2015 mini AK-47 vs. Old mini AK-47?

B

BringAKnife

Joined
Oct 11, 2015
Messages
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Couldn't find any threads here about the new 2015 mini AK-47.

I know it has better steel and better coating. But what I REALLY want to
know are:

-- Is the deployment faster?
-- Is the handle less grippy?

It's a tough knife but handling the older model now shows me it's awkward to deploy using the thumb-"disk." And
the grippy handle just rips up your pocket.

Anyone thought of adding phosphorous-bronze washers to make deployment sleeker?

PS -- Maybe the mini Recon is a better knife???
 
I've seen new mini AK-47 and new Mini Recon1 too. For me mini Recon1 CTS-XHP is better knife. I like thumb wave disc but that mini AK-47 is just too tiny like some key chain gadget.
 
bump.

Yes, the 2015 model has better steel and DLC coating. But it's still made in Taiwan!
Yet the cheapest price is $75 on Amazon. I've waffled because for that amount
I could get both the Spyderco Tenacious AND Persistence. Also made in Taiwan.

I do like the Triad lock though and if only the single-handed deployment was as smooth
and fast as the Spydies I would probably slap the cash down.

Why no bronze washers to made this blade slicker to open? Seems like a simple fix.
A $140 retail price surely can cover that?
 
Yes, it's made in Taiwan, as are most of Cold Steel's models. In my opinion, the quality of knives coming out of some of the Taiwan factories is as good or better than those made in Japan or the USA. Some of Spyderco's high-end models are also made in Taiwan and are much more expensive (street price) than Cold Steel's. The Tenacious and Persistence are made in China, not Taiwan, and the steel used is inferior.

All of Cold Steel's G-10 handled knives already have bronze and Teflon washers. If "slick opening" is more important to you, look elsewhere. With the Tri-ad lock, there is always significant pressure on the blade from the lock bar. All of my Tri-ad knives are smooth, but not easily flickable. I don't really care about that because of all my folders, they come closest to feeling like fixed-blade knives.
 
Kyle K said:
Yes, it's made in Taiwan, as are most of Cold Steel's models. In my opinion, the quality of knives coming out of some of the Taiwan factories is as good or better than those made in Japan or the USA. Some of Spyderco's high-end models are also made in Taiwan and are much more expensive (street price) than Cold Steel's. The Tenacious and Persistence are made in China, not Taiwan, and the steel used is inferior.

All of Cold Steel's G-10 handled knives already have bronze and Teflon washers. If "slick opening" is more important to you, look elsewhere. With the Tri-ad lock, there is always significant pressure on the blade from the lock bar. All of my Tri-ad knives are smooth, but not easily flickable. I don't really care about that because of all my folders, they come closest to feeling like fixed-blade knives.
Click to expand...

Kyle, how does it compare with the Endura's VG-10 made in Japan? The Endura lists as 11 bucks cheaper with an inch more in blade. I would probably get it, but was considering something smaller for ease of carry.

I don't need "flickable" exactly, just not a difficult opening. I tried out a regular AK and it was a kind of pain to open with the thumb-disk. I like the design but 75 bucks seems steep for something not made in the US (or Japan) with only 2.57 inch blade.

Yes, I do like the triad lock.
 
BringAKnife said:
bump.

Yes, the 2015 model has better steel and DLC coating. But it's still made in Taiwan!
Yet the cheapest price is $75 on Amazon. I've waffled because for that amount
I could get both the Spyderco Tenacious AND Persistence. Also made in Taiwan.

I do like the Triad lock though and if only the single-handed deployment was as smooth
and fast as the Spydies I would probably slap the cash down.

Why no bronze washers to made this blade slicker to open? Seems like a simple fix.
A $140 retail price surely can cover that?
Click to expand...

Action on that new mini AK-47 is like in some Benchmade.

Tenacious and his brothers are Made in China with very cheap steel. Overall quality like in Sanrenmu.

Spyderco Sage for example is Taiwan made. Both - Spyderco Sage and CS AK-47 mini/regular are better quality knives than Tenacious or some Japanese Spyderco, because steel used in Sage series or CTS-XHP in CS is better than VG-10. And fit&finish is also better in my opinion.

Be aware that CTS-XHP AK-47, that bigger version has still old, more agressive G-10 than mini AK-47 with G-10 smooth like in Paramilitary 2.
 
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I just received one today and have to say that yes, it is that smooth. I expected it to be more like the Hold Out 3, but its much easier to open, even flickable.
 
In piece I had in hand it was very smooth. My CS Voyager is also smooth for me in comparison to some other knives.
 
mdrgn79 said:
I just received one today and have to say that yes, it is that smooth. I expected it to be more like the Hold Out 3, but its much easier to open, even flickable.
Click to expand...

Good to hear. Spring on Hold Out 3 is too strong. And so is the pocket clip. That model needs an overhaul, IMO.
 
I picked up the older Aus-8A version recently.

It is very easy to open because of the handle shape and the thumb-plate opener.

I don't plan on carrying it very much because I tend to need a 3.5- to 4-inch blade for the cutting tasks I do though.
 
mdrgn79 said:
I just received one today and have to say that yes, it is that smooth. I expected it to be more like the Hold Out 3, but its much easier to open, even flickable.
Click to expand...

Ah! I was just considering the Hold Out 3, but heard the action was too hard on it. Thanks! How do you like the feel of the AK in your hand vs. the Hold Out? I do like the blade on the Hold Out, but don't want to deal with such a tough deployment. Half the fun of a folding knife is the deployment. ;)

PS -- Obviously, the first use for mini-AK is utility, but I've actually heard of guys using it (successfully) in Self Defense. I guess it's plausible; this is a world where tiny little "ladybug" knives and such are being carried for SD.
 
BringAKnife said:
bump.

Yes, the 2015 model has better steel and DLC coating. But it's still made in Taiwan!
Yet the cheapest price is $75 on Amazon. I've waffled because for that amount
I could get both the Spyderco Tenacious AND Persistence. Also made in Taiwan.

I do like the Triad lock though and if only the single-handed deployment was as smooth
and fast as the Spydies I would probably slap the cash down.

Why no bronze washers to made this blade slicker to open? Seems like a simple fix.
A $140 retail price surely can cover that?
Click to expand...
There is a lot more to producing knives than country or origin as it relates to price. The Spyderco knives you mention are not made in Taiwan, they are made in China, it says so right on the blade. Many people believe that Taiwan is China, but it's not.
You are also comparing Chinese 8Cr13MoV steel to an American particle metallurgy steel (XHP). There is a price difference there, and it is quite a gap. I would also go as far as to say that heat treating XHP steel properly is much more expensive than treating a common steel like 8Cr.
Almost all lock back knives have a strong bias to close, it's part of the design of the lock. Also, it is something completely different mechanically from a liner lock. You cannot compare them equally, apples to apples because they are not equal in any way, at all. There you have it.
 
BringAKnife said:
Ah! I was just considering the Hold Out 3, but heard the action was too hard on it. Thanks! How do you like the feel of the AK in your hand vs. the Hold Out? I do like the blade on the Hold Out, but don't want to deal with such a tough deployment. Half the fun of a folding knife is the deployment. ;)

PS -- Obviously, the first use for mini-AK is utility, but I've actually heard of guys using it (successfully) in Self Defense. I guess it's plausible; this is a world where tiny little "ladybug" knives and such are being carried for SD.
Click to expand...

As for the feel of the knife in hand, it doesn't afford as many grip opportunities as the Hold Out, however it fits my large hand just fine. If I had one gripe about it, it's that it is on the thin side. But the latest iteration of the Hold Out is also thinner than previous generations were too. The action on the AK mini is similar to opening a Benchmade once you figure out the thumb plate with the added advantage of being able to wave it out of your pocket should you wish.

As for the self defense applications, I have no experience in that realm. My thoughts on that would be one would use whatever was on their person at the time of incident, and a person would most likely have something that was easy to carry and was useful for other tasks as well.
 
I decided to pick up the new mini AK out of curiosity. It is pretty nice. I like the thin scales with mild texturing. Lockup is rock solid but the spring is not crazy strong so action is fairly light. My problem is the ergos. Those finger grooves don't line up right for my medium hand. I'd say if it fits your hand, it's a winner.
 
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