- Joined
- Jan 4, 2013
- Messages
- 715
I've been doing quite a lot of research lately through these forums and youtube trying to pick my next knife. Every few days, inevitably, I'll discover a new brand or new knife that I'm sure a lot of the folks here have debated and researched since it came out and go back and forth about whether or not to add it to my consideration list. I though perhaps maybe some of yall would be kind enough to offer some suggestions based on a few criterion and a short list of knives I'm currently considering! As it stands, here is what I'm looking for:
1. EDC use- any knife I buy will be literally carried every single day for a period of at least several months. It will be methodically played with (constant opening and closing as I'm working, watching tv, or playing with my computer), it has to be able to withstand occasional hard-use ranching work and be a tool, and though I prefer larger knives it needs to not incite too much running and screaming if I need to use it in a public setting (in rural Texas most people don't bat and eye, but lets say I was in a more major city traveling).
2. It has be to actually ambidextrous and easy open with gloves- I'm left handed and do a fair amount of knife work with gloves on. I really enjoy flippers (I recently purchased a JYD as my first flipper and really enjoy it). I can deal with locks that are a little trickier left handed, but few things are more frustrating than not being able to open a knife when I needed with gloves on.
3. Sturdy- All other things constant, I prefer my knives a little heavier and a little more durable. I can't think of a situation where I would need to baton with my knife, but neither will it be protected in a safe. It may be called upon from time to time to cut limbs, whittle with when bored, double as a staple remover, and even as a screwdriver or minor prying on very rare occasions. I try to protect my knives and certainly don't look to abuse them, but they are a constant tool with me and sometimes it happens. I'm looking for risk minimization with durability.
4. Steel/sharpening- I'd really like to have a knife out of pretty decent and harder steel with good edge retention. For the same reasons as above, I'd like like to have a blade that can hold an edge nicely. I don't mind the act of sharpening at all- even if the steels are difficult to work with its a nice activity. I'm hesitant to go for a recurve blade or anything that I couldn't sharpen with a small stone that anyone could find in a situation where I was away from my tools, but it isn't an absolute deal breaker.
5. Size- Between 3 and 4 inches blade length with 3.5 being pretty ideal.
6. Cost- I know most price caps are pretty arbitrary and it can fluctuate a bit, but I would really like to keep it under $300.
I've been looking around and trying to read reviews and watch videos of as many knives as I can, and these are my 3 front runners (in order) as I sit right now. They change order pretty frequently as I tweak how much I value each of their perks and weaknesses, but overall I really like these 3 the best of what I've seen in my range so far.
A. ZT 560- I think this is actually my least favorite of the 3 in terms of looks, but it leads because of its all around versatility. ZT has great customer service. I feel like it would successfully fulfill all of my requirements. Maybe not excel in some areas as the other two might, but absolutely no real flaws. I have some vague concern with some of the detent issues I've read about, but it seems to be a small portion of the knives and I'm sure it can and would be fixed if it bothered me (provided I was unfortunate enough to receive one with this issue).
B. Microtech Select Fire- My favorite blade shape of any knife in this range and maybe of any ever, and the videos of hard use on youtube make it look beyond impressive. I'm concerned with some of the comments I've heard about microtech's customer service. I certainly don't plan on having any issues with my knife and I happily maintain my knives myself, but I would hate to think that if needed a screw or something happened I couldn't get it fixed. I also would prefer a flipper (though only a minor thing), but the thumb studs seem quite large and handy.
C. ZT 300 series- It is an amazing tank. I've never read or heard any negative comments in any fashion about this classic. My only concerns are how aggressive it looks with the tiger stripes (and I dislike black blades) and that they coupled with blade size could draw unwanted attention in certain EDC scenarios. Also that recurves can be a bear to sharpen for someone who likes to free hand on benchstones sort of worries me.
I know this has been a massive wall of text! Thanks for reading and I really appreciate any suggestions of what to add to the list or comments on any of my top 3. I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but I think this largely covers what I'm looking for. Thanks again yall.
1. EDC use- any knife I buy will be literally carried every single day for a period of at least several months. It will be methodically played with (constant opening and closing as I'm working, watching tv, or playing with my computer), it has to be able to withstand occasional hard-use ranching work and be a tool, and though I prefer larger knives it needs to not incite too much running and screaming if I need to use it in a public setting (in rural Texas most people don't bat and eye, but lets say I was in a more major city traveling).
2. It has be to actually ambidextrous and easy open with gloves- I'm left handed and do a fair amount of knife work with gloves on. I really enjoy flippers (I recently purchased a JYD as my first flipper and really enjoy it). I can deal with locks that are a little trickier left handed, but few things are more frustrating than not being able to open a knife when I needed with gloves on.
3. Sturdy- All other things constant, I prefer my knives a little heavier and a little more durable. I can't think of a situation where I would need to baton with my knife, but neither will it be protected in a safe. It may be called upon from time to time to cut limbs, whittle with when bored, double as a staple remover, and even as a screwdriver or minor prying on very rare occasions. I try to protect my knives and certainly don't look to abuse them, but they are a constant tool with me and sometimes it happens. I'm looking for risk minimization with durability.
4. Steel/sharpening- I'd really like to have a knife out of pretty decent and harder steel with good edge retention. For the same reasons as above, I'd like like to have a blade that can hold an edge nicely. I don't mind the act of sharpening at all- even if the steels are difficult to work with its a nice activity. I'm hesitant to go for a recurve blade or anything that I couldn't sharpen with a small stone that anyone could find in a situation where I was away from my tools, but it isn't an absolute deal breaker.
5. Size- Between 3 and 4 inches blade length with 3.5 being pretty ideal.
6. Cost- I know most price caps are pretty arbitrary and it can fluctuate a bit, but I would really like to keep it under $300.
I've been looking around and trying to read reviews and watch videos of as many knives as I can, and these are my 3 front runners (in order) as I sit right now. They change order pretty frequently as I tweak how much I value each of their perks and weaknesses, but overall I really like these 3 the best of what I've seen in my range so far.
A. ZT 560- I think this is actually my least favorite of the 3 in terms of looks, but it leads because of its all around versatility. ZT has great customer service. I feel like it would successfully fulfill all of my requirements. Maybe not excel in some areas as the other two might, but absolutely no real flaws. I have some vague concern with some of the detent issues I've read about, but it seems to be a small portion of the knives and I'm sure it can and would be fixed if it bothered me (provided I was unfortunate enough to receive one with this issue).
B. Microtech Select Fire- My favorite blade shape of any knife in this range and maybe of any ever, and the videos of hard use on youtube make it look beyond impressive. I'm concerned with some of the comments I've heard about microtech's customer service. I certainly don't plan on having any issues with my knife and I happily maintain my knives myself, but I would hate to think that if needed a screw or something happened I couldn't get it fixed. I also would prefer a flipper (though only a minor thing), but the thumb studs seem quite large and handy.
C. ZT 300 series- It is an amazing tank. I've never read or heard any negative comments in any fashion about this classic. My only concerns are how aggressive it looks with the tiger stripes (and I dislike black blades) and that they coupled with blade size could draw unwanted attention in certain EDC scenarios. Also that recurves can be a bear to sharpen for someone who likes to free hand on benchstones sort of worries me.
I know this has been a massive wall of text! Thanks for reading and I really appreciate any suggestions of what to add to the list or comments on any of my top 3. I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but I think this largely covers what I'm looking for. Thanks again yall.
