Decision time...ZT0561 - Spyderco Southard - Böker Minos - Lionsteel SR1 G

[seedubs1]

Are you talking about the Ti Lionsteel sr1, or the Aluminum one? The Ti ones are about $400, and with that kind of money, you open up a lot more options. It's also out of the price range of the Southard and 0561...

If you're thinking about the Aluminum sr1, I'd consider saving up the extra for the Ti version. What makes that knife so cool is that the handle is machined from a single giant piece of Ti. Doing the same thing with a block of Aluminum makes the knife lose it's appeal to me.

 

[bld522]

Question for you Southard owners, do you also own an Endura? I've EDC-ed an Endura for almost 2 years, if it's not too much trouble could anyone post a pic of them side by side for size/heft reference?

The Endura is a larger knife overall. I don't have a side by side pic, but here are the specs:

Endura:

length overall 8.75" (222 mm)
blade length 3.75" (96 mm)
blade steel VG-10
length closed 5" (127 mm)
cutting edge 3.438" (88 mm)
weight 3.6 oz. (103 g)
blade thickness .125" (3 mm)
handle material FRN

Southard:

length overall 7.96" (202 mm)
blade length 3.46" (88 mm)
blade steel CTS 204P
length closed 4.50" (114 mm)
cutting edge 3.46" (88 mm)
weight 4.1 oz (11 g)
blade thickness 0.157" (4 mm)
handle material G-10 / Titanium

PS: Check out the cutting edge on these two knives. You'll notice that the Southard packs a whole lot of edge into a compact knife. As far as I'm concerned, that's one of the Southard's most endearing qualities.

 

[Splitt65]

It would probably look something like this:

"Holy Hannah," he said, his chin covered in drool!

 

[Vegas Blade]

I personally own a Southard and a ZT 561. I find them to be very different knives. The Southard is clearly in Mid Tech territory. The fit and finish is fantastic. The size of the blade relative to the overall knife size is fantastic. I don't really look at the Southard as a "Hard Use" folder. If there is such a thing. I know that sounds silly, I'm just using the term to give you a sense of the knife. I think it is an amazing knife, but really more of a "Gentleman's Folder".

The ZT 56X series are big, beefy, brawlers. They are not small knives. The ZT 56X's are squarely in the XM24 size range. I think the ZT is a great knife. Strong enough to do about anything, but still a good slicer. In jeans, the ZT would be fine. In slacks or shorts, too heavy.

I like them both quite a bit, just very different knives.

Just my opinion.

 

[Poez]

Southard has got narrower blade, which is more practical from my personal point of view: I have got tired of all these super wide beefy designs. But I would not buy it for the same thing, for the broken blade. I realize that was probably a unique case with HT and Spyderco did everything to make it right, but I do not trust the design and I will simply not have peace of mind with this one.

 

[NetshadeX]

I think the ZT is a great knife. Strong enough to do about anything

I noticed the 0560 weighs ever so slightly less than the 0550 meaning you get a much larger knife for roughly the same weight, does it retain that tank like feel of the 0550 regardless?

 

[Vegas Blade]

I have never handled a 550. I only own the 561. I can't speak of the other. I do know the 561 is a tank though.

 

[RamZar]

I'm wasting my breath but the Boker Minos is one awesome blade. The WOW factor when you hold it is off the hook. The others look kinda plain in comparison - so for that New Knife rush - get the Boker.

Eric

You're not wasting your breath and the Boker Minos is just amazing. For a 3.1" blade you'd be hard-pressed to find anything tougher. It has the looks too. The fit and finish is amazing at almost custom level.

 

[bld522]

If there's a knife on the horizon that would give me pause, it would be the 0562 and particularly the 0562CF. If weight isn't an issue, they have the potential to become category killers. I'll probably stick with the Southard because it packs so much knife into such a lightweight package. But I will be sorely tempted to get an 0562CF and squirrel it away even though I know I'll never carry it.

 

[SteelStickler]

Southard felt too small in my hands. Sold it.
ZT0561 was a beast in my pocket and the edge was just too thick for real slicey chores. Sold it.
Never held or seen the other two, but the Boker strikes me as having the thumb stud too far forward in a place it might actually interfere with cutting.
Lionsteel I've heard gets annoying with accidental engagement of the rotary lock.

That said, southard has the best steel in the most EDC friendly package? Don't know man it all comes down to preference.

 

[RamZar]

If there's a knife on the horizon that would give me pause, it would be the 0562 and particularly the 0562CF. If weight isn't an issue, they have the potential to become category killers. I'll probably stick with the Southard because it packs so much knife into such a lightweight package. But I will be sorely tempted to get an 0562CF and squirrel it away even though I know I'll never carry it.

To me the 0562CF (M390) should beat out Southard (CTS-204P). They're similarly priced with a street price of $240 but 0562CF gives you the CF scale which would cost you about $100 for the Southard. Southard looks to be narrower and lighter by over an ounce. The 0562CF also has the steel lockbar insert which the Southard does not. I think ZT will make a killing with the 0562CF.

 

[RamZar]

Never held or seen the other two, but the Boker strikes me as having the thumb stud too far forward in a place it might actually interfere with cutting.
Lionsteel I've heard gets annoying with accidental engagement of the rotary lock.

Thumb stud not an issue in cutting on the Minos. Sure it's a small blade but you have plenty to cut.

You can always screw down the RotoBlock real tight on the LionSteel.

 

[bld522]

To me the 0562CF (M390) should beat out Southard (CTS-204P). They're similarly priced with a street price of $240 but 0562CF gives you the CF scale which would cost you about $100 for the Southard. Southard looks to be narrower and lighter by over an ounce. The 0562CF also has the steel lockbar insert which the Southard does not. I think ZT will make a killing with the 0562CF.

Yep. The biggest issue for me is the 0562CF's 1.3 oz weight increase over the Southard. Even if I try to convince myself otherwise, I know I'm not going to carry a knife that weighs more than 4.5 ounces. Never have, never will. And to underscore your feeling about ZT making a killing with the 0562CF, I'll go so far as to say that if it doesn't crush 3.5" XM-18 prices on the secondary market, it's because people don't think!

 

[SteelStickler]

Thumb stud not an issue in cutting on the Minos. Sure it's a small blade but you have plenty to cut.

You can always screw down the RotoBlock real tight on the LionSteel.

Cool, fair enough.

I'm on the pre-order for the 0562cf so what everyone's been saying resonates with me obviously.

 

[No Agenda]

I've never been huge into Spydercos but man am I lusting after that blacked out Southard!

 

[evilgreg]

Yep. The biggest issue for me is the 0562CF's 1.3 oz weight increase over the Southard. Even if I try to convince myself otherwise, I know I'm not going to carry a knife that weighs more than 4.5 ounces. Never have, never will.

I'm with you on this. I like heavier knives, and stupidly keep buying them, but on an everyday basis they don't get carried. I love my 0560 and 0801, but they're too heavy and honestly most ZT knives are sub-optimal cutting tools anyway. The only ZT knife I own that performs well as a cutting tool is the one that gets pocket time, the lightweight, thinner-bladed 0770cf.

And to underscore your feeling about ZT making a killing with the 0562CF, I'll go so far as to say that if it doesn't crush 3.5" XM-18 prices on the secondary market, it's because people don't think!

+1 to this. After handling half a dozen XMs, I don't see what had people nuts enough to be paying $700-$1000 for them. With ZT cranking out better-flipping, solid Hinderer collabs for much less, I have to imagine that whatever mania was driving the Hinderer pricing will have to fall apart a bit.

 

[RamZar]

Yep. The biggest issue for me is the 0562CF's 1.3 oz weight increase over the Southard. Even if I try to convince myself otherwise, I know I'm not going to carry a knife that weighs more than 4.5 ounces. Never have, never will. And to underscore your feeling about ZT making a killing with the 0562CF, I'll go so far as to say that if it doesn't crush 3.5" XM-18 prices on the secondary market, it's because people don't think!

The weight differential between the Southard and 0562CF becomes 1.5 ounces if you get a CF scale for your Southard like I did. That's substantial.

Regardless, the ZT 0562CF at a street price of $240 will sell like crazy! There's no reason to get a XM-18 3.5". With ZT you get much better flipper action with KVT, better steel and premium scale. Of course, a similar configuration with XM-18 would cost at least twice as much for military/LEO/first responders and for civilians at least three times as much!

 

[seedubs1]

Yep. The biggest issue for me is the 0562CF's 1.3 oz weight increase over the Southard. Even if I try to convince myself otherwise, I know I'm not going to carry a knife that weighs more than 4.5 ounces. Never have, never will.

I'm 100% the opposite. I conceal carry a pistol (legally) everywhere I go. The gun is the main amount of weight on me. I hardly notice a knife whether it be 2 oz or 10 oz, and I typically stuff the larger ones in my pocket as I'm leaving the house as they're my favorite.

The only time I grab a small knife for EDC is on my way to work since my work doesn't allow more than a 3" blade.

 

[bld522]

Regardless, the ZT 0562CF at a street price of $240 will sell like crazy! There's no reason to get a XM-18 3.5". With ZT you get much better flipper action with KVT, better steel and premium scale. Of course, a similar configuration with XM-18 would cost at least twice as much for military/LEO/first responders and for civilians at least three times as much!

There's certainly no logical reason to get an XM-18. But I suspect 3.5" XM-18 sales will continue on the secondary market albeit at much more reasonable prices.

If I owned a 3.5" XM-18, here's what I would do. I'd sell it BEFORE the 0562CF is released. Then I'd buy an 0562CF and pocket the difference. Otherwise I might get stuck owning a knife that isn't worth anywhere near what I paid for it.

 

[kye4some]

The Southard is a close second the only thing bothering me is that pocketclip and the fact that I've seen 1 or 2 online complaints about the tang actually breaking around the gap for the internal stoppin.


Thanks for your time guys!

I also did not like the clip on the Southard. I picked up a STR lowrider clip, made a big difference.

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I really like the ZT560 BW (it will be my next knife)