Help with choosing a large edc?

I'm kind of surprised no one actually recommended the Manix 2. It's not really a "large" knife, but I'm betting your mitts'll fit the handle. Blade length is legal, huge choice of steels(CTS-XHP/S30V/Maxamet, ect..), handle material is another choice(G10/FRN).

I'm a little concerned with the disassembly of mine, but I'm sure it's not much harder than a lockback

Plus most of them can be found for less than half of your budget. That's some serious value.
 
The Military is a fantastic knife, but I don't think it will scratch your itch for a beefy, overbuilt knife. I can't speak to the Ti/Ti model (which weighs nearly 6 oz.), but the 4.2 oz. plain-Jane Millie is extraordinary in part because it's so light yet so tough. It's a titanic knife (just look at that great comparison photo on page one!), but it's not overbuilt.

I haven't seen the ZT0350 mentioned yet, but that's an overbuilt tank of a knife. It's not any larger than your 0562, though, although the blade is wider and it feels different overall. Excellent ergos and well under $200.

If you can find one, the discontinued ZT0200 has a 4" blade and is also an overbuilt tank. The contoured, 3-D machined G10 handles are cool, and for me the ergonomics overall were solid -- good, but not amazing.
 
I just got my first Military, the s90v ti/cf from knifeworks.com and I just love it.

I have a PM2 and every other knife I tried (griptillian, 0562cf, benchmade 710, bedlam, mini grip, manix 2) while great knives just couldn't top that PM2.

I bought the military and just wow. I really like the extra blade length, the handle is just so comfy and it just plain cuts.
It makes the PM2 (which of course I will be keeping) seem small, yet it is great to carry.
Im selling my 0562cf and going to get another Military. The s30v dlc has a lot of aesthetic value, but the nice thing about the Military is there are so many options.
 
I know you said no to many Cold Steel products, but after years of wondering I got a Recon 1 recently and it's big and beasty.

Just got the 0562blk and am totally loving it.

Spyderco Military is always a great choice...and what's the big BM bowie- Crooked River? Awesome looking big folder. Also love my Emerson 15 and 10...big brawny folders...as is the bowie- I think is the 13.
 
Here's some of my larger knives. I'd recommend them all. But really depends on what you like better between them. Still have quite a few knives that are slightly smaller ie pm2, 0562cf etc, but I choose just the largest I could find.

IMG_20171217_105351.jpg


Reate horizon D carbonfiber - zt 0850
MASERIN Am2 - realsteel megalodon 2017 m390
Military (liner lock, cf/52100) - manix2 s110v
- zt 0452cf
Zt0804cf - lionsteel Tm1 in carbonfiber
Large sebenza 21 cf - ti/cf frame lock in s90v


Tap the pic to zoom (at least that's how it is on my phone).

If your interested in one particular model here I can take video on Instagram to show action and grip etc. Just say the word and model.
 
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My favorite overbuilt pocket knife is my ZT 0350. It was my first ZT. I don't usually care for assisted opening, but on this one it feels right. Perfect build, too. Fun to use, and fun to play with. Cuts stuff very well, though not great at opening mail, with the wide tip. Mine's in my pocket a lot.
 
Here's some of my larger knives. I'd recommend them all. But really depends on what you like better between them. Still have quite a few knives that are slightly smaller ie pm2, 0562cf etc, but I choose just the largest I could find.

IMG_20171217_105351.jpg


Reate horizon D carbonfiber - zt 0850
MASERIN Am2 - realsteel megalodon 2017 m390
Military (liner lock, cf/52100) - manix2 s110v
- zt 0452cf
Zt0804cf - lionsteel Tm1 in carbonfiber
Large sebenza 21 cf - ti/cf frame lock in s90v


Tap the pic to zoom (at least that's how it is on my phone).

If your interested in one particular model here I can take video on Instagram to show action and grip etc. Just say the word and model.

Mo, how do you like the 0850?
 
Too bad about the 0452 length. The 801 is a solid choice (I have 2) they are great users. They 909 is a great recommendation if you don't mind the weight. How about an 0560 off the exchange? Here's a pic I took recently:

4OvUTrH.jpg

4OvUTrH.jpg

ZT 0804cf
ZT 0452cf
Military
ZT 0561
ZT 0562CF
Manix2
The 909 is the les George model right? And also how does the 804 compare to the 801? Or is it just the carbon fiber? Also in terms of ergos would you say the 560 is equal to the 562? It looks like a more neutral handle
 
My favorite overbuilt pocket knife is my ZT 0350. It was my first ZT. I don't usually care for assisted opening, but on this one it feels right. Perfect build, too. Fun to use, and fun to play with. Cuts stuff very well, though not great at opening mail, with the wide tip. Mine's in my pocket a lot.
I've gone through two and just can't get over the deep recurve. I don't mind a subtle recurve like on the kershaw blur, but the 0350 is too deep for me. Thanks though
 
I'm kind of surprised no one actually recommended the Manix 2. It's not really a "large" knife, but I'm betting your mitts'll fit the handle. Blade length is legal, huge choice of steels(CTS-XHP/S30V/Maxamet, ect..), handle material is another choice(G10/FRN).

I'm a little concerned with the disassembly of mine, but I'm sure it's not much harder than a lockback

Plus most of them can be found for less than half of your budget. That's some serious value.
I probably should have mentioned the knives I've already owned and didn't like, sorry! I've gone through two manix's and can't get over the amount of pocket real estate it takes up. It's a tank for sure, it's just I have to put it in a pocket that has nothing else in it. And I shall have my wallet in one pocket and my phone in another
 
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Mo, how do you like the 0850?
its a love hate thing. i love to carry it. but i dont like many of the features, BUT i still like it. i wouldnt let the con's get in the way. unless those con's are major in your point of view.

con's
-its too thick behind the edge, doesnt slice well. no big deal unless you need a slicer. tried slicing rubber tubing and it was horrible at that (but most knives of this size are going to be similar unless its like say a spyderco).
-thumb stud is not functional, it will make your fingers sore deploying. most annoying thing about the knife. once it wears in it will get easier, but still the sharp edges of the thumbstud are annoying, id rather have say a kershaw blur thumbstud style far better.
-backspacer is ugly revolver thing and aluminum, the wood screws are just screwed into it, so low tech annoying cheap.
-carbon fiber is not a full carbon composite. its carbon and micarta (blue) iirc. to me this means it was less expensive and not as strong as just carbonfiber (but this is nitpicking, the quality of the composite is very high).
-not thrilled with the GUN market design ques. this is the most upsetting. its a knife made for gun enthusiasts id say. that pisses me off. zt is a knife company. but they are targeting a different market with this one.


pro's
-action is great, you can finger flick after its worn in a bit. i prefer to finger flick rather than thumb flick, as my thumb gets red AF.
-grip is great.
-20cv steel is great, tho i havent used it much to say about its wear rate yet.
-fairly good in the pocket for being larger. good placement of the clip.
-its fairly light weight. the blade is the heavy part of the knife. but its not that unbalanced.
-high quality TI and CF/micarta.

mine came with what i would suggest is a weak detent or a detent hole too big for the detent. when its closed i can shake it lightly and it will chatter. the blade is loose. if i shake it a little more the blade whips out unsafely. some other folks also have this issue (epic snuggle bunny showed this on his just recently on his live yt video). not everyone is affected. im sure ZT would fix this, dunno tho.

im really subjective on knives. most of the knife community doesn't see eye to eye with me. im worse than nick shabazz. i wish more people listed con's about knives instead of saying they like everything. in this case, even the con's are not that bad. more of nitpicks.

These sell on the secondary market for pretty cheap. or at least almost every one ive seen was. i got mine below map pricing new. its definatly not worth Map pricing imho, but its an excellent knife that i still like to carry despite the cons.
 
I am having a hard time accepting you are talking about: first ZT 0452 wont open due to pressure on lockbar as an issue. It is not an issue of the design, but an issue of lack of proper skills of opening the knife. Then you go on saying ZT 0804 sales at $99-139. I dont know which planet you are on but that model has never been priced that low.

I’m agreeing with you here. Re the poster who said The 0909 was available at $99-139, can you verify that you are in fact talking about the 0804cf? This would be 75% off, and forgive my incredulity this sounds ludicrous for a ZT, where any retailer would have paid well over $180 for stock! After discontinuation the lowest I could find was $199, and I checked literally dozens of websites!
Oh and for OP, spyderco Military all day, everyday, at 3.88” length
 
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I already own a ZT 0562CF, but I want something with more user friendly materials, like s35vn and g10.

Price range: under 200

Why not the plain ZT 0562? G10, s35vn, $200. If you're OD'd on that design, check out some Cold Steel offerings too. I can recommend the Recon 1 from firsthand use. A more beefy, heavy, 'overbuilt' one is the SR1, meets your specs perfectly. And if you plan to use your 'overbuilt' folder for heavy duty cutting tasks, that strong backlock is an asset.
 
Yeah, the Rexford ZT 0804 was a steal at the $99 to $139 asking price - I got five to use as high-end Christmas stocking stuffers! It might be awhile before we see its like again. (About the only criticisms I read about the 0804 was the fact that the sharpened edge ran all the way to the plunge grind, and that ZT didn't furnish a stylish cover to fill the unused pocket clip cutout on the scales. The latter complaint was rather like quibbling if you ask me.)
That was the 0909 les George!
 
I’m agreeing with you here. Re the poster who said The 0909 was available at $99-139, can you verify that you are in fact talking about the 0804cf? This would be 75% off, and forgive my incredulity this sounds ludicrous for a ZT, where any retailer would have paid well over $180 for stock! After discontinuation the lowest I could find was $199, and I checked literally dozens of websites!
Oh and for OP, spyderco Military all day, everyday, at 3.88” length

I did not bother to respond to his dissertation rebuting what I said. I am sure ZT 0804cf would sell out within hours at $150. Why would any dealer price it at $99? Any ZT fan ever really saw this price?
 
Why not the plain ZT 0562? G10, s35vn, $200. If you're OD'd on that design, check out some Cold Steel offerings too. I can recommend the Recon 1 from firsthand use. A more beefy, heavy, 'overbuilt' one is the SR1, meets your specs perfectly. And if you plan to use your 'overbuilt' folder for heavy duty cutting tasks, that strong backlock is an asset.
That's a great point, it's just I got my carbon fiber 20CV 0562 for $160 from a friend and I just don't feel right about spending the same on the "cheaper" model. But that's just me being stubborn. I'll probably end up getting one lol
 
That's a great point, it's just I got my carbon fiber 20CV 0562 for $160 from a friend and I just don't feel right about spending the same on the "cheaper" model. But that's just me being stubborn. I'll probably end up getting one lol

$160 is a goid price for a second hand ZT 0562cf. I bought a light user ZT 0562 for $135 and I dont regret. The stonewashed blade looks really nice and I like Elmax steel a lot. After I put on an after market lightening strike cf scale and ti hardware, it looks better than my 0562cf.
 
That's a great point, it's just I got my carbon fiber 20CV 0562 for $160 from a friend and I just don't feel right about spending the same on the "cheaper" model. But that's just me being stubborn. I'll probably end up getting one lol

I also really like the 562 shape, the only recent ZT that just looks as “cool” is the discontinued 0804cf. Not as much of a slicer as such. I haven’t been into sinkevich’s ZT designs lately
 
The 0452cf is pretty amazing. I’d highly recommend at least handling one, especially if you like the 0450.
 
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