Hard use ~$250 folder

dustd3 said:
To you both, I have looked at the Gayle Bradley before and I do like it a lot. I'm not doubting it, but by its looks it doesn't seem like a hard use tank kind of knife. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I just need to buy it and see.

And a bonus 550 grip would be cool too!

Thanks again!
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Please don't take this the wrong way, but why do you need a "tank knife" for tape, cardboard, and wood cutting? I use the hell out of slipjoints way harder than your said uses and even those have never failed me.

Typically, I use a thin and slim knife (André Thorburn, Rockstead, CRK, Diskin) and find little use for an "overbuilt" knife on the job. Typically, the overbuilt construction has poor geometry for cutting, too wide of a tip for poking/wedging/stabbing, and just overall clumsy ergonomics. I think you would be pleasantly surprised at how much a well-built thin knife can handle.

Pair a thin blade stock folder with a tough steel like CPM-M4 (like the Gayle Bradley) and that knife will perform just as well (or even better) as any 1/4" flavor-of-the-day stainless folder.

It's your choice though, just food for thought:)
 
Gonna echo some others and suggest the zt562 again. But while I have a bunch and like Elmax, I'd go for the 562CF. With 204p blade steel and the carbon fiber onlay, it's a hard use folder that could be beat all week, and still look nice enough to wear to church on Sunday. Pretty sure it's my all-time favorite.

Have purchased over a dozen zt's, but that one I waited for over a year from original order, and so thankful I didn't give up and cancel. I enjoy a variety, but because I simply can't boot that 562fc out of my pocket, I just have to carry multiples for anything else to go out with me. ;).
 
TravisH said:
Don't need to spend $250 for a hard-use folder.

Cold Steel's Recon and Lawman lines in tough CTS-XHP steel, DLC coating, super strong Tri-Ad lock, and G10 handles. Recons also come with a choice of Spear Pt, Clip Pt, or Tanto. $90~$105
CS27TLCS.jpg
CS58ACL.jpg

Recon 1 (4") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...1-spear-point-cts-xhp-plain-blade-g10-handles
Lawman (3.5") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...awman-folding-knife-cts-xhp-blade-g10-handles
Mini Recon 1 (3") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...n-spear-point-cts-xhp-plain-blade-g10-handles

I have a Recon 1. It is a beast.
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Agree with this. Also look at the Ultimate Hunter. The blade steel less prone to corrosion than the steel on the Gayle Bradley in my use outdoors. Salt air and perspiration is hard on the m4.
 
My suggestion is an Al Mar model. The shrike, payara and sere are all great knives. Custom quality in a production folder. Second would be DPX GEAR HEST. I have the T3 and love it. Good ergos for my xl hands n able to wave open with the caplifter. Good luck
 
TravisH said:
Don't need to spend $250 for a hard-use folder.

Cold Steel's Recon and Lawman lines in tough CTS-XHP steel, DLC coating, super strong Tri-Ad lock, and G10 handles. Recons also come with a choice of Spear Pt, Clip Pt, or Tanto. $90~$105
CS27TLCS.jpg
CS58ACL.jpg

Recon 1 (4") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...1-spear-point-cts-xhp-plain-blade-g10-handles
Lawman (3.5") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...awman-folding-knife-cts-xhp-blade-g10-handles
Mini Recon 1 (3") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...n-spear-point-cts-xhp-plain-blade-g10-handles

I have a Recon 1. It is a beast.
Click to expand...

^^This. I do not know of a folder stronger than the Cold Steel American Lawman or Recon 1.
 
TravisH said:
Don't need to spend $250 for a hard-use folder.

Cold Steel's Recon and Lawman lines in tough CTS-XHP steel, DLC coating, super strong Tri-Ad lock, and G10 handles. Recons also come with a choice of Spear Pt, Clip Pt, or Tanto. $90~$105
CS27TLCS.jpg
CS58ACL.jpg

Recon 1 (4") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...1-spear-point-cts-xhp-plain-blade-g10-handles
Lawman (3.5") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...awman-folding-knife-cts-xhp-blade-g10-handles
Mini Recon 1 (3") - http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CS...n-spear-point-cts-xhp-plain-blade-g10-handles

I have a Recon 1. It is a beast.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. I like cold steel, and have one. The triad is definitely strong. However it is also the type of lock that sways me away a little. One hand opening and closing is often a necessity in my daily tasks, and those tough triads aren't the best for that.

I will look into them some more though, thanks!
 
Blues Bender said:
Please don't take this the wrong way, but why do you need a "tank knife" for tape, cardboard, and wood cutting? I use the hell out of slipjoints way harder than your said uses and even those have never failed me.

Typically, I use a thin and slim knife (André Thorburn, Rockstead, CRK, Diskin) and find little use for an "overbuilt" knife on the job. Typically, the overbuilt construction has poor geometry for cutting, too wide of a tip for poking/wedging/stabbing, and just overall clumsy ergonomics. I think you would be pleasantly surprised at how much a well-built thin knife can handle.

Pair a thin blade stock folder with a tough steel like CPM-M4 (like the Gayle Bradley) and that knife will perform just as well (or even better) as any 1/4" flavor-of-the-day stainless folder.

It's your choice though, just food for thought:)
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Blues, I very much appreciate the input. Maybe I am just going about it the wrong way. And maybe I do a lot more with my knifes them what comes to the top of my mind. So far I have had 4 cheap liner locks (Gerber/smith n wesson) and 1 cheap frame lock (kershaw Emerson) fail at work. I bought the benchmade adamas 275 and the lock on that recently failed and is in for repair. I guess most of the use isn't super hard but it is constant. The knife is opened and closed MANY MANY times a day.

A thin blade that slices probably is a better choice for the tape and cardboard and I can keep something like the Gayle Bradley in pocket in case of harder use.

I guess my tank description isn't perfect. I want something very strong that will do slicing when need be. 1/4 blade isn't probably what I need.

Thanks again!
 
whp said:
Agree with this. Also look at the Ultimate Hunter. The blade steel less prone to corrosion than the steel on the Gayle Bradley in my use outdoors. Salt air and perspiration is hard on the m4.
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I will look at all of cold steel!

I've never had any blade with a corrosion issue. Is M4 really that bad with it?
 
jfk1110 said:
My suggestion is an Al Mar model. The shrike, payara and sere are all great knives. Custom quality in a production folder. Second would be DPX GEAR HEST. I have the T3 and love it. Good ergos for my xl hands n able to wave open with the caplifter. Good luck
Click to expand...
Never really looked into Al Mar. I will later today and see what I think. Hest could be an option, though I'm not crazy on their designs. But I'd probably get over it. [emoji3]

Thanks
 
dustd3 said:
I've never had any blade with a corrosion issue. Is M4 really that bad with it?
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Not at all. With basic care, there is nothing to be concered about.

CPM M4 is more a semi-stainless steel. It will start to take on a patina over time, depending on what it is exposed to. In many cases, the patina can be attractive. But it can also be removed with polishing.

On one of ZDP189 blades started developing a patina that looked like a smugged fingerprint. But it polished right away with an automotive mag wheel polish.
 
TravisH said:
Not at all. With basic care, there is nothing to be concered about.

CPM M4 is more a semi-stainless steel. It will start to take on a patina over time, depending on what it is exposed to. In many cases, the patina can be attractive. But it can also be removed with polishing.

On one of ZDP189 blades started developing a patina that looked like a smugged fingerprint. But it polished right away with an automotive mag wheel polish.
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So it's similar to D2? Not technically a stainless but it has stainless properties? I've never had anything other than stainless blades, expect D2 but it is coated.
Is CPM M4 something that needs to be oiled regularly?
 
dustd3 said:
So it's similar to D2? Not technically a stainless but it has stainless properties? I've never had anything other than stainless blades, expect D2 but it is coated.
Is CPM M4 something that needs to be oiled regularly?
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Right, similar to D2 being a semi-stainless.

They gave up some of the stainless properties to gain in toughness, wear resistance, and edge retention.

It doesn't really need any more care than any other blade you care about. Don't put it away dirty or wet, wipe it clean, and put a few drops of mineral oil on it once in awhile, done.

I've had my Kabar BK24 in uncoated D2 for a year with no issues and that's all I've ever done with it.
 
On M4 maintenance - search for Surfinggringos reviews, most likely on the spyderco subforum. He uses one (or more) for fish processing.
Not stainless, but I agree with BluesBender's comments - great cutting geometry + tough steel (and spyderco build quality) makes the GB a first-rate worker.
 
I'd even go for a Benchmade contiego. M4 steel as well and the Benchmade warranty as you know. M4 is great stuff, even if it does rust it doesn't "pit" like cheap steel. It just looks brownish. The blade is coated on the contiego so it's fairly resistant. Check out the torture test that Benchmade does on the contiego. Quite impressive.
 
Lots of choices to choose from. These are the ones I like.

Benchmade Adamas or the Contiego
ZT 300 series, 0550/0551, 0562
 
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