Help me find my “for life” $300-500 “overbuilt” folder

SharpieB

SharpieB

Joined
Oct 31, 2017
Messages
1,727
Hey all,

I really want to buy a rock solid knife that will theoretically last me for decades of fairly hard use (mainly in the woods and camping).

I have lots of Spyderco’s, A ZT, a couple of Benchmades and an Italian Fox, so really looking for something “different” and more heavy duty. I will likely be buying my first Emerson soon as well.

I have looked at Medfords, but don’t want to spend $800 on a knife and not fond of the crazy rules around their warranty.

So what should I be looking at? Hinderer? Strider? What others?

Any ideas would be great.

Thanks!
 
Gideons said:
From my experience, if you want a for life hard use, depending on the size, I would highly recommend; Zero Tolerance 0301 series, Hinderer XM-18 3.5' or XM-24. No more prefect hard use quality knives in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

I just picked up a ZT0620 and it is also a beast. I will look at the 0301...
 
SharpieB said:
Thanks.

I just picked up a ZT0620 and it is also a beast. I will look at the 0301...
Click to expand...

To list the ZT knives I've owned: 0450CF, 0350 x4, 0301 x3, 0566BW x4, 0560BW x2, 0562Bk x2, 0620, 0630,0630ORBK. To be honest, besides the 0560 (maybe), not other ZT model compares in this category to the 0301. The 0620 is a good knife, but for a hard use lifetime knife, in my opinion it isn't in the same category as the 0301 :p I've also owned 4 XM-18's 3.5".
 
CRK Inkosi or Umnumzaan
Jake Hoback
ZT 456, ZT 0801, ZT 0220, ZT 804(you can still find one)
Hinderer
Defiant 7
 
Graymanknives SATU!! I had the TiTi version in S30v, it was a beast. I plan on getting a new one with g10 and Cpm-20cv. You won’t be disappointed with any Grayman. For significantly less you might look at a the new cold steel Sr1 tanto when it comes out.
 
There are several that would last a lifetime of use ... but depends if its hard use or abuse ... everyones ideas differ a bit on that.

If you are going to pry and throw or baton a folder ... I couldn't recommend anything ... even if some might take it.

But if you're wanting a strong knife that will cut and has a good build comfortable to grip tight and shape wood into useful things and sharpen up well and go back to shaving wood for your fire starter ... well then only listing those that I have personally used enough to know ...

I would say ZT 300 series ... 350 series ... 560 series ... and my personal favorite if you can still find one the ZT 0909 ... and almost any ZT you could add the 562 or 566 just different sizes and shapes but ZT builds em well ...

Hinderers ... I've only owned and used the XM-18s in 3.5 but I'm sure all his models would be built as well ...

The Benchmade Contego in M4 ... not as comfortable or flashy as some but that M4 will take a workout and ask for more ...

And CRK whether a Sebenza or Inkosi or Umnumzaan will give you a life time of service ... but know the blades are ran at a bit lower heat treat so they will resharpen easy but may not hold a razors edge as long ... but they are built to last.

There are others I hear good about but have no personal experience with so I won't list them.
 
When I need more pocket folder power than I can handle I reach for the Adamas 275, unless I'm playing commando (hard at my age) then I want my ZT301
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
There are several that would last a lifetime of use ... but depends if its hard use or abuse ... everyones ideas differ a bit on that.

If you are going to pry and throw or baton a folder ... I couldn't recommend anything ... even if some might take it.

But if you're wanting a strong knife that will cut and has a good build comfortable to grip tight and shape wood into useful things and sharpen up well and go back to shaving wood for your fire starter ... well then only listing those that I have personally used enough to know ...

I would say ZT 300 series ... 350 series ... 560 series ... and my personal favorite if you can still find one the ZT 0909 ... and almost any ZT you could add the 562 or 566 just different sizes and shapes but ZT builds em well ...

Hinderers ... I've only owned and used the XM-18s in 3.5 but I'm sure all his models would be built as well ...

The Benchmade Contego in M4 ... not as comfortable or flashy as some but that M4 will take a workout and ask for more ...

And CRK whether a Sebenza or Inkosi or Umnumzaan will give you a life time of service ... but know the blades are ran at a bit lower heat treat so they will resharpen easy but may not hold a razors edge as long ... but they are built to last.

There are others I hear good about but have no personal experience with so I won't list them.
Click to expand...
Good post. Thanks!

I have large and small fixed blades and a few machetes for batoning and prying (the latter is rare), but will use this knife for making tinder, cutting small animals, the odd fish and other food prep in the woods and cutting down the odd very small tree/plant. Nothing too crazy, but stuff that I might not throw at a thin bladed BM, Spyderco or Opinel.

Plus honestly, I don’t mind the weight of a 5-8oz knife (I have a lot of lightweights if needed) and superficially I like the look of the bigger and thicker blades on an “overbuilt” looking knife.
 
I've had my ZT 0909 for about a month now and it is just a great knife. It slices well. It's got a nice tip for fine cutting tasks. It feels GREAT in hand. Flips like a dream (I've flipped it so much that I've built up calluses on my thumb and index finger). The G-10 is grippy without being too aggressive. I thought the jimping looked weak, but it works great; gives just the right amount of traction. The pocket clip is a generic pocket clip that Kershaw uses on other models (I have the same one on my Camber), and though it looks too small for the size of the knife, it carries really well in pocket.

It's funny, everything about the 0909 screamed that I wouldn't like it, but my instincts told me that it would rock. Let me tell you, it did not fail to deliver on being the best hard use knife I own.

If you like the Axis lock then a Benchmade 710 is a great knife as well. My brother and nephew have one and swear by them.

Don't forget an Ontario RAT 1 in D2. I know you have a much larger budget, but that is a great hard user.
There's the Cold Steel American Lawman and Recon 1. Those are BEAST knives. That tri-ad lock is stupid solid and they come in CTS-XHP blade steel.

That's what I've got off the top of my head. I hope it helps.
 
I think in that case if you prefer a larger heavier knife ... the Hinderers or one of the bigger ZT models may be what you want ... the Benchmade Contego is a great knife but not nearly as comfortable to me for extended use ...

The CRKs are some of my favorite knives overall ... but don't have the weight and beefiness too them ... but that doesn't stop them from being great extremely well made knives ... that's what many love about the CRKs ... but everyone has there preferences.

The Hinderers are very comfortable and built like tanks ... the beefier ZT models are very comfortable in hand also and some models you will have different steel options for the blades.

SharpieB said:
Good post. Thanks!

I have large and small fixed blades and a few machetes for batoning and prying (the latter is rare), but will use this knife for making tinder, cutting small animals, the odd fish and other food prep in the woods and cutting down the odd very small tree/plant. Nothing too crazy, but stuff that I might not throw at a thin bladed BM, Spyderco or Opinel.

Plus honestly, I don’t mind the weight of a 5-8oz knife (I have a lot of lightweights if needed) and superficially I like the look of the bigger and thicker blades on an “overbuilt” looking knife.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top