Dumb question about Spyderco and ZDP 189 steel?

H

HotRodColt

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Feb 28, 2007
Messages
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I am looking for a Spyderco Endura w/ ZDP 189 steel and Stainless handles. I have only been able to find them with the synthetic handles! wtf? Did they make them with stainless handles? I found a ZDP 189 Endura part serrated on Ebay, but it doesn't have stainless handles. So I guess my last question is, are the handles swappable? I wouldn't mind and Endura in VG 10 and ZDP 189....

Is the ZDP 189 worth it? I heard it was super steel...
 
ZDP Enduras are only available with Fiber Reinforced Nylon (FRN) handles, thusfar. FRN handles are "swappable" with FRN handles provided a basic amount of mechanical skill and patience on the part of the operator. SS handles are pinned, and thus rather permanent.

Worth is difficult to classify without parameters. What would make it worth it to buy for you? Ease of sharpening, Durability, Toughness, Stain/Rust resistance are just some of the parameters between steels. Usually there is a trade off i.e. if the edge is durable, it may be difficult to sharpen, etc.
 
HotRodColt said:
I am looking for a Spyderco Endura w/ ZDP 189 steel and Stainless handles. I have only been able to find them with the synthetic handles! wtf? Did they make them with stainless handles? I found a ZDP 189 Endura part serrated on Ebay, but it doesn't have stainless handles. So I guess my last question is, are the handles swappable? I wouldn't mind and Endura in VG 10 and ZDP 189....

Is the ZDP 189 worth it? I heard it was super steel...
Click to expand...

There isn't SS ZDP Endura and according to Sal there is not going to be :(
 
VG-10 is also a great steel, so if you need stainless handles, save a few bucks and get the knife guaranteed to make you happy instead of spending $30 or more extra on a risk.

If you're stilling dying to know the awesomeness of ZDP-189, it might be a consolation that the Endura 4's steel-lined FRN scales feel much more solid than the previous versions.
 
ehh... Tough decision...

Maybe I'll just get both!

Then again I really want a SERE 2000, which equals two spydercos.
 
just picked up a caly 3 with carbon scales and zdp 189.. awesome. why do you need a stainless handle?
 
I was thinking along similar lines. After getting my Delica 4 SS, I very much like the heft, feel, and look of SS over other materials I've held so far (Boker Trance and BM miniG 556), so I'm pretty well sold on SS now. I'm not familiar enough with some of the other handle materials (what the heck is this G10 stuff?) to know if anything else out there has that weight and feel yet. I'd like try some knives with different steels, but I'm finding myself looking at the handle options and if it isn't SS, I'm hesitant.
 
Oddly enough, I have the exact opposite tastes. I own at least a dozen good steel handle knives, and I find that I never carry any of them. I don't like the thermal conductivity of metal handles, they almost always feel too hot or too cold when working outdoors. I do like G-10, which is a fiberglass reinforced resin. It doesn't have the weight of steel, but it is plenty strong for a knife handle, is usually textured to give a better grip, is less slippery when wet, and has a much lower thermal conductivity.
 
ZDP-189 Enduras are awesome I have not found a folding knife that has impressed me more. It is an amazing steel. I like ZDP much better than S30V,VG-10, 1095,AUS-8, or D2.
 
HotRodColt said:
I am looking for a Spyderco Endura w/ ZDP 189 steel and Stainless handles. I have only been able to find them with the synthetic handles! wtf? Did they make them with stainless handles? I found a ZDP 189 Endura part serrated on Ebay, but it doesn't have stainless handles. So I guess my last question is, are the handles swappable? I wouldn't mind and Endura in VG 10 and ZDP 189....

Is the ZDP 189 worth it? I heard it was super steel...
Click to expand...

i looked and looked and looked for the same thing you cant find it right

vg 10 is good on the endura ss i have that fully serated i like it

three nice zdp blade knives i have spyderco calypso jr is my favorite every day user. kershaw leek titanium with zdp and a mini cyclone with zdp which is very nice but almost too nice to use!

i really sugest a calypso jr it is cheaper for zdp blade and is just a great knife it is also a lock back which the other two knives i listed are not they are liner lock and auto open the cyclone you can switch on and off though the calypso is way smooth to open and just my favorite knife i have three!

one thing about zdp 189 it is really brittle and it can snap or shatter if it is hit really hard but it is sharp and holds a nice edge.

look for some cpm 3 v if you want super steel$$$$$ though!
 
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