Benchmade Adamas Comps???

tueller

tueller

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Mar 16, 2012
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I am trying to get away from fixed blades... tired of the bat belt. I think a tank of a folder will help me get through this from a psychological standpoint. I am leaning towards getting a Benchmade Adamas. Are there any other knives similar that I should think about prior to pulling the trigger. Adamas price point is the highest I can go. Thanks.
 
I've handled a few Adamases and they have all been both surprisingly smooth and perfectly solid. I don't think you'll be disappointed by one of those. It's a formidable knife. I don't like the handle thickness, but, that may work for you. Try one in-hand at a store if you can.

However, I have to throw in Cold Steel as an obvious alternative. Look at anything with a Tri-Ad lock. Recon 1. Voyager. Code 4. AK-47. All of these knives lock up tight with one of the most resilient locks in the business, most cost considerably less than the Adamas, and are extremely durable. If you're already in the market for a pocket brick like the Adamas (3/4" thick and over 7oz), seriously consider Cold Steel if you can ignore their regrettable marketing.
 
For a heavy duty folder you can't go wrong with the Adamas
Wrist flick opens
Easy thumb stud open
Solid lock
Smooth drop closing
As close to a fixed blade as a folder can get.
And a Benchmade warranty
 
Owned and used Adamas's for years, great knife. But there are also other options if you can choose from. Obviously cold steels Tr-Ad lock is much tougher than any axis lock, even the larger variation on the Adamas. But any of these will last you a lifetime.

Benchmade Adamas
Spyderco Manix 2 Back-lock
Cold Steel - Almost any of there folders are as tough as they come - SR1 and 4max obviously the toughest folders around outside of customs from Andrew Demko himself

Pick which knife you like the looks of the best, they'll all do the job. But honestly, unless you pry doors open with your knives you don't always need the added bulk and blade stock thickness of insanely tanky folders. You won't break a manix 2 back-lock or Recon 1 with any kind of hard cutting and they carry well in pocket compared to the heavy guys.
 
Thanks guys. Checked out the other knives. Still thinking adamas. I like the blade profile. I have a Manix and a Benchmade Presidio. But I am looking for the esee 5 of folders. I have no prob with cold steel marketing but the clip points and spear points don’t do it for me like the adamas drop point.
 
Adamas is a nice knife, I have one and like it a lot. It has a wonderful blade shape and a tip that comes to a wedge more than to a point, which has allowed me to do questionable things with it like chopping and some mild-mannered prying.

However, if you want something that is more tolerable of abuse, look to cold steel. Cold Steel will soon be dropping their tanto point SR1, which is shaping up to be the most solid folding knife you will be able to buy for under $300. It'll have a steel reinforced Triad lock (which tolerates abuse much better than axis locks), S35VN steel, and a blade that's comparable to fixed blade thickness at about 3/16" thick.

Worth noting is that the Benchmade Loco and the Adamas are (to the best of my knowledge) the only two benchmades with .080" thick liners rather than .060", which is nice to see as the liners are what the axis bar directly locks up against.
 
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if lock strength is a driver more than just thick handle/liners and thick blade......spydercos power lock is very strong. in demkos testing it did very well compred to the tri-ad. close enough to a tri ad for real world use. also spydercos caged ball bearing locks are very strong.....about the same as a bm axis lock in design but different enough.

i like my adamas and i dont mind thick and heavy but the blade is thicker and not the best slicer but if you are okay with that its a great knife for what it is.
 
tueller said:
Thanks guys. Checked out the other knives. Still thinking adamas. I like the blade profile. I have a Manix and a Benchmade Presidio. But I am looking for the esee 5 of folders. I have no prob with cold steel marketing but the clip points and spear points don’t do it for me like the adamas drop point.
Click to expand...

The ESEE 5 of folders is a great description for the Adamas! I think the suggestion of the ZT0350 is a good one to consider as well! I know it is above your budget but if you can manage a little more money I would suggest the ZT0220.

https://flic.kr/p/23RdcSphttps://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/

https://flic.kr/p/248B8nE https://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/
 
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the adamas was way too heavy and thick for me to carry, a regular griptilian would be better in my opinion, the basic griptilian holds up pretty well in the destruction tests ive seen online
 
Whitty, Awesome pictures for comparison. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that. Thx. The zt0350 is looking good. The zt0220 doesn’t do it for me cosmeticallly. I am still preferring the adamas blade but it has more handle than I need for sure. I am also thinking the d2 standard curve edge will be easier to sharpen than the s30v recurve.... but I am not sure about that, I suck at recurve sharpening tho.
 
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