I'm thinking of replacing my current work knife, a CRKT Crawford Casper that I've carried at work for about 6 years. I'm a building engineer so I use it quite a bit. I need a pretty strong knife so I've been looking at the Extrema Ratio MF1. It looks to be a very well made piece and its something different from all the other ones out there. Any opinions??
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Hello all..need opinion
- Thread starter mfi
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Check out the ZT line.
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Preferred blade length? Thickness? Weight? Handle material? Lock type? Steel preference? Blade shape? Etc.
Without any of that info it is difficult to give a really good recommendation.
Personally, I think the extrema ratio stuff if tacky and overpriced. Stick to zt if you are looking for a big beefy production folder. There are other options as the prices go up (or down...cold steel...), but you can't go wrong with zt.
Without any of that info it is difficult to give a really good recommendation.
Personally, I think the extrema ratio stuff if tacky and overpriced. Stick to zt if you are looking for a big beefy production folder. There are other options as the prices go up (or down...cold steel...), but you can't go wrong with zt.
How hard will it be used?
Benchmade Griptilians are strong, and wouldn't give you an aneurism if you broke it. 100$ being broke VS 2-400$ on ZT being broke is quite a stretch.
But if you're going to be batoning through rebars and chipping concrete, a fixed blade is much better choice.
(yeah, I'm exaggerating.
)
Benchmade Griptilians are strong, and wouldn't give you an aneurism if you broke it. 100$ being broke VS 2-400$ on ZT being broke is quite a stretch.
But if you're going to be batoning through rebars and chipping concrete, a fixed blade is much better choice.
(yeah, I'm exaggerating.
)
I've looked at almost everything out there. The Extrema I'm looking at is around $250.00 so its in line with a lot of the production folders. Problem is here in NY its hard to find a knife shop..online sales have pretty much wiped most of them out. I'm looking for a big folder, blade around 3.75 to 4 inches, no preference on handle material, want a double lock, the extrema has one,like the lawks lock as well. No preference with blade steel, something that will hold an edge but can be sharpened without too much difficulty, I have an edge pro. Weight is not an issue as my CRKT is heavy.
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You aren't going to find much in the way of a double lock aside from LionSteel's rotoblock. Why is it that you want a double lock anyway? Knives in your price range typically will be plenty strong. Put it this way, if enough force it put on the spine of a knife to fail a lock on a beefy knife, a thin liner like the LAWKS system will most definitely fail as well. Take a look at how many high quality folders have double locking systems...almost none of them. And its because they are non intuitive and unnecessary.
In your price range, you aren't going to find anything better than the ZT 0560. I'd say it blows the extrema ratio out of the water in every single way.
If you are absolutely set on a double locking system, in my opinion LionSteel is absolutely the only way to go. You can get the aluminum handled sr-1 for around $250, its a beast though, so just keep that in mind. The dpx h.e.s.t 2.0 (made by lionsteel) is around $200 but is a much smaller blade.
Another EXCELLENT option well under your price limit would be the Benchmade Adamas. Big beefy axis lock folder with d2 steel and excellent ergonomics.
Honestly, all of the above are going to be a HUGE step up from your crkt. Get the extrema ratio if you want, they are pretty high quality, but use very ho-hum materials for the price, and are seemingly designed with mall ninjas and keyboard commandos in mind. At $250 your options are almost endless, you'd be wise to go with a proven fan favorite (zt 0560, bm adamas, etc.) rather than something you just think looks cool. For $250 you can get one heck of a knife.
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The Extrema Ratio is a good knife if you can afford it. Sounds like you take care of your knife and if you've been able to hang on to your CRKT for six years, go for it. Any chance your company will pick up the tab?
You might also consider getting an inexpensive Cold Steel knife. The Recon 1 tanto is an exceptionally strong knife with a 4-inch hollow ground blade and a thick spine. I don't know what your size and weight restrictions are, but you might also consider a CS Spartan or AK-47. And if you like CRKT, take a peek at the M21-04, which is one of my favorite knives. It's strong, has the Lake and Walker Knife Safety (LAWKS) and a beautiful spear point blade. (You can buy four of them for the price of the Extreme Ratio and rotate them!) And if you just need a good, strong work knife, consider the Cabela's Alaskan Buck 110. It has the rugged strength of the Buck 110 and a 4-inch S30V blade, heat treated by Paul Bos. It also comes with a very nice leather sheath that can be worn upside down for quick access.
Cold Steel makes the strongest folders in the world due to their Tri-Ad locking system, designed by Andrew Demko. If you want a larger knife, the XLG Voyagers come with 5.5 inch blades (see photo below). They're big, though, but if you're a hard user of knives, they're something you might want to look at. The last photo is the CRKT M21-04.
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You might also consider getting an inexpensive Cold Steel knife. The Recon 1 tanto is an exceptionally strong knife with a 4-inch hollow ground blade and a thick spine. I don't know what your size and weight restrictions are, but you might also consider a CS Spartan or AK-47. And if you like CRKT, take a peek at the M21-04, which is one of my favorite knives. It's strong, has the Lake and Walker Knife Safety (LAWKS) and a beautiful spear point blade. (You can buy four of them for the price of the Extreme Ratio and rotate them!) And if you just need a good, strong work knife, consider the Cabela's Alaskan Buck 110. It has the rugged strength of the Buck 110 and a 4-inch S30V blade, heat treated by Paul Bos. It also comes with a very nice leather sheath that can be worn upside down for quick access.
Cold Steel makes the strongest folders in the world due to their Tri-Ad locking system, designed by Andrew Demko. If you want a larger knife, the XLG Voyagers come with 5.5 inch blades (see photo below). They're big, though, but if you're a hard user of knives, they're something you might want to look at. The last photo is the CRKT M21-04.
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ZT0300/301 Zt560 Zt200 are all solid blades By Zero tolerance here in the US. Striders SMF with the new lock up are beast and have great feel in the hand and super thick blade steel. The HEST 2.0 is a great option for the price. Personally I think the Cold Steel stuff is over priced for over seas made knives with AUS 8 steel but the triad lock is very solid. That all said my Go to heavy use is the CRK Umnumzaan its perfection or a Grayman SATU if you can find one up for sale. As for some kind of secondary lock I find them gimmicky and not relay needed. If you find a cutting task that is soo hard core its time to get a fixed blade or a RECIPROCATING SAW.
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I would choose ZT over Extreme 100% of the time.
Ok..really like the Lionsteel..I like D-2 steel, pretty tough stuff, price is right..Anyone care to guess what the ZT 600 will go for..a bit huge though..Like the 560 as well. I just wish I could see these in person, have to search around the state, wouldn't mind taking a drive to see them. Anyone from the NY area know of a good knife shop within 50 miles of Long Island??
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I think your best bet in the $200 something range would be the ZT line.
I would suggest the ZT 0300/1/2/3, 0550/1, 0560/1.
If you like the different designs.. take a look at the Spyderco Tuff that just came out.
The Spyderco Titanium Military comes to mind as well.
If you want to spend less:
ZT 0200, Spyderco Military, Benchmade 810 Contego, Benchmade 275 ADAMAS, Cold Steel Recon 1, Cold Steel AK-47.
If you like a tanto tip and want something strong in a slightly thinner and lighter weight package, you can still pick up a ZT 0400 with the 3.75in. Tanto blade.
I would suggest the ZT 0300/1/2/3, 0550/1, 0560/1.
If you like the different designs.. take a look at the Spyderco Tuff that just came out.
The Spyderco Titanium Military comes to mind as well.
If you want to spend less:
ZT 0200, Spyderco Military, Benchmade 810 Contego, Benchmade 275 ADAMAS, Cold Steel Recon 1, Cold Steel AK-47.
If you like a tanto tip and want something strong in a slightly thinner and lighter weight package, you can still pick up a ZT 0400 with the 3.75in. Tanto blade.
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- Oct 28, 2009
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- 2,420
check out the spyderco gayle bradley:
spyderco lionspy:
spyderco tuff:
spyderco lionspy:
spyderco tuff:
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- Nov 1, 2005
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You can do better than the tops for the money. I'm not gonna try to stop you from buying what you want, but its beginning to look like you just want a big scary looking knife, and if that's what you want, don't spend $200+ on one. Tops, like extrema ratio, are marketed towards the mall ninja crowd. Both make decent knives, but the cost WAY too much in comparison to other (better) options.
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