First higher end knife?

Any smaller dealers that sell Spyderco at reasonable prices? Kinda like Kershawguy does, I like to support the smaller businesses when I can.
 
If you look to the used market, either here or on eBay, you might find your $ go a bit further. My own experience would suggest that with most offerings from Spyderco or Zero Tolerance, you really can't go wrong...just pick the one that suits your specific needs and preferences best. My favorites may not be yours, so pick and choose yourself. Pay attention to the blade steel as you'll also have to maintain it. Some are more of a challenge to sharpen than others - plenty in these forums about that. A dull knife is a dangerous knife.
 
Liner or framelock? I think in your new price range you should take advantage of some of the great locks available. axis, ball bearing, compression locks all allow for very smooth operation and d/a switchblade like action.

Any benchmade in your range or the spyderco manix or paramilitary are all fantastic.

Not to tell you what you want, but just making sure you're aware of some new options in your price range;)
 
These are all great suggestions. With ones mentioned like some of the spydercos, zts, etc.. You can really go wrong with any of them. It comes down to preference like the materials, the looks, lock type, size, and perhaps the use you will be using it for. Goodluck!
 
CryoGuy5272 said:
Any smaller dealers that sell Spyderco at reasonable prices? Kinda like Kershawguy does, I like to support the smaller businesses when I can.
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Whitty (Scott) at usamadeblade.com
He is a registered dealer here at BFC, so we are allowed to recommend him, and I DO recommend him. There is a list of BFC supporters, and several are smallish dealers. What they carry varies.
 
BenchCo Spydermade said:
Liner or framelock? I think in your new price range you should take advantage of some of the great locks available. axis, ball bearing, compression locks all allow for very smooth operation and d/a switchblade like action.

Any benchmade in your range or the spyderco manix or paramilitary are all fantastic.

Not to tell you what you want, but just making sure you're aware of some new options in your price range;)
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The reason I say frame or liner lock is its something I'm already familiar with. Since its my first dive into this price range I wanna take as many of the variables out as I can to ensure I'm happy with the end results. Not really anywhere near me to handle any of these knives so I will be buying from suggestions of others.
 
The Gayle Bradley is a great knife. I'm not sure I'd want to carry it every day. It's pretty heavy and takes up a lot of room in the pocket. I'd be more inclined to go with the ZT 0770CF if I was going to commit to carrying one knife every day.
 
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I normally carry a Kershaw Cryo 2 which is pushing 6 ounces. Weight isn't so much a huge issue. The thickness tends to be my biggest issue. I have a few knives that are lighter but I don't carry them because they aren't comfortable and don't sit well in my back pocket
 
After much thought I am still torn between the Zt0770 and the Gayle Bradley. But I am leaning toward the GB. I can't really afford the 0770cf and its so much more aesthetically pleasing than the standard. And the Gayle Bradley is absolutely a gorgeous blade, to me nothing plain about it like previously mentioned.
 
I've had both the Gayle Bradley (actually 2) & ZT0770. I'm a Spyderco Fanboy, my collection is 90% Spyderco. Having said that the Gayle Bradley has been sold and the 0770CF is in my pocket now! It's actually the only ZT I can stand and it's awesome! Yes you'll pay more for the CF version but you also get better steel. If you watch for them they come up on the exchange for very good prices!
I found the GB to be too large and heavy for my Edc, also wasn't that comfortable in my hand. I also found myself constantly oiling the M4 blade so it wouldn't form corrosion! Why Spyderco didn't mill a small relief in the liners and scale to aid in easier access to the liner lock is beyond me!
 
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Rare blade said:
Paramilitary 2
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I actually don't like the blade shape of the PM2 I like a bit more beefyness toward the tip of the knife. The only knife I have with a narrow tip like that is a Leek and it sees limited carry since I don't see it surviving any hard uses like my others would
 
I'll echo one of the earlier suggestions of a ZT 0566 or 0770.

If you like the Cryo2, the 0566 is shares many similarities (both Hinderer designs, so that may have something to do with it). It has as G10 front scale, which gives you the grippiness you mentioned wasn't ideal on the Cryo. The 0566 has a high flat grind instead of the hollow grind on the Cryo, and it uses Elmax, which is very tough, very corrosion resistant, and sharpens and retains a great edge.

The 0770CF actually has a solid backspacer, and you mentioned preferring pillars. The original 0770 w/ aluminum handles uses pillars though. The 0770 has a very high flat grind and makes for an excellent slicer. The less pronounced belly also is a bit easier to sharpen and maintain, and it is a good utilitarian shape. The ergos on the 0770 are also awesome. There is a M390 version of the 0770, but it's a bit over your stated price range. The regular ones use Elmax.

The Gayle Bradley is a nice, beefy folder. The M4 steel sharpens very well and has terrific edge retention. The GB also has a high hollow grind that is very thin behind the edge and for a good portion of the width of the blade, making it an excellent cutter. I haven't had issues with rust on mine, but it does show some discoloration (very minor cosmetic corrosion) pretty easily. As long as you don't let it start developing into rust spots, it's no problem at all.

Just to add another option, there's also the Elmax Blur, which can be had for under $100. The TracTec inserts provide excellent traction, and of all the assisted-openers I've handled, I still think the Blur does assisted-opening the best. Ergos on the Blur are great, and the Elmax version does feature a high flat grind versus the the hollow grind on normal Blurs.

Some side-by-sides next to the Cryo and Cryo 2, which you are already familiar with:

Cryo_Cryo2_0566_0770CF_Blur_GB_open_800x544.jpg


Cryo_Cryo2_0566_0770CF_Blur_GB_closed_800x520.jpg


Comparison of thickness with the Cryo 2, since you mentioned thickness was a factor:

w/ 0566:
Cryo2_0566_thickness_800x241.jpg


w/ 0770CF:
Cryo2_0770CF_thickness_800x240.jpg


w/ Gayle Bradley:
Cryo2_GB_thickness_800x242.jpg


w/ Blur:
Cryo2_Blur_thickness_800x273.jpg
 
I've actually been looking at this to replace my Cryo:

Kizer Ki3404A3
8_53c42c21702c66.33568220.jpg


Sure, it's made in China from a company that has yet to prove itself... But who can argue with the high end materials and pricepoint?
I would really prefer a knife made in the USA but this Kizer checks all other boxes in my list.
 
A while back I had a job where I needed a knife to cut boxes to lay flat during part of the shift. I used my GB profiled to 15 dps. It slid through the cardboard effortlessly. It's a great knife and I carry mine often. I alternate between the GB and Domino most days.
 
Whenever I'm asked my opinion on what a good higher end knife might for those who are ready to step up from lower rungs, I usually tend to point folks towards knives like the Spyderco Paramilitary II, a Zero Tolerance knife, or possibly one of the Benchmades. Can't go wrong with any of them, really.
 
Seeing the side by side of the GB and the Cryo is giving me serious second thoughts. That is quite A bit of difference. The blur looks to be the closest in thickness to me. And blues tend to have really good weight
 
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