Advice

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ralph029

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Oct 4, 2021
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Howdy folks. I’m looking for a little advice. It’s time for a new EDC. Why? Simply because I want one. I have it narrowed to 2 choices (except…?). Like I said, this is an EDC. General tasks around working (warehousing and supply chain) and around the house. Corrosion is not an issue that I contend with. Titanium is my scale of choice. I could always be convinced to change with a compelling reason. I have and use regularly a Hapstone system with diamond stones. I also strop regularly. I understand the differences in S35VN and M390 steel and the trade offs in edge retention and hardness. Since I cannot find these to physically hold, I need some advice on the makers. How is the build quality? How is the company to deal with if there is a problem. Are tolerances historically maintained? Fit and finish consistent? You know, the things that steer us to one company over another. Here are the two choices:

Kizer Sparrow, Titanium Handle, S35VN Steel
Vosteed Dachshund, Titanium Handle, M390 Steel

I have ZT’s with frame locks and Benchmades with cross bar locks. I don’t have a preference on lock types. I just want the lock to work. Geometrically these knifes are too similar to give an edge (no pun intended) to one or the other. The blade shape was paramount in the decision of these two knifes. I was also trying to keep the costs below $250.

Thoughts? Advice? Thanks!
 
I agree with norcalAF norcalAF here. I picked up a Malibu in Magnacut in your budget, and it's a US-made knife with superb action and design that can handle any EDC task I can think of. I really like modified Wharncliffe blade designs like this - if you're working warehouse tasks like strap / box / working up packaging stuff, I don't think you can do much better. If you want a little bigger, check out the Mordax.

If you're sold on the two options you're looking at, I don't have anything bad to say about the Kizer Sparrow. It's a good design. I like it better than any of the other Kizers I've purchased.
 
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The Malibu is a great recommendation, I also think the Spyderco swayback could be a good contender for what you are looking for @ 200$.
 
norcalAF said:
I think you should buy American and check out a protech Malibu. They are fantastic, excellent lock and flipper, useful blade shape, and several handle colors to choose from.
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I have looked land and hard at the Malibu. I forgot to mention that it was an honorable mention. My concern and what swayed me away from it was the aluminum scales. The Malibu is still bookmarked in "To Buy" folder. I'm not concerned about the aluminum's durability, it's merely a tactile thing. I've never been able to get used to the feeling of it. I'm not opposed to switching the decision back to it. Thanks for the input! Nice anodizing BTW.
 
Stringjam7 said:
I agree with norcalAF norcalAF here. I picked up a Malibu in Magnacut in your budget, and it's a US-made knife with superb action and design that can handle any EDC task I can think of. I really like modified Wharncliffe blade designs like this - if you're working warehouse tasks like strap / box / working up packaging stuff, I don't think you can do much better. If you want a little bigger, check out the Mordax.

If you're sold on the two options you're looking at, I don't have anything bad to say about the Kizer Sparrow. It's a good design. I like it better than any of the other Kizers I've purchased.
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Thank you I appreciate the input. The Mordax is the wrong blade shape, but the Malibu is exactly the shape I'm looking for. I don't really "work" in the warehouses anymore, I manage them, but I still need to occasionally get involved in the "real" work. ;)
 
ralph029 said:
I have looked land and hard at the Malibu. I forgot to mention that it was an honorable mention. My concern and what swayed me away from it was the aluminum scales. The Malibu is still bookmarked in "To Buy" folder. I'm not concerned about the aluminum's durability, it's merely a tactile thing. I've never been able to get used to the feeling of it. I'm not opposed to switching the decision back to it. Thanks for the input! Nice anodizing BTW.
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Have you handled the Malibu? It feels pretty good in the hand, and has a little weight to the handle.
 
Skar said:
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The Malibu is a great recommendation, I also think the Spyderco swayback could be a good contender for what you are looking for @ 200$.
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Thank you! I have a couple knives with sheep foot blades. I wanted to go in a new direction with shape.
 
norcalAF said:
Have you handled the Malibu? It feels pretty good in the hand, and has a little weight to the handle.
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I have not. My thoughts about it was strictly based on my tactile response to aluminum. I know, that might just be a dumb way of looking at it. I know that you can find Malibu's in Ti, but those are a "tiny bit" out of my price range ;)
 
ralph029 said:
I have not. My thoughts about it was strictly based on my tactile response to aluminum. I know, that might just be a dumb way of looking at it. I know that you can find Malibu's in Ti, but those are a "tiny bit" out of my price range ;)
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The finish on protech aluminum is quite pleasant tactically. I have a Mordax and a couple autos, they are all quite nice. I had a stonewash McNees aluminum handle that had an odd feeling to it.
 
norcalAF said:
The finish on protech aluminum is quite pleasant tactically. I have a Mordax and a couple autos, they are all quite nice. I had a stonewash McNees aluminum handle that had an odd feeling to it.
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Thanks! That is very good to know. At lease you understand why I was balking on it. I didn't say I was being realistic though ;)
 
Huge fan of the Quiet Carry series, I have a drift and it’s my current go-to when I don’t have the right pocket for a Sebenza or Inkosi that day. It’s also easier to stomach an extra ~$50 on your budget, not to mention it’ll make you catch the frame lock bug and drive you towards a CRK in a few months anyway.
 
scoobtay said:
Huge fan of the Quiet Carry series, I have a drift and it’s my current go-to when I don’t have the right pocket for a Sebenza or Inkosi that day. It’s also easier to stomach an extra ~$50 on your budget, not to mention it’ll make you catch the frame lock bug and drive you towards a CRK in a few months anyway.
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I really like the blade shape of the iQ, but the knife seems to be a bit on the small side.
 
If warranty and service are a big issue for you and you live in the US, I'd say buy American from one of the companies with a better reputation on that front, like Protech, Kershaw / ZT, Chris Reeve, Benchmade. These companies also don't turn over their product line as quickly as some others, so you're more likely to have parts available down the road. I believe they are also some of the select few that offer blade swaps.

I have a lot of Chinese knives I really like, but they simply don't have the capacity to deal with their knives if there's an issue later on like some of the better American brands. Where they shine is in delivering an exceptional amount of precision and detail for the price. It really depends on what's the most important to you.
 
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