Good beater folder

[Lineman1]

$200 tops. Maybe even a cheapy!
Looking for a folder for cutting just about anything, maybe border line abuse at times.
Im going to be getting an Emerson folder, but I want a little variation in there.
Current ideas are something Cold Steel, CRKT hissatu, Utilitac 2, something Zero tolerance?, cqc-7, mini-grip.
I dont mind sharpening alot, as long as it stays sharp for a day or two of good use.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

Ontario Rat 1. I have abused mine to no end; it just asks for more. For example, I have cross-batoned it through large branches with a rock and cut 200+ feet of wet carpet out of a basement. After all of this, it sharpened up and now has a very sharp edge. No lock rock and the lock is still at about 30%.

It's only $30, but for a super hard use/abuse folder I wouldn't want to spend much more. For that price, you can buy one, try it out, and if you don't like it or if it some how fails, it's no great loss.

For more $$$, you can get a ZT 350. I have batoned and chopped wood, and it hasn't even flinched.

 

[LastRodeo]

Instead of the usual answers to this question, I suggest the Enlan el-02.

 

[sc_bane]

Instead of the usual answers to this question, I suggest the Enlan el-02.

+1
My Enlan EL-01 is a beast. It's cut copper wire, gutted a fish, been thrown a few times, dropped onto asphalt at 45mph, some light batoning. It's beat up, but the edge is a fairly easy fix, and there is minimal horizontal blade rock, none vertical yet. I'm testing it to see what it takes to destroy one, short of beating it with a 4lb hammer. For $20 shipped, it's my favorite beater/under $100 knife.

 

[Lineman1]

That Hogue looks awesome. I like it. I dont know anything about the button locks though, I did a search and im still a little lost. Is it just like the axis lock?
The rat one looks good! Seems like its pretty close to the utilitac 2

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

That Hogue looks awesome. I like it. I dont know anything about the button locks though, I did a search and im still a little lost. Is it just like the axis lock?
The rat one looks good! Seems like its pretty close to the utilitac 2

Hogue? What Hogue? The picture I posted is of a ZT350...

I regret that I don't have any pictures of the Rat 1. But you won't regret buying it!

As for Enlan...I don't own one. I won't own one.

 

[LastRodeo]

As for Enlan...I don't own one. I won't own one.

Care to explain why?

 

[Lineman1]

I mis-typed Ex-01 into google instead of EL-01...Woops.
Never heard of the El-01 before

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

Care to explain why?

I mis-typed Ex-01 into google instead of EL-01...Woops.
Never heard of the El-01 before

{sound of flame suit being zipped up}

My view/oppinion/what I've heard/what I know:

Enlan and Sanrenmu are Chinese companies. (Noting wrong with that. I like knives made in China.)
E & S practice bad business, again IMO. They consistently and blatantly rip off other designs, such as the Sebenza or a Benchmade.
E & S have their own designs also.
E & S cost about half of a Kershaw or Rat 1, and from what I've heard, the Kershaw/Rat 1/Spyderco Tenacious is worth the extra $$.
E & S knives do not usually have adjustable pivots, usually use an unknown blade steel (I think?) and usually use part or all of another design.
E & S knives have no warranty. (correct me if I'm wrong)

Take this for what it's worth. To me, it means that Enlan/SRM knives are made by a company that doesn't mind stealing other people's ideas, and that the $15 more you pay for a Kershaw/ Rat 1 or Rat 2/ Spyderco Tenacious gets you a top of the line warranty, free sharpening for life, a known blade steel, an adjustable pivot, an original design, and more options for shape/size/etc.

YMMV.

You asked for my view. I told you. I'm out of this.

 

[o4tg]

I have a Utilitac II and an 0350. Both are tougher than just about anyone needs. I don't carry my 0350 at all since I got the UT2 though. I just wish the UT2 had a flipper, but only because I wear gloves for most of my shift at work.

 

[LastRodeo]

{sound of flame suit being zipped up}

My view/oppinion/what I've heard/what I know:

Enlan and Sanrenmu are Chinese companies. (Noting wrong with that. I like knives made in China.)
E & S practice bad business, again IMO. They consistently and blatantly rip off other designs, such as the Sebenza or a Benchmade.
E & S have their own designs also.
E & S cost about half of a Kershaw or Rat 1, and from what I've heard, the Kershaw/Rat 1/Spyderco Tenacious is worth the extra $$.
E & S knives do not usually have adjustable pivots, usually use an unknown blade steel (I think?) and usually use part or all of another design.
E & S knives have no warranty. (correct me if I'm wrong)

Take this for what it's worth. To me, it means that Enlan/SRM knives are made by a company that doesn't mind stealing other people's ideas, and that the $15 more you pay for a Kershaw/ Rat 1 or Rat 2/ Spyderco Tenacious gets you a top of the line warranty, free sharpening for life, a known blade steel, an adjustable pivot, an original design, and more options for shape/size/etc.

YMMV.

You asked for my view. I told you. I'm out of this.

Right or wrong, you have now provided the OP with information he may find informative, since he has never heard of Enlan before. Your first statement wasn't helpful in that regard. You're an okay kid, with plenty of opinions, there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[o4tg]

Just an FYI, my Sanrenmu has an adjustable pivot. It's not a very good knife, and I will say the same of the Tenacious despite Spyderco junkies wanting to stone me for it. They're decent $10 knives, but when you factor in shipping or royalties to Spyderco tripling the price, I think they're a bust.

People are used to $10 knives that are complete crap, so they're easily impressed by ones that weren't assembled by drunk apes and drawn up on a napkin. I have yet to handle a Chinese folder that I'd trust for hard use.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

BTW, the Rat 1 is made in Taiwan. Taiwan makes much nicer quality knives than China in my experience. Spyderco makes many of their best knives (GB, Sage, Southard, etc.) in Taiwan.

 

[PAPA SMURF 8 ME]

I like the coldsteel recon 1 tanto, benchmade presidio, don't have the adamas, but have heard it is good also.

 

[Smokinape]

Get the Cold Steel Code 4 Tanto!

[video=youtube_share;IZEv9aD2t-c]http://youtu.be/IZEv9aD2t-c[/video]

 

[grownstar]

Go for the Utilitac II

 

[Bigbobg]

$200 for a beater?
When I think of beaters, I'm thinking $20-$40.

 

[mrdabble]

ZT 0566!

I've got the 550 and the 0560, but tools get destroyed everyday in my line of work (carpentry/foreclosure remodeling) as an independent contractor. Guys use other guys tools w out proper caution for them or themselves or the tool, whether its a lack of knowledge or just plain ignorance or carelessness.

At $144 I can justify it being destroyed easier than a $200+ knife.
And the only differences I easily notice (I'm sure there's plenty more) are
1. Size
2. Washers instead of KVT bearings

It comes assisted but also has a detent so you can deassist and it will work just like its big brother....kind of. If its a hardcore flipper you are looking for this will take some fine tuning. If you don't mind using the thumbstud then its a winner all around.

 

[Ulf Krogstad]

Bought a Utilitac II couple days ago and still waiting to get it. Aus 8 steel is great on the cold steel knives so pretty sure I'll like it. If your looking for a cheaper knife to beat on besides your emerson would go with something from cold steel with tri-ad lock. Nothing from them I've bought has been bad. Prices on the Tri- ad lock knives have been coming down some I've seen.The Utilitac II will probably be my last liner lock knife or frame lock for me. Love the axis lock on benchmade adamas. All I'll ever buy from now on is Axis or lock back folders.

 

[Ray5118]

$200 for a beater?
When I think of beaters, I'm thinking $20-$40.

Yeah was thinking the same thing