Brad Southard or ZT0770/M390 as gift

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Sonnydaze

Sonnydaze

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This is for a college grand-kid in Colorado... Colorado outlaws the ZT 0770cf, I believe, due to its spring-assisted nature, and I'd have to remove the spring to make it legal there.
I have read several inconclusive posts about its operation in the "manual" mode...and wonder how well it works as a manual flipper...
I could use some personal experience posts here, specifically with the ZT 0770cf...and thanx in advance. Of course, I have the Brad Southard in reserve...just in case.
:confused:
Sonnydaze
 
I wanted to deassist an 0770 also, but every thing I've read about people doing so, the results were a weak detent.
I don't have first hand experience, but I consistently read about detent issues.
I'd go with the southard, or possibly a different flipper from zt.


Ps, is your grandkid a knife enthusiast, or are you just spoiling your grandkid? :)

If he's not into knives, I'd get him a kershaw shuffle. That bottle opener will come in handy in college:p;)
 
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Despite being a Spyderco fanboi, I hated the Southard. Love the 0770CF (I have the Elmax version). I didn't like it deassisted. I did some research and found nowhere in Colorodo law does it say assisted knives are illegal, so I think you'd be ok. I could be wrong. Ask someone who lives there.
 
K.O.D. said:
Despite being a Spyderco fanboi, I hated the Southard. Love the 0770CF (I have the Elmax version). I didn't like it deassisted. I did some research and found nowhere in Colorodo law does it say assisted knives are illegal, so I think you'd be ok. I could be wrong. Ask someone who lives there.
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If this is the case, then get the 0770.

K.O.D, why didn't you like the southard?
 
I own, have used, and carried both.
The Southard is a fine knife. It has a very organic feel and look. Fit and finish on this is one is consistently excellent. The ergonomics are comfortable, has a thick blade, and a nice finish overall. The CTS-204P steel is done very, very well (Excellent heat treat as usual). Spyderco's first flipper and it is an absolute hit, in my opinion. There is no blade play in either of the 2 examples I own, and the lock up is very much solid. The blade grind is nice, but it not exactly a slicer. It is a rugged medium/large knife.

The 0770CF is another great knife, with either Elmax or M390, KAI did a great job with this one. The pivot looks really nice and is a great accent to the solid CF scales. The locking mechanism is very well done, and I have no fear of it failing. The weight is much less than that of the Southard, and the knife feels extremely capable and very substantial in the hand, while riding low and discreetly in the pocket. I do love the blade shape on this knife and it cuts very well everything from cardboard, to plastic, to food prep. I'd say in this case, the 0770CF wins out, but not by a mile.

Either one, it is still a great gift, and I am sure your Grandkid will no doubt love receiving it.
 
Blues Bender said:
If this is the case, then get the 0770.

K.O.D, why didn't you like the southard?
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Didn't like the shape of the flipper. With my extra large hands, the squarish shape just didn't flip well, and I wasn't a fan of the blade shape either. Just didn't feel like a $250~ knife to me. Sold it and bought a ZT0801.
 
I can only speak on the flipping action of a de-assisted 0770 aluminum. That thing flipped great all day. I know some people have said the flipper is a little small but I found it to be just the right size. As long as you pushbutton that mother, you should have no problems whipping that blade out.

I sold it when we hit some hard times but to this day I still miss it. The 0770CF is definitely a great looking knife. Sweet carbon fiber scales, awesome blade shape, decorative pivot, what's not to like? I've never owned a Southard but I know plenty of people who swear by that knife.

Remember that cleaning the knife and adding some lube to the pivot will enhance any knife's flipping action.
 
I like my new 0770CF. In fact, it's the first and only ZT I've been able to talk myself into- despite being AO. That being said, I like the Southard more. I don't think there's a bad choice between the two. The 0770CF is definately flashier with the nice carbon fiber but the Southard is a wonderful flipper and just a great all around knife. I'd pop my head in the legal forum maybe to see if anyone has any insight on CO law interpretation. I read the CO statute to mean switchblades, but I have very little legal insight.
 
K.O.D. said:
Didn't like the shape of the flipper. With my extra large hands, the squarish shape just didn't flip well, and I wasn't a fan of the blade shape either. Just didn't feel like a $250~ knife to me. Sold it and bought a ZT0801.
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Ahh...yes. I don't have much of a problem, but I do agree it is kind of odd feeling compared to some other flippers in that price range.

FWIW, I think if the blade stock were thinner, the blade shape might suite the design better.
 
Blues Bender said:
Ahh...yes. I don't have much of a problem, but I do agree it is kind of odd feeling compared to some other flippers in that price range.

FWIW, I think if the blade stock were thinner, the blade shape might suite the design better.
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I concur on the blade stock. I love flippers, and have several (ZT 0801 and 0770, Brian Tighe Mini Tighe Rod, Brous Bionic, and have owned quite a few others like the Leek, ZT350, Scallion to name a few), and the shape of the Southard's was just counter intuitive.
 
I'm in love with my 0770CF. It's a fantastic EDC knife with great materials and just well made. I think it would make an excellent gift, since it's the type of knife you can pretty much carry everyday no matter what pants you're wearing.

I took the torsion bar out of mine and I didn't quite like it as a manual flipper. It wasn't too smooth or consistent, unless I loosened the pivot to the point where it had a bit of blade play. I decided I'd rather have an assisted opener with zero play.
 
Sonnydaze said:
This is for a college grand-kid in Colorado... Colorado outlaws the ZT 0770cf, I believe, due to its spring-assisted nature, and I'd have to remove the spring to make it legal there.
I have read several inconclusive posts about its operation in the "manual" mode...and wonder how well it works as a manual flipper...
I could use some personal experience posts here, specifically with the ZT 0770cf...and thanx in advance. Of course, I have the Brad Southard in reserve...just in case.
:confused:
Sonnydaze
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It depends on your knife. Some people have had knives that flip perfectly, and others won't flip at all. Take the pivot side scale off the 0770cf, and remove the torsior bar. Leave the grease alone. Reinstall the scale. Test action. If it flips the way it should, you're good to go. If it has a weak detent like mine and many others, take the scale back off and reinstall the torsion bar. Then go ahead and mail the Southard. Lol.
 
Does the 0770CF (Elmax or M390 version) have a detent hole in the blade? I thought they didn't.
 
I really like my 0770cf, and mine flips quite well after tossing the torsion bar, but I strongly prefer the Southard.

The Southard is a great all around package, beefy enough to feel stout but light enough to go anywhere. I will admit that for some cutting tasks the thinner blade on the 0770cf will outperform the fat one on the Southard, though.
 
Thanks for all of your replies.... I do have some concern about the Colorado regs and their reference to springs... Note that Spyderco (Colorado-based) doesn't use spring-assists in the Southard and Dice and Domino.
After all of that, I took no chances and mailed out a Dice...with no springs. It's a bit smaller and shorter than the Southard and 0770cf/M390, but flips super-nice, and still grants a full-sized grip with a thinner 2.5" blade in CTS-XHP. The Dice is 3.7 oz; ZT is 3.0 oz and Southard is 4.1 oz. This grand-kid is a girl Physics major/knife-nut who generally carries a tanto and should be pretty happy with the Dice. And I get to keep the other two folders, at least for now.. :)
Sonnydaze
 
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Just don't let her know she had a choice, and you kept the others! She'll be expecting them for Christmas!

I like my Southard, and am not sure were people are complaing about how thick it is. I have a ZT 0550, 0561, and others that are quite a bit thicker. Maybe I need to check out the 0770.
 
Daniel Dorn said:
Just don't let her know she had a choice, and you kept the others! She'll be expecting them for Christmas!

I like my Southard, and am not sure were people are complaing about how thick it is. I have a ZT 0550, 0561, and others that are quite a bit thicker. Maybe I need to check out the 0770.
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Yes, yes you do.
 
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