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Getting into knives, what next? Strider? DOC?

O

ohioan

Joined
May 22, 2012
Messages
271
I'm getting ready to buy a new knife, and I'm going to spend a chunk (to me) of change. I'm trying to sort out my thoughts and see what you guys think. I get more use out of folders.

I've been a gun guy for quite a while. But I've kind of gotten away from them. I have two types of guns: 1. Those I carry for self defense and 2. .22s for fun. Of course I have the requisite shotgun and high power rifle. With ammo being in short supply, I've gotten away from shooting beyond practice with my SD guns. (Ruger SR1911 CMD, and a Kel-Tec pf9.) Now, my discretionary funds have been going towards blades and related items.

In the past year I've picked up an Esee 3, Ontario RTAK II, a Mora, ZT 0801, Spyderco Matriarch 2, Spyderco Military, Spyderco Dragonfly 2, Byrd Robin, 3 Byrd Meadowlark 2s (2 FRN, 1 black stainless), and a couple of SAKs. I started out buying less expensive knives, and have worked up to the more expensive knives. My favorite so far is the Military.

First up is the Dragonfly 2 in FRN.
Dragonfly2_zps497cf225.jpg


LIKES:
Sharp
pointy
gimping
light weight
tip up
left or right carry
choil
sheeple friendly
one hand operation

DISKLIKES:
handle is too small (I have a hard time getting a good grip on it.)
the whole thing is just too small.

I like this knife. It carries well, it's razor sharp. But I have a hard time maneuvering it one handed. In the week I've owned it, I've cut myself no less than 5 times. I work in an office and this is more convenient in that setting. But the handle is just too small! I can't get a good grip on it. I rarely use the finger choil, it's just uncomfortable to grip it that way.

Next up, Spyderco Military

6f1245e8-51e0-47ba-9f32-00f86b84ec78_zps4b8678bd.jpg


LIKES:

Ease of deployment
grip G10 provides
DLC coating
FFG
long blade
finger choil
large handle
weight/size ration
pointy tip
liner lock (ease of use)
excellent gimping

DISLIKES:
tip down, right side carry ONLY
delicate blade
lack of full liners

I really like this knife! It's great for winter carry while I have big thick gloves on. The spyderhole is large, and the grip is HUGE. There are so many ways to grip this thing, and they're all comfortable. The blades tip is good and bad. It's very fine and can handle fine detail work. But, that fine tip is also more fragile. I read a few stories of the tips breaking off under medium duty work. Combine that with the small liners, and thin liner lock, and I'm afraid of using this bad boy very hard.

ZT 0801

29e990ff-7cef-42fb-9ff3-4d180f637a93_zps8a92b826.jpg


LIKES:
AWESOME FLIPPING ACTION
pointy
I've had great edge retention with the Elmax
heavy duty
deep carry pocket
looks amazing

DISLIKES:
small grip, one one way to hold this
strong detent makes it hard to close on handed
frame lock is hard to get a grip on, there just isn't much to push on
not really grippy
no gimping
only way to open is flipping
heavy

I've carried this a lot. It's a beautiful knife. It's hard to close one handed.

Spyderco Matriarch 2

aeb6f167-bfae-482f-92a8-6828a41152a4_zpsdb3c9f33.jpg


LIKES:
WICKED BLADE
lightweight
zip tie mod
quad mount clip

DISKLIKES:
serations
seems sorts of cheap


CONCLUSIONS:

I like large knives: big blades, big handles
I like a knife that I can use and abuse if I have to
I like tacticool looking knives
Weight is a factor
Has to be well gimped.

That said, I'm really looking at the Strider SMF and the Microtech DOC. Do you think the DOC will be close to tough like the Strider? Or is there a knife out there that I'm missing?
 
If you are looking for a hard use knife, you can't do much better than Strider. I would check out the SNG to see if it fits you. The SMF is an absolute beast, definitely too big for me.
 
ZT 0560/1.
Large handle, lots of gimping and the whole handle is textured.
Pointy but thick tip.
Elmax steel.
G-10 and Titanium.
Flipper and thumbstud.
Left/right hand carry tip up/tip down.
It seems perfect for you.

If you wanted to take a step up you could get the ZT 0560cbcf with a front carbon fiber scale and a smooth back. Now it doesn't have all of the texturing or grippy G-10, but you get s110v steel, a good looking knife, and it still handles well and fits the hand great without being too slippery. Still has tons of gimping.
 
You have some great knifes so far, congrats!!

I sold my ZT 0560's to buy a couple more Striders, but its more a personal thing vs what their knifes are about. Bladechick has it right, the ZT 0560 CBCF is a very nice blade!! The DOC is a BIG knife, I usually carry a CF SNG over the DOC(currently a safe queen,lol)

I've gravitated toward S90v, M390 etc. Spend wisely, $$ goes quick on the more spendy blades. Do what you have to do, get into a knife store, and put your fingerprints on many models, lots of good choices are out there, and the forum here is littered with good info, with less junk to filter through vs other web sites.

The Military is a hard knife to out do, it rocks at foods prep, and isn't to expensive to always be using.

Good luck.
 
addylo said:
You need a large Sebenza 21. :D
Click to expand...
I've handled some Sebenza's. I wasn't that impressed with the design!

Bigfatts said:
If you are looking for a hard use knife, you can't do much better than Strider. I would check out the SNG to see if it fits you. The SMF is an absolute beast, definitely too big for me.
Click to expand...
I really like big blade.

hank_612 said:
Have you looked at a spyderco PM2? There are pleny of reasons to love it
Click to expand...
I've handled a few PMs and didn't get excited.

Lycosa said:
An SnG might be your last folder or your only EDC.
rolf
Click to expand...

BladeChick777 said:
ZT 0560/1.
Large handle, lots of gimping and the whole handle is textured.
Pointy but thick tip.
Elmax steel.
G-10 and Titanium.
Flipper and thumbstud.
Left/right hand carry tip up/tip down.
It seems perfect for you.

If you wanted to take a step up you could get the ZT 0560cbcf with a front carbon fiber scale and a smooth back. Now it doesn't have all of the texturing or grippy G-10, but you get s110v steel, a good looking knife, and it still handles well and fits the hand great without being too slippery. Still has tons of gimping.
Click to expand...
I've handled a 0560. I liked the one I handled. It had lock stick something terrible! I have considered this knife.

vector12 said:
You have some great knifes so far, congrats!!

I sold my ZT 0560's to buy a couple more Striders, but its more a personal thing vs what their knifes are about. Bladechick has it right, the ZT 0560 CBCF is a very nice blade!! The DOC is a BIG knife, I usually carry a CF SNG over the DOC(currently a safe queen,lol)

I've gravitated toward S90v, M390 etc. Spend wisely, $$ goes quick on the more spendy blades. Do what you have to do, get into a knife store, and put your fingerprints on many models, lots of good choices are out there, and the forum here is littered with good info, with less junk to filter through vs other web sites.

The Military is a hard knife to out do, it rocks at foods prep, and isn't to expensive to always be using.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

I like s90v and Elmax. The only super steels I own. I really like the design, features and warranty of the Striders. But there isn't anywhere around here that ever has them in stock.
I like the looks of the SMF lego coyote brown with tiger stripe blade. Right now, I really want a Strider, but may settle on a 0560. probably not because I don't think I would be happ.


Thanks for the comments and advice everyone!
 
I really wish i could find someplace that have striders in stock so I can get a feel for what Iike.
 
I would really recommend the SnG CC or DGG if you want to edc it. In all my years here I haven't found a more perfect knife for edc.
 
ohioan said:
I really wish i could find someplace that have striders in stock so I can get a feel for what Iike.
Click to expand...


Get you one and if you don't like it you can flip it within minutes of listing it. Another good thing about Striders is they hold their value extremely well and there is a high demand for them.
 
I notice you work in an office, I am going a different route and recommending a old spyderco calypso of you can find one or a Caly 3.5. This way you still get a larger and very usable blade, extremely ergonomic handle (G10 or CF) yet it's still very sheeple friendly. Maybe not as your main user EDC but for people friendly/office attire maybe something I think about later on.
 
yeah, I have the office part covered. I'm looking for something big for big projects. Thanks though, when I look for something else I'll keep that in mind.
 
Don't let a sticky lock on one example sway your choices as that is easily remedied.

Have you thought about a Super sized Emerson?

Ps. If you like the Satu, keep an eye on the Exchange here. ;)
 
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