These 4 knives in the picture cost me less than $30 -
that's for all 4 shipped - and one came all the way from China.
Maybe this could be titled: trying to make silk purses -
but perhaps these aren't quite the sow's ears one might think......
By its very nature this review will be incomplete -
not just because I am dealing with 4 knives -
but there may be questions that I haven't thought of addressing -
yet.
Sizes:
before shipping these were under $6 a piece -
so as anyone would figure those cannot possibly be real mother of pearl...
and the other probably would not fool anyone to thinking it's abalone shell.
But with the rainbow anodized titanium oxide -
they are attractive little knives.
Brand Tac-Force - not sure if they are affiliated (or not) with Tac-Force the tactical equipment company.
Model TF660 - (WP for white pearl and AB for abalone)
"USA Design - handmade in China" is the claim
440 stainless steel (which probably is 440A - but as I said elsewhere I like 440A for general purpose using knives.)
They are "Speedster" models -
ie: spring assisted openers - and they open very quickly and positively.
The TF660 is a framelock -
both my samples lock-up very well.
Moving right along....
This is the TF573C - "Executive" with mirror polished blade and handle -
same 440 blade steel, and same design claim as above.
This is another "Speedstar" model - again quick and positive spring assisted opening
Again a framelock -
again locks up well.
These look nice and the actions are nice - the only aspect that let them down were the sharpness - just so-so -
barely cut paper - and under the microscope the edges were not first rate:
TF660AB (rainbow) -
TF660WP
Theses are not clean edges - they will cut but not that well...
Of course I took them to the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener - Ken Onion Edition (link to review)
Now look at them -
TF660AB
TF660WP
Yes, they are now very sharp and will cut through well.
Last, but not least...
This is called a "FZT" -
and despite the marking on the blade - I don't think I was fooled even for an instant into thinking it was a "Zero Tolerance" - or even knock off -
the knife is medium/small - the handle is carved Zytel - and it's a liner-lock - but I like the looks.
The listing on the well known auction site did not specify the steel other than stainless - I merely liked the looks and won it on a bid at $8.50 shipped from Guang Dong, China
(it's the neighboring province to Hong Kong - so my tracking number was HK)
It's a flipper and opens well even though it may seem slow compared to the IKBS ball bearing flippers from CRKT - but the opening is positive and reliable
liner locks up well -
although this is one of the softest/gentlest liners I have encountered so the unlocking is very easy and smooth.
Yes, I suspected that this might be a sub-par liner-lock because of the "softness" - but the knife passes the spine whack test fine - I have also tried various ways to try to make the lock fail -
it does not.
Now in retrospect if they can manage to make a liner that is that gentle and easy to unlock - but does not fail - why can't everyone else? -
I have some liner-locks that seem to bite into the blade heel - and I wear a dent and even a notch in my thumb-nail closing those.....
Provided this liner-lock does not fail - this is the "best" liner-lock I have encountered
and on a $8.50 knife!!!
Edge and sharpness?
I was shocked by the edge -
FZT original edge -
Visually under the microscope the edge seems to be rough......
BUT -surprise #2! -
this was one of the SHARPEST blades straight out of the box -
it seem to bite into every and anything....
Most of that wide bevel we see is the transition bevel to the face
and the actual cutting edge is only a micro-bevel -
That transition bevel is very acute -
less than 20deg/side -
how do I know this?
I still took the blade to my Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener - Ken Onion Edition
the native angle of the belt is 17.5deg to the vertical and allowing for the belt flex and convex grind -
holding the blade vertically would give approx 20 deg/side at the very edge -
The edge after sharpening using usb microscope at approx ~110x
See that?
The transition bevel to the face is hardly touched - so it has to be more acute ie: less than 20 deg/side
and the only polishing was to the micro bevel edge....
The blade remains astonishingly sharp after the sharpening -
so I did not mess it up
The sharpness and cutting ability is because that acute transition bevel makes the blade very thin just behind the edge -
again another lesson to be learned from a cheap knife.
That's enough for now.....
--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent?showall=true
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