage 5 LTW also AWT aluminum. I am keeping the G-10 on the Caribbean, Smock and Sage 1 because they are okay the way they are. Still debating whether to keep my 2 Manix 2s in G-10 or change them out. I still have some Seki knives in FRN mostly because I am not sure there are other scales for them, but I am not a fan of FRN.
All of the scale changes except the titanium have made those knives lighter and for me better in the hand

[Brock O Lee]

Is the N5 G-10 blocky? From pictures it looks like it has some contouring.

Yes it's blocky. No contouring.

I find even the Native 5 LW to be blocky, but slightly less than the G10.

If you want melt-in-the-hand contouring for the LW, you might want to consider AWT scales. I like them the most.

[aicolainen]

When looking at the Tenacious for example: The weight difference between the FRN - and the G10 version is actually not THAT big (3.8 oz / 108 grams vs 4.2 oz / 117 grams), and I figure the FRN handle even has a bit less "volume" / "mass" due to the chamfering (basically coming from removing material) that the G10 does not offer... ?

Yup, the LW moniker can sometimes (often?) be misleading. The Sage 5 is an even better example of that, with FRN (LW) version weighing in at 3.0 oz and the G10 weighing just a smidgen more at 3.1 oz.

On that note, I already regret not moving on a very reasonably priced, second hand Rex 121 with G10. My preference for FRN is so ingrained in me, that even though I knew the weight difference was miniscule, it took me a minute (or more specifically a couple of hours..) too long to realize I could be perfectly happy with a Sage 5 in G10. The Norwegian secondary market is a desert, so deals like this doesn't come along twice

To the OP, I do overwhelmingly prefer FRN these days. It's a very "function first" type of material and that jives well with me.
Ultimately though, it very much comes down to weight and having a secure grip, so if for some odd reason a model was offered in linered FRN and linerless G10, I'd likely go with G10 if it was lighter and offered similar (or at least enough) traction.

[benben]

I like both G-10 and FRN and have plenty of knives with both. If ever forced to choose, I’d take G-10. Been thinking of trying some AWT scales on a Cru-wear Para 3 that I never seem to carry.

[Wartstein]

Yup, the LW moniker can sometimes (often?) be misleading. The Sage 5 is an even better example of that, with FRN (LW) version weighing in at 3.0 oz and the G10 weighing just a smidgen more at 3.1 oz.

On that note, I already regret not moving on a very reasonably priced, second hand Rex 121 with G10. My preference for FRN is so ingrained in me, that even though I knew the weight difference was miniscule, it took me a minute (or more specifically a couple of hours..) too long to realize I could be perfectly happy with a Sage 5 in G10. The Norwegian secondary market is a desert, so deals like this doesn't come along twice

To the OP, I do overwhelmingly prefer FRN these days. It's a very "function first" type of material and that jives well with me.
Ultimately though, it very much comes down to weight and having a secure grip, so if for some odd reason a model was offered in linered FRN and linerless G10, I'd likely go with G10 if it was lighter and offered similar (or at least enough) traction.

I have no data on this, but I am pretty positive that the weight difference per unit between FRN and G10 is marginal to almost negligible.

Weight differences between FRN/FRCP and G10 versions of the same Spyderco imo will be due to
a) No liners vs liners (example: Manix)
b) If both the FRN and G10 version have liners (or both no liners), the FRN version will mostly be lighter cause in reality the FRN handle often actually consists of "less material" than the G10 handle (FRN handle chamfered and/or textured, both will remove material and thus make the overall package lighter) - ?

In your Sage-example the FRN handle has just a slight chamfering when compared to the G10 version, and so the weight difference is very small.

All just my layman guess of course.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I'm a FRN guy. G10 if made right is good. But to me FRN is the king of handle materials until a better one comes around.

[zuludelta]

I have a fair number of G10 & FRN/FRCP Spydies, and for me, whether I prefer one over the other largely depends on the specific model. And sometimes, the preference isn't really because of the handle scale materials but because of other differences between the G10 & FRN/FRCP variants.

For example, I prefer the G10 Manix 2 over the FRCP Manix 2 Lightweight, but a lot of this is due to the G10 version (which has steel liners & has a thicker—and blockier—handle) feeling more comfortable & balanced in my hand (YMMV). On the other end of the spectrum, I find the FRN Para 3 Lightweight to be a bit more forward-heavy than I prefer in a small folder, but because of the placement of its wire clip, I find it more comfortable to use for extended periods than the G10 Para 3. And on the Native 5, I find that I have no preference between G10 or FRN/FRCP, though I must say that the action on the former is noticeably smoother than the latter (because the blade on the G10 model is riding on PB washers, instead of naked polymer in the FRN/FRCP models).

[KeepCalm&Carrion]

I had no idea that there might be differences between G-10 and FRN variants of the same model (for example, the Native 5 G-10 is more blocky). Is this the case with the Native Chief G-10 as well?

[WilliamMunny]

I had no idea that there might be differences between G-10 and FRN variants of the same model (for example, the Native 5 G-10 is more blocky). Is this the case with the Native Chief G-10 as well?

It’s why I posed the question. There is a pretty big difference between the Para 3 LW and G-10.

[gk4ever2]

I'm one of those that tends to prefer G10. FRN is nice for truly lightweight models, but if it comes down to choosing one I prefer G10, and model doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to me.

I much prefer G-10 over FRN/FRCP. I really noticed this when I tried a linerless Stretch 2 XL with FRN, and later tried the same model with G-10, and I had similar feelings with the Native Chief regarding FRN vs. G-10. With smaller blades I seem to not care as much about FRN, so maybe it's the balance I don't like with the FRN Stretch 2 XL (same for the FRN Chief).

I have an old FRN Native (the Walmart model) and it's ok, although I wonder if I would like it even more with G-10?