hard use folder

Let me just reiterate what alot of other people are saying: hard use knives are more about ego and hype than actual performance.

That being said, I have taken my ZT200 to hell and back. Edge retention is decent, and the blade is reasonably tough. My only problem is that the lock bar can get stuck open in muddy conditions. It will do just about everything but cut well. The ZT300 is a very nice knife as well; I'd own it if it wasn't SA.

If you don't have any moral qualms (and have the cash), a Strider SNG or SMF would probably work. They also have the hard use cult of personality that ZTs and Benchmades lack. :rolleyes:
 
Bugout Bill said:
Let me just reiterate what alot of other people are saying: hard use knives are more about ego and hype than actual performance
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I don't think that is a true statement at all. I never even knew hard use folders existed until a couple months ago. I knew some folders were better than others. I carried the same knife for 12 years until I bought an Adamas and then the bug kinda bit me. When buying the Adamas all I knew at the time was I needed something a little more stout than the Kershaw Boa I carried all those years. I did a lot of research and picked the Adamas and I am damn glad I did. I worked that Boa to death and I never once thought it was stroking my ego to do so. Carry a fixed blade people say. Well I can't always do that. I can't carry one at work. I work 10 1/2 to 11 hours a day in a manufacturing plant. I need a knife that can hold an edge and has a good lock . I don't always know when I will be going out to the farm so it's not always with me. I have used a pocket knife from everything from fixing fences to castrating hogs. Was it ideal? No but it was what I had at the time or it was a backup to something else I was using that broke.

Sorry for the rant. Just get tired of everyone thinking because you need a strong knife you are out playing Rambo. Not everyone sits at a desk and uses
their knife to only open letters or ups boxes.

edit...not picking on you Bill. I read this from lots of posters and I don't get the hostility from people when hard use folders are brought up. I think most that ask this question understand that a folder will never equal a fixed blade. But some folders are better built for hard use tasks.
 
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Even if coldsteel's tri-ad lock is stronger than the adamas 25% beefed up axis lock, witch i dont think it is, the blade of the Recon 1 would break if put under the force it takes to break the axis lock
 
It's great that the choices are plenty across all price ranges. Folks that have been at it a long time will not argue that there are some great, low priced folders that just plain perform. Many eventually venture into the pricier offerings because they are curious, reputation and financial means. I've only had a couple knives let me down so can't complain much. I've had a chance to buy/trade for some real nice knives and the one that didn't necessarily surprise me but rather impressed me is the SnG DGG. The FFG and stoutness of the knife has led me to do things I generally wouldn't try with others. Certainly not cheap, but not a whole lot of warranty worry counts for much.
 
Best way to go about it is to really decide on what kinda of specs you want.
Do you want a flipper a folder, what blade length, how thick blade stock, how thick handle material is, blade steel, overall length, weight, lock type, etc
once you start making decisions on those specs you will have narrowed the field down considerable if Im spending 1k on a knife it will meet my needs without exception.
Demko is obviously a beast but considerably hard to get and is a lock-back
Medford makes some true beast Im getting a Ti but its a bit of a wait for that too (can probly find 1 on market tho Im getting greg to do some special work for me)
Dalibor is ridiculously top notch Ive never waited over an over for the guy to respond to an email even at like 3 in the morning
Robertson el patron books are closed but not too hard to get on market right now
These are my top choices anyways
 
z@mbiekilla said:
Even if coldsteel's tri-ad lock is stronger than the adamas 25% beefed up axis lock, witch i dont think it is, the blade of the Recon 1 would break if put under the force it takes to break the axis lock
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It would last longer than the Adamas' blade because of the tougher AUS8A steel, vs the brittle D2, a steel best left for light to medium duty utility knives rather than hard use blades.

Let's also assume, for the sake of the argument, that the locks are at equal strength. I would still prefer a Tri-Ad lock, because it doesn't rely on a spring which will eventually wear out and render the entire knife useless.

It is my opinion that the Cold Steel Recon 1 offers higher performance and a stronger knife at half the price.

But hey, if you want to pay all the extra money just to see "USA" on the blade, be my guest.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
It would last longer than the Adamas' blade because of the tougher AUS8A steel, vs the brittle D2, a steel best left for light to medium duty utility knives rather than hard use blades.

Let's also assume, for the sake of the argument, that the locks are at equal strength. I would still prefer a Tri-Ad lock, because it doesn't rely on a spring which will eventually wear out and render the entire knife useless.

It is my opinion that the Cold Steel Recon 1 offers higher performance and a stronger knife at half the price.

But hey, if you want to pay all the extra money just to see "USA" on the blade, be my guest.
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Testing has not shown this. In the tests that Vininull has shown that the D2 performed better in tip strength and edge retention than both the Old Recon1 with the Ultra Lock and the New Recon 1 with the Tri-Ad
 
Ford1911 said:
Testing has not shown this. In the tests that Vininull has shown that the D2 performed better in tip strength and edge retention than both the Old Recon1 with the Ultra Lock and the New Recon 1 with the Tri-Ad
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You're talking about edge retention, which is why I suggested that the D2 is a better steel for light to medium duty. When stressed to the breaking point, D2 will snap before AUS8A will. As for tip strength, that's more of a matter of clip point vs. drop point, shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
You're talking about edge retention, which is why I suggested that the D2 is a better steel for light to medium duty. When stressed to the breaking point, D2 will snap before AUS8A will. As for tip strength, that's more of a matter of clip point vs. drop point, shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
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Drop Point vs Tanto
Tips broke off both CS knives in his tests, you can find his same test on the Adamas

[video=youtube;ARqrMkbSdCA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARqrMkbSdCA&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 
Ford1911 said:
Drop Point vs Tanto
Tips broke off both CS knives in his tests, you can find his same test on the Adamas

[video=youtube;ARqrMkbSdCA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARqrMkbSdCA&feature=youtu.be[/video]
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The very tip might have broken off, but you still have a usable point. What it takes to break the very tip off and what it takes to break off a significant part of the point are two very different things, and under the kind of stress I think we would have seen different results.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
Yes, and not really. Significant would be taking 3/16" or more off of the point.
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I don't want to get in an argument so I will stop after this post but the knife doesn't even have a point after he does his pick at the 18 minute mark. Definatly over 3/16"

I am not trying to bash CS or anything either so don't take it that way. Just presenting facts.
 
Ford1911 said:
I don't want to get in an argument so I will stop after this post but the knife doesn't even have a point after he does his pick at the 18 minute mark. Definatly over 3/16"

I am not trying to bash CS or anything either so don't take it that way. Just presenting facts.
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I think significantly less than that was taken off of the point of both knives, but instead of arguing we'll just have to agree to disagree like adults.
 
I just got my TFF-1 on Monday and its badass. Huge, thick, and rock solid. Been carrying it 3 days straight and I highly recommend it over an SMF.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1374197189.971216.jpg
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The best hard use knife is a stout fixed blade. If you are dead set of a folder, there are a lot of decent frame locks out there (I know some people prefer an axis, but I like a frame lock more). There is a myriad of frame locks available, some of them being good.

The big problem is that we need to know what specs you want. What is your use? Preferred lock type? What size blade do you want? And the biggest one, what is your budget?
 
Plus 1 on the satu. If you need more overbuilt than this you are in trouble.
 
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