Groove vs Talon II

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Squashfan

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Jun 6, 2012
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I am trying to decided which one to get I have the Tanto Groove and I think that I would like the drop point even better.

I LOVE the looks of the Tallon II. But I am not sure if it would be useful for everyday cutting, slicing etc. BTW, the ZT 0750 looks interesting but I don't want to pay that much for a knife.

I should have more thoughts and questions but I have worked all week and don't feel like thinking anymore. :sleeping:

Thank in advance!

Squashfan
 
Thats a hard one. It really depends on you but I would say get the groove first. Only because it's disco'd. The talon2 i believe they just started production on again but from china. So they should be around. I think they just did another run of talons not long ago too or shipped more out,whichever. If i'm wrong someone correct me. If you do alot of draw cuts i would pick the talon though.
 
I was under the impression that the Talon II was disco'd also. I want to get the Talon even more if production moves to China. 'Cause I am a USA diehard.
Edit to add: I am trying to guess which one will get expensive and scarce first. I think the Talon will be the winner (loser?) but I may be wrong.
 
I have the Talon II and have EDC'd it for a few months on and off, and so far I've been pretty pleased with it, although it's faults are quite obvious/inherent to the blade shape. It's fantastic for opening boxes/mail/CD cases because the tip is super, super thin (a little worryingly so sometimes). It slices quite well with it's thin hollow grind and acute edge angles, although the curved tip does make some jobs awkward. The biggest detraction I can find from the knife is that it's inherently unsuited for food prep activities because you can never get the blade flat against a cutting board. Otherwise, it's a pretty fantastic and uncommon knife, I would definitely recommend it.
 
Maybe I got my info mixed up. If so sorry. Either way if you want both I would act sooner rather than later!
 
I'm a big fan of the Groove and I really like hawk shaped blade, but if I can only get one it would be the Groove. The blade would just be more versatile.
 
I just got a ZT 0750 brand new for a good price. It is a nice blade and came sharp as hell, has flawless fit and finish on par with the 0560 ( no machine marks anywhere , and the liners and scales are perfectly smooth and even ). I used it a couple of times for cutting paper, opening letters and breaking down a cardboard box , which it excelled at due to the curved blade and pull cuts. I am on the fence about keeping this one though, I just don't like assisted opening blades. I , like many others, like like flicking blades open and closed, it is an addicition, and AOs are just not fun for this.
 
Groove inbound. Woot!

Thanks for all the great advice. Misanthropia, thank for the EDC review. I am not worried about food prep. I have other knives with which to cut sandwiches and pair fruit. Flashpoint, when you refer to a hawk shape blade are you referring to the Talon? And, Nyrico, my first nice knives were a Needs Work and a all black Scallion. So my first love was assisted flippers. Which is part of the reason I am looking at the Talon. The striking look of the knife is what first caught my eye.
 
The Groove (the drop point version) would be grand for a general use EDC knife. The Talon however would be limited a bit more given it's radical blade profile. With that being said I actually like hawkbills but IMO they are suited more for draw cutting materials such as rope rather than general EDC use.
 
Can't comment on the Talon as I haven't used it. The Groove makes a nice, exotic-looking EDC pocket knife with a decent blade. Mine is a little thick for slicing apples and the grooves, while they look cool, have been a bit annoying on the practical side for me. In salt water, they are always rusting and out of salt water they are always holding on to food and dirt. On the flip slide, the Groove still slices well and the extra thickness was handy when I got to prying on an already split coconut and what turned out to be a green soursop. I thought of it as more of a "pretty" knife than a working knife; but it held up well to some big work tasks.

However, don't be an idiot and lose your patience and use the highly polished edge to pry a nail out of a stud. That will take a while to fix ;)
 
AnIdiotOutdoors said:
However, don't be an idiot and lose your patience and use the highly polished edge to pry a nail out of a stud. That will take a while to fix ;)
Click to expand...

That poor knife! :eek:
On other topics, I am hearing a large majority say that the Talon II is NOT suited for general EDC. I think I could EDC it but it would not be as versatile as the Groove will be. Hmm... What to do about the Talon.
 
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Squashfan said:
That poor knife! :eek:
On other topics, I am hearing a large majority say that the Talon II is NOT suited for general EDC. I think I could EDC it but it would not be as versatile as the Groove will be. Hmm... What to do about the Talon.
Click to expand...

It was a brass picture nail barely long enough to reach the stud. I was sure if I could get a hold of the head I could pull it out with my fingers. Right tool for the job and all that.

It sounds to me like you need to buy a Talon and a Groove and do a detailed comparison. You can always sell the one you don't want.
 
I have had a Talon II and traded it away. It was nice, the assisted opening fired hard. My gripe was the curvature of the "hawkbill" made it more like a warncliffe. I have 2 and still love the Groove Tanto, so thats my vote.
 
AnIdiotOutdoors said:
You can always sell the one you don't want.
Click to expand...

But my knives.... There my precious ones... Selling one would be like selling part of my soul....

[Off Topic]: I like strait edges and if the Random Task II was a little bit cheaper... Man, I wish I could have gotten a Random Task II blem when Kershawguy had them. [Off Topic End]

Bluejayburly, was your gripe with the warncliffe or the fact that the warncliffe curved?
 
I wanted a deeper curve hawkbill. I think the Groove Tanto has a deeper hawkbill portion,with the added edge and heft in the tip.

The hawkbill shape would normally be used for pull cuts, like rope, netting, chopping maybe. I think the Groove Tanto has more usable options.
 
The Groove is bigger and the fit, finish and function are flawless. At first I thought the G-10 scales on the Groove were unnecessary, but I appreciate them more now. You can remove them to make a extremely thin frame lock folder. You should look into the original Talon also, they are around 150 but I think I like them better than the new one.
 
I vote groove, I thought i wouldn't like it at first because the blade is just too funky but I have grown to really like it.

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The obvious answer is get both! :D Honestly though, I have both and I personally prefer the Talon II over the Groove DP. Drop point blades are definitely an all around type blade shape, good for everything which makes it great for EDC. In the case of the Groove however, I found that those grooves kinda' get in my way and produce a little drag in some instances. YMMV, as others have mentioned I also found that those grooves accumulate junk from use. Its a great looking knife, but has fallen out of favor for me as I have found the grooves to be more aesthetic than anything in my use.
The Talon II on the other hand, for me personally, has been a winner. I have to say though, that I am a fan of wharncliffe, sheepsfoot and hawkbill blades for my uses. In regards too the hawkbill on the Talon II, for 99% of my uses it excels at. For opening packages, mail, cutting straps and tearing down boxes there is nothing better IMO. With the exception of food prep it handles all chores with ease. The main point is that the "point" of the blade is always orientated forward without making a wrist adjustment, if you know what I mean. You hold the knife say in a saber grip and that point is at the perfect position for whatever you might be doing. I will say that the handle shape of the Talon II is different, but you get used to it very quickly don't be put off by that. Right out of the box I felt it to be odd in hand, but as soon as I actually used it the shape is quite functional. I really like my Talon II so much so that I'll most likely purchase the ZT 0750....
 
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