Back by Popular Demand... What folder do you guys carry?

[Blues-90]

I carry a ZT 0566 in Elmax. It carries well and is easy enough to get it servicably sharp.

 

[Brian_T]

Used to be some left-handed CRK for me but lately it's been one of the GECs that seem to have found their way into my pocket. The 15 might've just gotten bumped by the larger 77 Barlow but it'll surely be back around.

 

[Texas_toothpick]

Love em Brian! I been searching for blood jig bone #12 for a long time, but you can't go wrong with a classic Barlow.

 

[Ruudr]

Until Guy makes his folder he talked about it will be a ZT 0562cf.
(Please show a prototype pic when you have one Ellie!)

 

[Standard78]

That 77 is just pretty!

 

[calc]

I'm wondering if they had issues with that 204p steel. The one I used to have had a nasty round blemish under the logo and it was really rough also.
That big ol thumb print looking thing is the spot.

IIRC they did, actually. The green Para 2 was delayed for quite a while, specifically because of issues with the steel.

 

[Standard78]

IIRC they did, actually. The green Para 2 was delayed for quite a while, specifically because of issues with the steel.

Oh ok. I got mine secondhand off of fleabay because I missed the Knifeworks sales. I'm really hoping that I can snatch up one of the BladeHQ PM2's in M4.

 

[ManOfSteel89]

 

[Texas_toothpick]

Looking good MoS

 

[Tinbanger]

What size is that, mos?

 

[ManOfSteel89]

Thanks TT.

It's the 3.5" skinner

 

[ni1s]

Thanks TT.

It's the 3.5" skinner

How do you like the skinner grind? I've been thinking of getting one. I've got a spearpoint right now.

 

[ManOfSteel89]

How do you like the skinner grind? I've been thinking of getting one. I've got a spearpoint right now.

The blade is weird looking to me and I like that, but if you block off the spine and just look at the grind it's a VERY practical shape. True spearpoint like a GSO lol

 

[ni1s]

The blade is weird looking to me and I like that, but if you block off the spine and just look at the grind it's a VERY practical shape. True spearpoint like a GSO lol

Wow, thank you! I would never have noticed the similarity without your photo! I also like the "weird" grind actually, but I had no idea how practical it was?

 

[ManOfSteel89]

Wow, thank you! I would never have noticed the similarity without your photo! I also like the "weird" grind actually, but I had no idea how practical it was?

No problem. If you ever get an itch to trade let me know. I've wanted to try a spearpoint for a while now

 

[Silver Needle]

Any SURVIVOR!s have any experience with a Buck Vantage? I'm looking for something cheap with a manual flipper.

 

[chiral.grolim]

Any SURVIVOR!s have any experience with a Buck Vantage? I'm looking for something cheap with a manual flipper.

I have owned 3 large and two mini Vantages.
The larges included a G10-scaled 420HC-bladed vantage that is currently at Buck for warranty work (I need to call and make sure it's coming back ) Blade was centered but the grind was uneven and there was a rattle from the cuff being loose in the spine. The blade finish is "machine" meaning obvious grind-markers - not polished or anything like that - which i think is standard on their 420HC economy models. Edge was nice and sharp. The G10 scales and full liners make it rather heavy...

This one is the 13C26 Avid model. Lock-up is a little farther on this one, with a hard flick i can get it to touch the far liner. Lock-up on Buck Vantages seem to be hit-or-miss, regardless of select/avid/pro, probably true for the Vantage Force series as well. The blade finish was a bit nicer on this 13C26 blade, whoever did the grinding seemed to be paying closer attention?

I also had an avid with 420HC blade and the charcoal dymondwood scales. I MUCH prefer the dymondwood to the G10. It is slicker for easy in/out of the pocket and also noticeably lighter (though I haven't confirmed this on a scale). I ended up selling this one unfortunately... beautiful scales it had, nice lock-up and blade centering, good action:

https://picasaweb.google.com/109675974399787025312/Sale#6066898326782974738

The large vantage rests nicely in the hand, carries well in the pocket:

The mini was too small for me but might make a good EDC for someone else, much like the Spyderco Dragonfly2. The two I've owned were both sold to colleagues who love them. The paperstone one shown here is actually less comfortable for me than the Select which has more rounded scales

https://picasaweb.google.com/109675974399787025312/Sale#6066899125077545810

One thing i didn't like is the open-back design, so I contacted Buck and they sent me a back-spacer for a Vantage Force! I've heard that the newer Vantages are riveted-construction rather than screwed together, so you might not be able to do this with a newer one:

Anyway, sorry for the dearth of pics. My summation of the Vantages is that:

1) The QC is hit-or-miss - you might get decent lock-up or you might not, the grind may be even or WAY off, centering may be alright or not, etc.
2) I'm not a fan of the G10, I prefer the plastic or dymondwood:thumbup: scales, and I also prefer a back-spacer.
3) it carries very discreetly :thumbup:
4) Flipping action was great on 4 of the 5 I've had, one of the mini's just wouldn't flip without being too loose and uncentered, but those suffer from such short thick blades it isn't easy for them to flip. All of the larges have been fine flippers.
5) thumb-hole doesn't work too well - it works, just not well.
6) there are better USA-made liner-locks and flippers available for the money... For example, a number of Kershaw's flippers can be de-assisted (e.g. Link, though Kai is not a USA company, the knives are USA-made).
7) I am happy with the dymondwood Vantage :thumbup: inexpensive, pretty, easy to carry, flips great :thumbup: Someday i may try a Kershaw Link or step it up to the higher-end flippers, but for now I am happy with this and i really don't much like liner-locks anyway

 

[Silver Needle]

Chiral! You really delivered! Thank you!

I loved seeing the pics, I didn't realize there were so many variations. The hit and miss QC is what is steering me away and I had heard this from a few different sources. Your direct experience (and pics) were really helpful so thanks for taking the time to put all your thoughts down.

 

[chiral.grolim]

Bumping this thread to help us all be patient awaiting shipping notices.


Somewhere around here Hard Knocks showed his clipped SAK and I had to have one. So I bought some clips to try and went looking for SAKs online. I ended up with a lot of 3 silver Alox (sorry, no black ) - Pioneer, Farmer, & Harvester. For those wondering, the Pioneer is like the Soldier - a basic 2-layer model with knife-blade, reamer/awl, can-opener, & cap-lifter/screw-driver, with the addition of a key-ring. The Farmer adds a 3rd layer with a saw, and the Harvester removes the key-ring from the Farmer and exchanges the can-opener for a pruning-blade (hawk's bill).

I decided to start with the Farmer. Of the 4 clips I bought, this one is my favorite - fits nice and close to the blade, doesn't interfere with grip, relatively inconspicuous and also doesn't catch on things (though it hides better against blue-jeans than black )

If anybody is considering doing this, it's a cinch. Mine is just mounted into the aluminum - I drilled the pilot holes and then drove the screws to set their own threads so i didn't even need the tap-set I got. *shrug* Trouble is, i only got ONE of this style clip, I have three other clips that don't really suit me for anything I have lying around... maybe I'll try to exchange them.


In other news, Silver (and anyone else), if you're interested in trying out a Buck Vantage, my 420HC + G10 model just came back from Buck Warranty service tuned and sharp, so if you're worried about getting a lemon buying online, here's one you can depend on (though the tip is still ground uneven):

 

[ManOfSteel89]

Work carry..