Frustrated with online dealers.. what to get instead?

Hawk45

Hawk45

Joined
Jan 28, 2005
Messages
2,154
So since Cold Steal decided to discontinue the Ultra Lock series of knives, I finally decided I better pick up one of the Recon 1 Tanto PE folders up after having one on my list for a long time. I always had a hard time thinking of paying $70 for an AUS8 blade with a crappy/fragile finish on it...but I dug it anyway for some reason. I shopped many online stores, which I have purchased from before, to only place order and be sent the new lockback version or get an email several days later telling me they are out of stock. This has happened no less than 5 times over the last week and a half. One of the vendors even placed the order over the phone with me b/c I wanted to make sure the had the right make/model and in stock! So I think I've given up on the search for one at this point and am moving on to something else. But why is it so hard in this day and age to have an accurate inventory posted on your website and more so, what you have on hand if you actually call the shop directly on the phone!? Poor business models..

OK..OK.. Deep breaths.. deep breaths.

To digress, maybe you guys can help me decide what to get instead... the list varies quite a bit but here are what's left on my "wish list".

Benchmade HK14205 PE
Benchmade RSK1 Doug Ritter
SOG Visionary
Spyderco Gayle Bradley
Zero Tolerance ZT500

Hopefully I'll have better luck getting one of these ordered and the actual knife/variant ordered arriving as expected.

JH
 
I might suggest not giving up just yet on getting what you want. I don't know if you have tried New Graham or if they carry what you are after, but they have a well-deserved rep for stellar customer service. Just a thought. But it may not be easy with a discontinued model.

As for your other knives, I am growing quite fond of the Spydie Gayle Bradley. Very solid, smooth opener, killer steel, built for hard use. I had a little difficulty accessing the liner lock, as there is no cutout to give finger access, so I sent mine off for a minor mod which I think really benefits the knife. But most folks have no problem with the liner lock. Good luck.
 
Good luck with ZT 0500. They discontinued it recently or they will discontinue that model in this year. If you want it, better act quickly. I like mine.
 
Because some dealers want money up front and think about delivering goods later? Just thinking out loud....
 
Hawk45 said:
So since Cold Steal decided to discontinue the Ultra Lock series of knives, I finally decided I better pick up one of the Recon 1 Tanto PE folders up after having one on my list for a long time. I always had a hard time thinking of paying $70 for an AUS8 blade with a crappy/fragile finish on it...but I dug it anyway for some reason. I shopped many online stores, which I have purchased from before, to only place order and be sent the new lockback version or get an email several days later telling me they are out of stock. This has happened no less than 5 times over the last week and a half. One of the vendors even placed the order over the phone with me b/c I wanted to make sure the had the right make/model and in stock! So I think I've given up on the search for one at this point and am moving on to something else. But why is it so hard in this day and age to have an accurate inventory posted on your website and more so, what you have on hand if you actually call the shop directly on the phone!? Poor business models..

OK..OK.. Deep breaths.. deep breaths.

To digress, maybe you guys can help me decide what to get instead... the list varies quite a bit but here are what's left on my "wish list".

Benchmade HK14205 PE
Benchmade RSK1 Doug Ritter
SOG Visionary
Spyderco Gayle Bradley
Zero Tolerance ZT500

Hopefully I'll have better luck getting one of these ordered and the actual knife/variant ordered arriving as expected.

JH
Click to expand...

It's another case if you snooze you lose.

CS said a long time ago they were updating their models then some went on closeout. ;)

The New model Recon 1 with the Tri Ad lock is much better than the old ones IMO.
 
If you are right-handed, I'd give a nod to the Gayle Bradley. It's a great steel (I forced a patina on mine, turning it almost completely black), nice materials. The lock access has no cutout as mentioned above. Build quality is very good-it also uses some sort of pivot bushing, although this is a different sort from the "stepped" pivot found in Sebenza and Manix 2.

The ergos are pretty good. I like that your finger can go really close to the edge. Blade is ground very thin as well.
 
wongKI said:
If you are right-handed, I'd give a nod to the Gayle Bradley. It's a great steel (I forced a patina on mine, turning it almost completely black), nice materials. The lock access has no cutout as mentioned above. Build quality is very good-it also uses some sort of pivot bushing, although this is a different sort from the "stepped" pivot found in Sebenza and Manix 2.

The ergos are pretty good. I like that your finger can go really close to the edge. Blade is ground very thin as well.
Click to expand...

Not to push the thread off topic but I'd love to see a photo of your GB with that patina.
 
Get the ZT 500. It is a real nice and smooth folder. I think you would like it. Good Luck! Kevin :D
 
the gayle bradley is a real good buy. i.m.o. it tops the spydie line. it's smoother than the stretch or the millie & has the m4 alloy. my only negative is the heavier weight. whatever the knife will take all you can throw at it.
 
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