Deciding on a dagger/shank

A

almasy87

Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Messages
72
First, I'll just say that I'm well aware of the blade laws in my area, so this would mostly be to add to my collection, but I am still interested in something that would be usable if I was in an area where it was legal to carry (I research local laws when/if I travel to make sure what I'm carrying is legal).

Anyway, I'm trying to decide between these three:

Cold Steel Urban Dart

Pros:

-Looks wicked/unique
-Would make a great shank (from what I've heard)
-Looks easily concealable if I found myself in an area where it would be legal to carry

Cons:

-$80-$90 is a bit pricey for a chunk of AUS-8A
-Probably not very good with slash attacks
-Probably a bit awkward to used due to its shape


Cold Steel Counter Tac II

Pros:

-Around $40, cheapest of the three
-Very sharp tip and edges
-Has a guard which would make thrusting safer than with the Urban Dart

Cons:

-Has a chisel grind
-Slashing would be a bit harder due to the grind
-Least appealing (aesthetically) to me


Zero Tolerance 0150

Pros:

-It's a ZT - I know it would be well made, sharp, and have a great warranty
-S30V
-Symmetrical grind should make it great at slashing as well as piercing

Cons:

-$120 at most places
-Sheath is set up for right-hand carry (I'm a lefty), but from pictures I think I could use it without much hassle (though the CS sheaths are still more lefty-friendly)
-Likely has the weakest tip of the three



Note that I'm staying away from neck knives because I find them uncomfortable.

So among those three, which would you suggest?
 
It's a dagger (regarding the 0150). It's meant for piercing and slashes, not to be used as a prybar. Just exactly how strong do you need the tip to be for such a task? I would hardly list the tip as a con because you (mis)construe it as weak.

Go with the 0150. It's the most useful of the bunch.
 
harkamus said:
It's a dagger (regarding the 0150). It's meant for piercing and slashes, not to be used as a prybar. Just exactly how strong do you need the tip to be for such a task? I would hardly list the tip as a con because you (mis)construe it as weak.

Go with the 0150. It's the most useful of the bunch.
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I wasn't necessarily saying that it has a weak tip (being a ZT and all), just that it's probably the weakest of the three due to the grinds. I've had to return a couple of knives recently due to tip issues (a CS push dagger arrived with a blunt tip and a Spyderco Street Beat arrived with a broken tip), so I am a bit wary of weaker looking tips. Again, I'm not sure if this would be true since ZT knives are known for being tough, but it still made me hesitate (I know I've heard of other dagger designs (especially Fairbairn-Sykes) having issues with tips breaking).


tabeeb762 said:
Boker Applegate-Fairbairn
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I'm interesting in something a bit smaller, hence the three I listed. I'm sure I'll add one to my collection in time, but it just doesn't appeal to me very much right now.
 
They have some very interesting knives and might give you another option, instead of a dagger. And their price point is very low.
 
almasy87 said:
I'm interesting in something a bit smaller, hence the three I listed. I'm sure I'll add one to my collection in time, but it just doesn't appeal to me very much right now.
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They make a short one with a 4.5" blade.
Some other good options in this size are the SOG Pentagon/Mini-Pentagon, AG Russell Sting, Gerber Guardian, Kershaw Boot knife, and FOX Attack dagger
 
I'm a bit of a dagger fan myself, and of those three I like the ZT 0150 and will probably buy one eventually. So it gets my vote of the three listed.

Kevin
 
almasy87 said:
I'm interesting in something a bit smaller, hence the three I listed. I'm sure I'll add one to my collection in time, but it just doesn't appeal to me very much right now.
Click to expand...
Are you aware that Boker makes the A-F in two different sizes? The Boker Applegate Fairbairn Combat has a 6.0-inch blade and the Boker Applegate Fairbairn Boot has a 4.8-inch blade. ;)
 
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