EDC folder?

clampdaddy

clampdaddy

Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Messages
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For the last 6 or so years my everyday carry knife has been a Byrd Cara Cara G10 that I zip tie waved. I love the feel and heft of it but it seems like it used to hold an edge better. I use my knife alot at work and for quite a while now, I have to touch it up every couple days to keep it nice and sharp. Is the steel used in the endura any better? Any suggestions for any other wave opening knives that sell for $100 or less?
 
I think you'll find an Endura to be an improvement over your Cara Cara, if edge holding is what your looking for then find one of the ZDP 189 or Super Blue versions.
 
clampdaddy said:
For the last 6 or so years my everyday carry knife has been a Byrd Cara Cara G10 that I zip tie waved. I love the feel and heft of it but it seems like it used to hold an edge better. I use my knife alot at work and for quite a while now, I have to touch it up every couple days to keep it nice and sharp. Is the steel used in the endura any better? Any suggestions for any other wave opening knives that sell for $100 or less?
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Kershaw CQC-6K when it comes out this summer :) Hopefully very soon.

kershaw-emerson-black-satin-plain-cqc-6k-6034-large.jpg
 
Anybody know if an endura blade will fit in the handle of my cara cara? The spyderco knife feels really light a plasticy to me. I really like how stout the Byrd feels.
 
Can't help you there, but I have been carrying an Endura for over a decade. It feels light, but I have never had any problems with it at all. If I know I'm going somewhere where heavier use is likely, like camping or hiking, I'll carry something stouter, but for "normal" use the Endura has been fine.
 
Ace Krampus said:
A Caly 3.5 seems like a natural progression. Similar blade size, a choil, G10.
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Thanks. That knife does indeed look very similar to my current edc. Other than the grind, the only real difference I see is the shape of the thumb hole and the spine. The zip tie wave trick has been working fine for years so I think ill get the Caly and do the same thing to it.
 
VG-10 is a big improvement in edge-holding over the 8CR, IMO. As a general rule, the better edge geometry is also going to yield improvements in edge retention.

The Waved Delica and Endura are really nice knives. The grind they use is designed for strength and performance, and it helps the knife maximize the steel to give you the best possible performance.

Depending on your usage, you may also find the SuperBlue, CPM-S110V, CPM-M4, M390, and ZDP-189 steels to be useful. Spyderco is bringing these steels to good knives under $100, although you would have to use the zip tie wave on these. Based on your description, I think a Waved Endura or Delica is going to be the best for pricing and usage. You may want to reprofile the edge so that it is best-matched with your usage.
 
I have to agree with the others in saying the waved Endura or Delica may be your best bet for what you want.

Though if you haven't already why don't you reprofile your current knife and see how a more acute angle works for you since you seem attached to it. You could also make or build a strop to quickly bring back the sharpness of the knife in no time instead of taking it to a stone. Head over to the maintenance sub-forum they help you out in both the reprofiling and stropping if your not familiar with it.

Out of curiosity though what are you using your knife for? How much are you using it? What is your definition of sharp for this knife (will it slice phone book paper, etc)? And what is your definition of dull for it when you need to touch it up? How long till the knife gets dull?

Just want to establish what your using the knife for as to what is causing it to dull and if the blade steel isn't up to the job at hand. Or if there is another problem like a wire edge when your sharpening in which case we just need to fix that and your on your way.
 
Have you considered the Manix2 G10? Very stout knife and great steel. Best value at around $100 IMO.
 
I will second the reco on the Caly 3" or 3.5". The basic steel is VG-10; a decent steel.
Next "up" is ZDP-189, a special Japanese steel with great edge-holding properties and very sharp. Carbon steel; keep it dry or dry it after use.
And finally, if you look around, there are Calys in 3" or 3.5" with SuperBlue steel at a premium... A carbon steel; it will patina without care, but folks love the look.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I will second the reco on the Caly 3" or 3.5". The basic steel is VG-10; a decent steel.
Next "up" is ZDP-189, a special Japanese steel with great edge-holding properties and very sharp. Carbon steel; keep it dry or dry it after use.
And finally, if you look around, there are Calys in 3" or 3.5" with SuperBlue steel at a premium... A carbon steel; it will patina without care, but folks love the look.
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I third this suggestion. Just a totally minor point, ZDP-189 IS, technically, stainless.
 
Currently I'm using the Cold Steel American Lawman, and the Kershaw Black Colt II. The Black Colt II rides in my LFP and I use it for more delicate work, my lawman I use for all other cutting tasks.

Im probably never going to get a ZT, Bench made or Emerson because I just can't justify spending that kind of money on knives. They are cool though :thumbup:
 
TrueBlade1 said:
Currently I'm using the Cold Steel American Lawman, and the Kershaw Black Colt II. The Black Colt II rides in my LFP and I use it for more delicate work, my lawman I use for all other cutting tasks.

Im probably never going to get a ZT, Bench made or Emerson because I just can't justify spending that kind of money on knives. They are cool though :thumbup:
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I think if you got one you would probably not regret it. The ZT0566 is a very affordable folder, and it's built in a fashion in which a user could keep it for decades and use it hard every day. The steel on the ZT0566 is ELMAX, which is a serious jump in performance. Since you have to sharpen your current knife every day, I think you would find something in a steel like ELMAX to be a much better fit. In perspective, $110 for a ZT0566 is a cost-efficient expenditure if it lasts you 10 years! :)
 
clampdaddy said:
For the last 6 or so years my everyday carry knife has been a Byrd Cara Cara G10 that I zip tie waved. I love the feel and heft of it but it seems like it used to hold an edge better. I use my knife alot at work and for quite a while now, I have to touch it up every couple days to keep it nice and sharp. Is the steel used in the endura any better? Any suggestions for any other wave opening knives that sell for $100 or less?
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Yes, the VG-10 used in waved Enduras is superior to the steel in your Byrd. As for the Byrd holding its edge worse than before, I would bet that this is a sharpening issue, not a steel issue. How do you sharpen the Cara Cara?
 
pnsxyr said:
I think if you got one you would probably not regret it. The ZT0566 is a very affordable folder, and it's built in a fashion in which a user could keep it for decades and use it hard every day. The steel on the ZT0566 is ELMAX, which is a serious jump in performance. Since you have to sharpen your current knife every day, I think you would find something in a steel like ELMAX to be a much better fit. In perspective, $110 for a ZT0566 is a cost-efficient expenditure if it lasts you 10 years! :)
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To be totally fair, if you really don't want to sharpen and have $110 to spend, Manix 2 Lightweight S110V.
 
TrueBlade1 said:
…Im probably never going to get a ZT, Bench made or Emerson because I just can't justify spending that kind of money on knives. They are cool though :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I said that once too. I now have two ZTs and a third on the way. Its a sickness.
 
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