Branching off to other companies

K

Kousii2

Joined
Feb 14, 2012
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I have been into knives for about 7 months now. I am more of a user than a collector since I use my knives at work on a daily basis. I used to only buy Spydercos and for the most part still do. I have recently bought a Zero Tolerance 0350 and I love it. It makes me want to branch off to other companies and give them a shot. I am currently looking at the ZT 0550 and the Benchmade 710. Are there any knives that you recommend I take a look at from other companies that are not Spyderco. I like my folders medium to large. Thanks for the help!

-George
 
I haven't been hung up on one particular company but I own more Kershaws than anything else. Today I bought my first Benchmade folder, a 2750 Adamas. I love it. Also came home with my first MicroTech folder as well, a Socom Elite. I like it very much as well. I have owned Spydercos but found I don't particularly appreciate the hole. I generally try and buy knives I think I woud like based on design, profile and components rather than trying to be uber loyal to one particular company.

Some specifics I would look at besides the 710 and 0550 you said you're already looking at:
-Benchmade Adamas 275
-Fox Deimos (Especially if you like them large)
-DPX HEST 2.0
 
The 710 is a classic! My 710D2 is in my pocket 99% of the time. Real classy and beautiful yet a work horse of a knife. If you're the kind of guy that has "his pocket knife", ol' tried and true, get the 710.
 
The 0550 is great knife to have. Also Lion Steel SR-1 looks pretty spiffy too.
 
I've owned many high-end knives (IE- CRK, strider, customs,etc.) and all have been long since sold, while a blue para2 rides with me everyday and I no longer lust after folders like I use to. It's a learning process that took many thousands of dollars...but your mileage may very well vary. I'd stick to relatively inexpensive folders as there is a high chance that it may be lost at some point...happened to me twice and I'm really anal about these things :).
 
the BM 710 is an awesome knife. I have a decent sized collection but the 710 always finds its way back into my pocket. Branching out is always good, i recently picked up my first Piranha knife (a predator) and i love it! I've been wanting to try out a ZT for a while now, but the 0560s are always out of stock.
 
Thanks for all the great responses! Im going to evaluate my financial situation and pick one out. Right now its leaning toward the 710 or the 0550. I also wanna take a look at the adamas.
 
I buy mostly Spydercos as well, mainly because it's the only brand that shops around here stock. So whenever I order something on-line I try to get something from another manufacturer. There are loads of brands out there that you'll enjoy.

-Kershaw has some great knives, you can get something with a composite blade or assisted opening, which Spyderco doesn't offer. Take a look at the Junkyard Dog or Blur (the S30V version is awesome).

-Since you like beefy knives, Cold Steel might have something for you. Anything with a Tri-Ad lock is going to be ridiculously strong and different from any of your Spydies. American Lawman, Voyagers, Recon 1, etc. are all pretty good knives.

-Emerson is also a nice change of pace from Spyderco. I'm not a fan of their chisel ground models, but I like the V ground ones.

-Anything from Benchmade. My favourite are the 940 and Dejavoo, but the one I use the most is probably my 550 Griptilian.
 
I like all of those suggestions. I'm basically Spyderco PM2, but the BM710 is the most popular knife from their company. I really enjoy my Emerson CQC-7; would choose my ZT0550 for really heavy-duty work, and I'm carrying my Umnumzaan at the moment. I just got a DPx HEST 2.0, which has a sticky lock, but I'm going to give it a chance to get better before I dump it. Sure, give others a try; it's fun and instructive, and will perhaps finally get you where you wanna go.
 
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