I'm a fixed blade guy,but I wanna know why Spyderco, Emerson, and ZT are so popular??

Personal love for the aesthetics and I'm sure their pretty well built. But I'm like you I love my fixed blades and my only favorite folder for the past 5 years is my gerber love that folder.
 
I think convenience might be a big part of it, I like fixed blades plenty, but I can't carry them 80% of the time unless I'm going into the woods. The rest of the time a folder is the best option whether it's because of non-knife people or whatever else. With a folder you can have it with you more often and the promise of things like the ZT line, that it will stand up to most if not all of what a fixed blade can do might just mean you can carry it all the time.
 
I'm with you Glock I've had a gerber F.a.s.t in my pocket everyday for over 3 years and its always performed perfectly. Plus I don't know about the Emersons, but most of the Spydercos are funky looking to me, though the ZT are pretty damn nice. If I were to spend over $65 on a folder for EDC it would be a ZT, Benchmade/HK, or SOG.
 
brewcitymike said:
Is it the steel, the edge retention, or what??
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I don't really understand how or why edge retention would fit into the equation here. It's more of a characteristic of heat treated steel. Folding knives in general are popular because it is not always easy or legal to carry a fixed blade. Some environments a more discreet cutting tool is appropriate than a fixed blade. As to why the companies you mention are so popular, those are many reasons. ZT has one of the best customer service departments and warranty in the business. They make no nonsense knives, and their is an immediate sense of high quality that comes with handling one. The ZT knives I own are rock solid and were obviously designed to last a lifetime. The Speedsafe system is terrific and they are tops in AO style knives. The Newer designs are amazing collaboraions featuring exotic materials.

Emerson serves more of a "tactical" niche for military etc. However, the knives are hit and miss and have many critics. I have a few and I like them just fine. They do what they are intended and designed to do.


Spyderco brought one handed openers, pocket clips, serrations, and a variety of locks and other things to the table. A pioneering company to say the least, they use a multitude of steels, and other materials, just a solid company all around. As for being "funky" looking, I cannot argue with you on that one. The beauty is in the cut, not the way they look. Pick up a Para2 and carry it and use it for a week and see if that doesn't change your mind.
 
i think most of the reasons have already been said above. Im a folder guy. I cant carry a fixed blade everyday, they are just to uncomfortable to carry IMO and they are just not really my style. I much prefer a good automatic knife over a fixed blade.
 
1. ZT - Great warranty, their ergonomics are generally very good. They make exceedingly heavy duty folders and they use good steels with a solid heat treat.
2. Emerson - A variety if very unique blade shapes, superb ergonomics, the wave feature and a heavily tactical mystique due to the owners background. They aren't my cup of tea, but I think those are the primary reasons they appeal to others.
Spyderco - Almost frenetically innovative, they have a huge catalog of models and are often the first to try exotic steels. The widest variety of lock styles of any company around and incredible attention to detail. I'll agree that they can be pretty ugly, but once you use one I find you don't care about that anymore.
 
Fit and finish, great companies who do things their customers request (specifically spyderco) just great products that have never let me down or that I have been unhappy with.
 
They make great products built to great standards (except for the occasional defect that slips through), with most of their knives being a great value for the build.
 
I'm a knife guy and would love to carry my buck 119 everywhere but that just isn't socially acceptable so I carry 3-4" folders because nobody freaks out be seeing a clip. Granted the 119 is a extream IMHO for a edc carry fixed blade but the same idea goes for any open view decent sized blade. Every once in awhile I'll be out fishing or something and forget I have the buck strapped to my belt. I go into a store and notice people freak out(whisper's pointing, ect).
 
Well, I like the explanation from RevDevil, very informative. I have an '08 Spyderco Catalog and my favorite stuff in there is the Jerry Hossom fixed blade.LOL But there's a couple I like. I guess I'll have to check one out, but I'll probably start on the cheaper side of their line first. And a few of you have said ZT has awesome cust. service which is always important. Am I correct when saying ZT are made by Kershaw??? I do really like the ZT folder but I actually don't like their fixed blade very much. I like a fat bulky folder and it looks like they have several. And Emerson is, as far as I know pretty much for LEO's and Military so I don't worry to much about them I guess. So is Benchmade as good or better than these companies? I really like the H&K fixed blade I have and the H&K autos seem great and they're made by Benchmade...your thoughts
 
brewcitymike said:
Well, I like the explanation from RevDevil, very informative. I have an '08 Spyderco Catalog and my favorite stuff in there is the Jerry Hossom fixed blade.LOL But there's a couple I like. I guess I'll have to check one out, but I'll probably start on the cheaper side of their line first. And a few of you have said ZT has awesome cust. service which is always important. Am I correct when saying ZT are made by Kershaw??? I do really like the ZT folder but I actually don't like their fixed blade very much. I like a fat bulky folder and it looks like they have several. And Emers
on is, as far as I know pretty much for LEO's and Military so I don't worry to much about them I guess. So is Benchmade as good or better than these companies? I really like the H&K fixed blade I have and the H&K autos seem great and they're made by Benchmade...your thoughts
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My recommendation to break the surface in a word, is the Manix2 from Spyderco. It really is a great knife. It won't break the bank at around $65. Once you hold it, you will definitely see what the ergonomics are all about. If you want to jump into a ZT folder, the 0200 model is a great way to start, so is the 0350, excellent steel, heat treat, and lock up on all these.

Benchmade makes reallyngood knives as well. They too like working with various super steels and have lots of knives for just about any style. Most are a little on the pricey side, but they seem to hold their value quite well like most knives. I wouldn't say one is better than another, just all different. I'm sure whatever you pick, you won't be disappointed.
 
A fixed blade can do pretty much everything that a folder can. Except fold, obviously. Spyderco, ZT (a subsid of Kershaw), and Benchmade are all excellent production makers, and the customer service and general quality of the products make it worth buying knives from those companies.
 
Why Emerson is so popular is a mystery to me, but I imagine that Spyderco and Kershaw are as popular as they are because they make exceptional products at a reasonable price.

Additionally, Kershaw's customer service has got to be the best I've ever dealt with, bar none. They back their products up and take care of their customers like nobody else I've encountered.
 
it is my understanding that kershaw and zt are owned by kai usa.
kai is the parent company of kershaw, zt, and shun knives.
kershaw and zt were both bought by kai.
 
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