Ganzo G720-B first impressions

[pantagana23]

Don't know if someone has already shown this knife here, anyway, I'm here to show you this chinese Lionsteel/Benchmade mutant, I got from the mail today.

It's shipped in a bubble protected letter, with it's box disassembled; you can assemble it if you use it for a gift. It also came in a nicely finished black nylon bag. Good so far.

After taking it out it seems really good, no gaps between liners and G10 (which btw are full, so the knife is 205 grams), very well centered.

Dimensions:

Closed 121 mm (factory data, didn't measure)
Opened 210 mm (factory data, didn't measure)
Blade 89 mm (factory data, didn't measure)
Blade thickness 3,9 mm (my measurement), 4 mm factory statement. Blade is 3,9 almost all the way to the tip, only in the last 2 cm it gets thinner to the tip
Handle thickness (without clip) 17 mm
Blade height behind thumbstud 31,5 mm
Lanyard hole 5,7 mm diameter
Almost full flat grind

I got this knife because I liked the shape of SR1, but am left handed, so the framelock for right hand doesn't play for me. Although this will probably stay in the closet, just had to have it when I saw it

Action is smooth when opening, although You cannot close it just by pressing the axis and flipping it closed, you have to push it by hand a bit.

Sharpness out of the box - can slice 3 pcs A4 printer papers without a problem.

From imperfections, the secondary bevel is uneven at the tip (didn't watch the whole length of blade), and the clip connection point seems crappy.

All in all, for 25 dollars + 5 shipping, I am more than satisfied.

Here are some pics (don't mind the oil I've already put on and crappy phone camera quality):

 

[craytab]

I hate to tell you this but this kind of knock off is frowned upon. Stolen design and a counterfeit locking mechanism.

 

[nick21]

I like it and may get one, but like Craytab said they're frowned upon here.

Don't know if talking about them is actually against the rules though.

 

[G. Scott H.]

No restrictions on discussing them that I'm aware of. I think craytab was just attempting to give fair warning that these topics frequently stir up controversy (though I don't want to put words in his mouth, and I apologize if I have). I have a couple Ganzos, myself, and they're decent enough knives. The thing that keeps me from buying more is that they use some kind of uber thread locker on every single screw, making the knives essentially permanently assembled (at least the ones I have), which is a real turn off for me (I'm an unrepentant tinkerer ) . :grumpy:

 

[knives_in_nature]

No restrictions on discussing them that I'm aware of. I think craytab was just attempting to give fair warning that these topics frequently stir up controversy (though I don't want to put words in his mouth, and I apologize if I have). I have a couple Ganzos, myself, and they're decent enough knives. The thing that keeps me from buying more is that they use some kind of uber thread locker on every single screw, making the knives essentially permanently assembled (at least the ones I have), which is a real turn off for me (I'm an unrepentant tinkerer ) . :grumpy:

I've experienced that with both of mine but I just used all my strength and made them pop!

 

[Fuori]

I keep seeing this knife pop up on the forum recently and I just can't understand why someone would pay the money for one of those when it's in the same price as the Tenacious, Rat, and other knives that have better quality control.

 

[razorburn]

I keep seeing this knife pop up on the forum recently and I just can't understand why someone would pay the money for one of those when it's in the same price as the Tenacious, Rat, and other knives that have better quality control.

Maybe we're a bunch of CERTIFIED KNIFE NUT JOBS, who love collecting knives.

Gotta pick one of these beauties up.Ganzo knives have some of the best QC,if you ask me.

 

[Fuori]

I understand that. Even beyond the stealing of design issues it's just hard for me to not get some of the name brand knives in that price range first. I've read of a few people having problems with the Ganzo knives in the topics I've seen and would rather get something from an American company.

 

[rob32]

I have a few Ganzo knives and they have all impressed me. The kind of knife they can produce for the cost is incredible. I have noticed the axis knives can be a bit stiff, but mine have all broken in nicely. I usually carry one of my Ganzos at work. Great beater knives.

 

[Inazone]

I understand that. Even beyond the stealing of design issues it's just hard for me to not get some of the name brand knives in that price range first. I've read of a few people having problems with the Ganzo knives in the topics I've seen and would rather get something from an American company.

If the Tenacious or Rat don't appeal to a person the way this does, what then? What if the features a person wants (such as the OP as an unnatural southpaw) aren't available from the "real" manufacturer? I bought a Ganzo 716 that shares more than a couple of similarities with some Benchmade model or other, but the BM is discontinued and not readily available, so I was quite happy with the Ganzo instead.

Personally, I'll buy the "real thing" if available with the features I want, but if that's not an option, buying an alternative product may be the only feasible means of getting what I want. If that means compromising a certain degree of quality to get those features, so be it.

 

[Fuori]

Then that person buys what they want, but for me personally I don't understand it at all. Even past the knock off aspect I'd rather put money into a legitimate company I could pick up the phone and call if there is an issue. To each their own, but I personally feel there are enough quality offerings in the $30 price range that I can get a great knife and not compromise to any degree.

 

[craytab]

Nothing like screwing two good companies at once. Why this stuff is allowed to be promoted here I will never understand. Sad really....

 

[craytab]

Gotta pick one of these beauties up.Ganzo knives have some of the best QC,if you ask me.

This is absolute bull snot.

I would hate to see the other knives you are compare these knock offs with....

 

[craytab]

If the Tenacious or Rat don't appeal to a person the way this does, what then? What if the features a person wants (such as the OP as an unnatural southpaw) aren't available from the "real" manufacturer? I bought a Ganzo 716 that shares more than a couple of similarities with some Benchmade model or other, but the BM is discontinued and not readily available, so I was quite happy with the Ganzo instead.

Personally, I'll buy the "real thing" if available with the features I want, but if that's not an option, buying an alternative product may be the only feasible means of getting what I want. If that means compromising a certain degree of quality to get those features, so be it.

So because a company doesn't have something you want you are willing to buy knock offs? It is not just quality that you have compromised.

 

[rob32]

What I get from the responses on this thread is that people disapprove because the knife company being discussed is from China. Even though the blade clearly says "Ganzo" on the blade, people are calling it a knock-off. Why? Because it borrows some design ideas from other American knife companies? Many other knives do the same.

I own knives from many of the makers being discussed here. I've got a couple Benchmades, some Spyderco's, and a couple Ganzo blades. My experience has been that for the money, the better companies cannot compete with Ganzo. Sure, a Spyderco PM2 is better than a Ganzo knife, but look at the price. The Tencious? I'd take my Ganzo knife over that any day, and I have both.

The point is, Ganzo makes a good knife. A guy should be able to discuss his Ganzo knife on this forum, which is supposed to be about knives, not just American knives.

 

[Fuori]

Most knives in the $30 dollar range are made in China. The problem is they stole a design and threw the Ganzo name on it. It's no different than if you had a business and someone took all of the ideas you had to pay to research and design and started selling them at a fraction of the price of yours. It's no different than paying for a bootleg DVD.

Also, the American knife companies who have some of their knives manufactured in China still employ people here in the US. When you buy a Ganzo all of your money goes to China to support American job loss.

My original point was I can't understand why someone would buy a $30 Ganzo when there are a lot of really good knives in that price range made by Kershaw, Spyderco, and Ontario. We can sit here and argue all day which is better, but the end result is going to be they are all reasonably close. Peace of mind is worth it to me along with getting a knife that comes with customer service if there is a problem and supporting American jobs.

 

[craytab]

What I get from the responses on this thread is that people disapprove because the knife company being discussed is from China. Even though the blade clearly says "Ganzo" on the blade, people are calling it a knock-off. Why? Because it borrows some design ideas from other American knife companies? Many other knives do the same.

I own knives from many of the makers being discussed here. I've got a couple Benchmades, some Spyderco's, and a couple Ganzo blades. My experience has been that for the money, the better companies cannot compete with Ganzo. Sure, a Spyderco PM2 is better than a Ganzo knife, but look at the price. The Tencious? I'd take my Ganzo knife over that any day, and I have both.

The point is, Ganzo makes a good knife. A guy should be able to discuss his Ganzo knife on this forum, which is supposed to be about knives, not just American knives.

Then you aren't looking at this very logically. This knife is a blatant rip off of a lionsteel and it also in fact uses Benchmade's propitiatory lock design (this is theft). When you buy the knife in the OP these are the actions you are supporting. Don't like hearing about it? Then don't "discuss it" because guess what, that is part of the discussion.

I own plenty of knives made in China. They are mostly from reputable companies like Kershaw. The Enlan EL-01 is a fantastic Chinese designed and made budget knife. To make this a China vs US production argument is interjecting emotion, and is a bit simplified, and frankly silly.

As Fuori said, there are knives in this price range made in China that don't rip any one off so blatantly. Kershaw has some great offerings of Chinese knives in this price range and you get a great company to stand behind the product. If that knock off needs warranty work, good freaking luck...

 

[Inazone]

So because a company doesn't have something you want you are willing to buy knock offs? It is not just quality that you have compromised.

In a word, yes.

Look, I understand the value of protecting intellectual property, but if the "real" manufacturer doesn't offer a product that meets the prospective buyer's needs, is that buyer supposed to instead buy a product that doesn't meet his needs simply to support a manufacturer who has an apparent void in its product line? No, that's absurd. Order a custom knife from the "real" manufacturer with the exact design AND features of the "knock-off" and thereby have what amounts to a copy of a copy? Also absurd.

I've bought two Ganzo knives. I bought them for what they were - knives with what I considered interesting designs - unaware that they were copies of existing products. One I gifted to a friend, who wouldn't know a Ganzo from a Benchmade from a Tac-Force. The other, I kept, and when I learned that it was essentially a Benchmade copy, I tried to track down an original. Well, it had been discontinued for years and was only available (very rarely) for hundreds of dollars. I was interested in the features and design enough to spend $25 on the Ganzo, but definitely not 10 or 20 times that just for a Benchmade logo. Nope, I bought the Ganzo for what it was, not for what someone tried to convince me it was trying to be.

Does that mean Ganzo didn't copy existing designs? No, not at all, but they are combining those designs with features that weren't offered on the original product, thus filling a niche in the market - however small it may be - that at the very least separates them from counterfeiters. If someone truly wants that combination of design and features, how else would you suggest they spend their money?

 

[rob32]

Most knives in the $30 dollar range are made in China. The problem is they stole a design and threw the Ganzo name on it. It's no different than if you had a business and someone took all of the ideas you had to pay to research and design and started selling them at a fraction of the price of yours. It's no different than paying for a bootleg DVD.

Also, the American knife companies who have some of their knives manufactured in China still employ people here in the US. When you buy a Ganzo all of your money goes to China to support American job loss.

My original point was I can't understand why someone would buy a $30 Ganzo when there are a lot of really good knives in that price range made by Kershaw, Spyderco, and Ontario. We can sit here and argue all day which is better, but the end result is going to be they are all reasonably close. Peace of mind is worth it to me along with getting a knife that comes with customer service if there is a problem and supporting American jobs.

I am not so concerned with saving American jobs that I will avoid a good product made in another country. Both Ganzo knives I have are great knives, sold at a great price. Period. I also drive a foreign car because it's better than what we produce stateside.

I have some cheap Kershaws and Spydercos. For the price, the Ganzo is a better knife than any of them.

Then you aren't looking at this very logically. This knife is a blatant rip off of a lionsteel and it also in fact uses Benchmade's propitiatory lock design (this is theft). When you buy the knife in the OP these are the actions you are supporting. Don't like hearing about it? Then don't "discuss it" because guess what, that is part of the discussion.

I own plenty of knives made in China. They are mostly from reputable companies like Kershaw. The Enlan EL-01 is a fantastic Chinese designed and made budget knife. To make this a China vs US production argument is interjecting emotion, and is a bit simplified, and frankly silly.

As Fuori said, there are knives in this price range made in China that don't rip any one off so blatantly. Kershaw has some great offerings of Chinese knives in this price range and you get a great company to stand behind the product. If that knock off needs warranty work, good freaking luck...

I also own the Enlan EL-01. Another great beater knife that I often take with me to work. For $17 bucks, it's an awesome knife. However, people talk the same way about that knife that they do the Ganzo since the Enlan is an obvious rip from the Hinderer design. Something that is considered OK when an American company does it, but those Chinese companies get crucified for it.

Who gets warranty work on a $17-20 knife? Seriously? That's the point of a $20 knife, I don't mind if I break it at work. Oddly enough, with the Enlans and Ganzos I've bought, I have had no need for warranty work, yet I have had to send back a ZT (a brand I love) and a $600.00 Medford knife. People act like those Chinese brands are garbage, but they are far from it.

 

[Fuori]

There is no difference between that Ganzo and the Chinese companies making fake ESEE knives. If you want to buy one that is your right, but I don't understand it and personally would rather have something from an American company.