Did I understand correctly that you are looking for an EDC with a blade length between 3.75 and 4 inches? The 908/909 Strykers are all less than 3.75" in blade length. They're just a hair over 3.5".
I'm a big fan of the Axis Stryker models. The full size models just seem to hit all the right spots for me and the Mini Axis Stryker is a great daily carry. The handle is comfortable--thin in cross section but wide enough in profile to fit the hand. This makes them easy to carry as well as use. I also like the blade steel--154CM is just plain good. It holds an edge well and it doesn't require a lot of work to maintain or re-sharpen the edge. The Axis lock...what's there to say? It makes for some of the smoothest opening knives around. I like how the Strykers sort of make a nice metallic "snick" when the blade pops open. The only negative comments I have about the Strykers concern the clip. It has some very minor but still detectible side-to-side flex that annoys me. The Mini model also rides too deep in my pocket due to the clip placement.
ZT makes some excellent knives. But many of them are too large, too heavy and often have a design feature or two I really dislike. I have a 0550 that is one of the smoothest knives I've ever owned but I don't carry it because it's too wide and heavy and the clip placement over the lock bar makes it a pain to open. My 0200 is just about as strong as you can make a folding knife but it's an absolute monster in the pocket due to size and weight. Other models often have Speed Safe assisted opening and I'm not a fan of assisted opening. But if you want a big and heavy EDC knife, ZT will likely fill the bill.
My 3.75 - 4" comment referred to overall closed length. Most of my slip joints have blades in the 2.5 - 3" range. I am looking for an EDC that is stout and fast to deploy - for use as both an every day utility knife and as a defensive knife, should the need arise, with blade length between 3.5" - a bit under 4". I'm glad you mentioned the ZT 0550, as I have been considering both the ZT 0562 and the 0550. I think the ZT 0909 and the 0560 are probably too large (for me) for EDC. After studying the photos, I can definitely see that the clip position on the 0550 might cause issues, which leaves me with the 0562, which is a bit lighter that than the 0550. When I first became aware of the ZT line, the protruding flipper turned me off, but I now can see the benefit of such a system - more positive than thumb studs and considerably faster than a slip joint. Yes, I realize ZT makes a Hoss of a knife, but the 0562 might be what I'm looking for - unfortunately, I can not view/handle one locally.
Also, today I did have the opportunity to handle some of the new Benchmade models. The following are a few of the models I briefly handled (my young daughter was with me and the place was crowded) and my impressions:
Griptillian Pardue (full size and Mini): very nice, nice blade and easy deployment, but they lacked steel/titanium liners , which I like.
Foray 698: very nice all around, but a bit smallish and it has a slight recurve, which rules it out for me
580-2 Barrage: very cool, I like it, but the assisted opening is not necessarily what I'm looking for
Crooked River G-10: very nice, but a bit unwieldy to open and I'm not sure I like the style
Several HK models in the Patrol family, which were nice, but not what I'm looking for.
Unfortunately, they did not have a Stryker II which, based upon reviews and photos, I do like quite a bit.
Honestly, Benchmade has some very nice knives and I'm sure I'd be happy with most any of them. This can be a real problem for an individual like me with limited funds and the ability to make only one purchase for the next 6 mo. or so. I also know that I can research this until I'm blue in the face and still have a level of uncertainty since I don't have a way to handle any of the ZT models.
