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EDC military service knife. Adamas vs 300
- Thread starter Doogoon
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Because some of us have been there and done that. If he had the field experience to know what he would need he wouldn’t be asking here on a forum. Why the posts on fixed blades? Because when you’re down range you don’t need the hassle of maintaining a folder for tough work in desert conditions. Folders are great. I carry one daily, but if I was going back into harms way I wouldn’t want a folder. They make an Adamas fixed blade, if he is dead set on the Adamas I would go with that.
vwb563
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That always happens...
Yep! Every darn time! A person could write a post asking which folder to get and say "absolutely no fixed blades! I hate fixed blades!" But there would always be the "get a fixed blade" posts.
I've been told we get a small fixed blade by gerber that isn't all that great..... That's why I'm asking about a folder.
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Been where and done what, this guy makes zero mention of MOS or duty station. And perhaps he has the experience to know that he wants a folder and is asking which one. His experience led to not listing a fixed blade in this thread. I did not had an issue with the Afghan moon dust, but I also worked at division and did FP duties.
Adamas
Axis lock
No recurve
Manual
Deep carry clip
ZT 0300
Assisted (pro and con)
Frame lock
Standard Kershaw/ZT clip
Harder to sharpen due to recurve
More expensive
The steels are about the same, though I've heard D2 can have more of a learning curve when sharpening.
Axis lock
No recurve
Manual
Deep carry clip
ZT 0300
Assisted (pro and con)
Frame lock
Standard Kershaw/ZT clip
Harder to sharpen due to recurve
More expensive
The steels are about the same, though I've heard D2 can have more of a learning curve when sharpening.
Well type out your pro's and con's for each, it might help ya decide for yourself.
Have you consider the 0200
-sh00ter
Well type out your pro's and con's for each, it might help ya decide for yourself.
Have you consider the 0200
-sh00ter
Alright.
0300: Pros- easier to use with gloves, (the assisted and frame lock are without a doubt easier to use with gloves than the axis lock and manual opening- which could end up being a big deal here in Canada) higher quality build, (at least I've heard) appears to have more maintenance ability.
Cons- Weaker lock, (from what I understand) recurve.
Adamas: Pros- axis lock, (which is much stronger as I understand) no recurve, lighter, thinner.
Cons- the gloves thing, less maintenance ability,
As for other strengths (blade strength, handle strength, pin strength, blade retention) I have no idea about.
I wouldn't worry about lock strength, both are strong enough for anything you're going to be doing with a folder. Ease of use while wearing gloves is a big plus in my book and the flipper definitely wins there. Sounds like you're already leaning toward a 0300.
Only fault I can find in the 0300 for a deployment knife is if the torsion bar fails there's no detent to hold the blade shut, it's unlikely to happen but I've had one break before so it can happen (maybe get an extra from ZT before deploying?). One of the reasons I mentioned the 0200 is there's really nothing to fail on it being a manual flipper. Now, the baby brother to the 0300, the 0350, does have a detent, and if the bar broke it would continue to work as a manual flipper opener. The liner lock on ZT's are stout/solid and also fairly easy to manipulate with glove:thumbup:
Hope this help some, just giving ya some more food for thought.
-sh00ter
Thanks shooter! I hope someone can come and try and sell me on the Adamas 
I'm actually not leaning in any direction, which is odd because usually I make a thread like this to see if I should really doubt myself or not.... However in this case I really can't decide with route to take.... I could just get both and handle them each for a while... but I would need $500.....
I'm actually not leaning in any direction, which is odd because usually I make a thread like this to see if I should really doubt myself or not.... However in this case I really can't decide with route to take.... I could just get both and handle them each for a while... but I would need $500.....- Joined
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ZT all day long
vwb563
Gold Member
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Same thing can happen with the Adamas. Occasionally you hear of the Omega springs breaking in the Axis locks. I'd say the are about equally pitted against each other. I do agree about the ZT 0200. There's really nothing to go wrong with it. No springs to break.
Oh I know, I've seen omega spring fail as well, on 2 different knives. Hence my point in throwing out the 0200 as an option along with the 0350 (that will continue to operate should the torsion bar fail). The last place you want to worry about getting parts or warranty work is on a deployment.
-sh00ter
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Then go with the Adamas. It's almost $100 cheaper.
Adamas.
I didn't like the 0300 for several reasons: It carried like a brick, the assisted opening was weak and didn't always fire with authority, the recurve blade is miserable to sharpen, and the price is up there.
I would go with the Adamas and get more bang for your buck.
Plus, I'm a sucker for the axis-lock and D2 steel.
However, you really can't go wrong with either because ZT is an amazing company with great products, but my preferences favor the Adamas.
I didn't like the 0300 for several reasons: It carried like a brick, the assisted opening was weak and didn't always fire with authority, the recurve blade is miserable to sharpen, and the price is up there.
I would go with the Adamas and get more bang for your buck.
Plus, I'm a sucker for the axis-lock and D2 steel.
However, you really can't go wrong with either because ZT is an amazing company with great products, but my preferences favor the Adamas.
How differently do they cut? Which one is better at slicing and stabbing? Which one has a better hold on the handle? Which one did you feel would pry and hold true better?
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90% of my time was sitting in a stuffy up-armor Humvee. Tasks I needed a knife for? Opening MREs, cutting boxes that gear came in, picking crap out from under my finger nails and other menial tasks. Of all the knives I had in my collection I took my Strider. I can’t even remember the model name but it had a 3.75” blade and looked like a fixed version of the SNG. It was more than enough for any task. If you were lucky enough that your folder didn’t fall victim to the crap in the environment then you are lucky. I’m not going to debate on which of the two knives he asked about is a better choice. I’m stating what my experiences over there showed me about what worked well. Maybe we should be asking him what his job over there will be. The Adamas fixed blade or the ESEE Izula II is what I would get. I stand behind that. He likes the Adamas so it’s an obvious choice. The ESEE is awesome and a great price so another good choice for a hard use, compact blade. Let’s find out what the OP will be doing for a job first.
If you want to know what my MOS and mission was over there then PM me I’m not going to bump chests on an on-line forum. I just want to help the OP.
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