In need of a Tough EDC

My palm measurement is only 3.5" across the knuckles, so yes, you have large hands. I have a 0550 and it's a bit too large of a knife for me to carry in casual EDC. For camping or whatever, it's be great. The 0560 flipper model mentioned above is a 1/2" longer in the handle and has a 1/4" longer blade than the 3.5" of the 0550.
ZT's are great knives. The S35VN and the Elmax are good steels and are rated closely together in the Ankerson "cutting" tests. Both are tough and hold a good edge. Jim Ankerson might chime in here and give his opinion.
ZT is a fine company and has great customer service.
Okay. That's ZT.
Someone suggested the Gayle Bradley by Spyderco; another excellent knife in CPM-M4, a non-stainless but one that won't rust if you wipe it down occasionally and don't put it away wet.
My personal suggestion for you is the Spyderco Military. A long-handled folder with a 4" blade that is available in an excellent variety of "super-steels" here on the forum exchange. M390 would be my suggestion, and you will find one on the Exchange, sold by individuals NIB, for about $220 quite often. Sal Glesser, head of Spyderco, designed this knife personally for someone who would be taking it into the armed forces. Great blade strength, great blade-steels available. Can be had also in Titanium with S30V blade-steel if you like that, or a lighted carbon-fiber which owners enjoy. I have that knife and also one in D2, another good steel but is non-stainless. Yes, I'd pick the Military: 4" blade, the finest blade-steels are available in your price range, long handle which should be FINE in your large hands, and should last forever. There is another slightly smaller Spyderco called the Paramilitary 2, which is my personal favorite, which might be a mite short for your large hands. 3.3" blade, many super-steels available here on the Exchange, not quite as "robust" as the Military, but an excellent EDC for most folks, including me.
Sonnydaze
 
Take a look at the al mar s2k. Solid tough knife. A little on the heavy side for edc but it didn't bother me. Great knife IMO.
 
I have handled most of the knives discussed above. The ZT knives are some of the most well designed of anything I have ever used. One of the main reasons I ended up purchasing the 0560 instead of the cheaper 0550 is that the 0560 is so much easier to deploy. That, and the fact that it employs Elmax was a selling point. ZT has some knives that are bigger, but the blade geometry of the Hinderer designed 0560 seems to be a easy winner among the entire lineup. Do yourself a favor and check the For Sale forums before you go paying retail for one. I picked up my 0560 for $225. It was used and had some very slight marks on the blade where someone was attempting to sharpen it, but it serves its purpose.
 
I think you may want the 0560 just because of hand size. That being said the 0550 will suit you absolutely fine as well. Both are spectacular knives. Don't worry about snobbing on the steel, the differences will be so difficult for you to recognize between two extremely excellent choices. The real choice is whether or not you want a flipper. I personally enjoy flipping so I went with the 0560. It is very large and very tough but surprisingly light. Many on this forum love it for good reason. It is like the PM2 - one of the best production knives around.
 
Best would be handling the knife to see what feels right.There are a couple dealers in your area that have some stock that I know of,30-45 minute rides.
 
Here's the folders in my collection that I would consider tougher/bigger than average. All are under $250, besides the ZT 560 of course.

From top to bottom:
ZT 200
ZT 560
Benchmade 810
Benchmade 275
Spyderco Manix 2 XL
Emerson CQC-13
IMG_2395.jpg


IMG_2353.jpg
 
rlacan71 said:
. One last consideration. I have very large hands. Would that mean that the 0560 wins by default? The handle looked substantially bigger than the rest.
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The 0560 is only slightly longer in the handle than the 0550, my hands are a tad under 4" across and I still have room on the 0550. It's still a big knife and it actually feels a little fatter in the hand than the 0560... Either one would serve you well, you're getting a lot of good recommendations here probably making your decision even harder. You chose well from the very get go with the 0550 and I believe most of the posts here verified that.
 
With hands that large, the 0350 is going to feel small. Don't be to fast to overlook the Spyderco Gayle Bradley and the CPM M4 steel. With its larger handle it would fit like a glove. Again, I own both. M4 stands right up there with the best. I live on the salt water also, just give it basic care.

Cheers...
 
Since you mentioned edge retention, you might want to look at the Benchmade McHenry Williams in M390 steel.
 
Go get a benchmade 81 contego. Great big m4 steel blade that is as sturdy as it gets. Handle is large and very grippy. And the axis lock is great.
 
The 0561 has a good sized handle, not huge, but definitely on the larger size. It fills the hand nicely. The handle is pretty good sized considering how well the knife carries.

I EDC mine constantly and it has held up to a lot of tough tasks. I don't feel under knifed. Its rock solid.

I'll know in the beginning of August how it really performs when I use it as my only knife on a 7 day backpacking trip.

I'll take a backup fixed blade but won't use it unless I have to.
 
I have large hands.
You do not want the 0350 for larger hands. The handle is kinda short. That is the only reason I got rid of mine.
Other wise I would have kept it.
The ZT 0550 - is perfect size for large hands. The ZT 0560 is bigger and fits awesome in the hand but the 0550 also feels EXCELLENT in the hand.
Either of those options would work.
If you love the ZT 0550 - Get it. It will fit your hand. My hand is about the same size as yours and it fit me perfectly.
The ZT 0560 is just a beast lol.
 
RemyKaze said:
I've been looking at the different kinds of Gunhammers. Trying to get a little feedback currently but they look friggin' awesome.
Click to expand...

You all may know this already, but it's my very favorite knife.

Knife Center has some in M390 right now, and as I won one in a contest, I can tell you, they're amazing. The stock is a lot thicker than other models, but it still performs great (as you'd expect from M390). Super comfortable in hand, sturdy lock, no blade wobble, gorgeous F&F... I haven't experienced the 550, but I just can't get over how great the Gun Hammer is.

2012-06-22143607.jpg


They're in the same price range too. Might even be a bit cheaper.

-edit- Also, I did pick up a ZT 350. Tried it, didn't like it even remotely as much as the Gunny. It's now been sold. 560 and 550 might be more to my liking, but I would rather buy the forum gun hammer that's in the works.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
You all may know this already, but it's my very favorite knife.

Knife Center has some in M390 right now, and as I won one in a contest, I can tell you, they're amazing. The stock is a lot thicker than other models, but it still performs great (as you'd expect from M390). Super comfortable in hand, sturdy lock, no blade wobble, gorgeous F&F... I haven't experienced the 550, but I just can't get over how great the Gun Hammer is.

2012-06-22143607.jpg


They're in the same price range too. Might even be a bit cheaper.

-edit- Also, I did pick up a ZT 350. Tried it, didn't like it even remotely as much as the Gunny. It's now been sold. 560 and 550 might be more to my liking, but I would rather buy the forum gun hammer that's in the works.
Click to expand...

Zookie said:
Go get a benchmade 81 contego. Great big m4 steel blade that is as sturdy as it gets. Handle is large and very grippy. And the axis lock is great.
Click to expand...

gomipile said:
Since you mentioned edge retention, you might want to look at the Benchmade McHenry Williams in M390 steel.
Click to expand...

Ray Allen said:
With hands that large, the 0350 is going to feel small. Don't be to fast to overlook the Spyderco Gayle Bradley and the CPM M4 steel. With its larger handle it would fit like a glove. Again, I own both. M4 stands right up there with the best. I live on the salt water also, just give it basic care.

Cheers...
Click to expand...

goephoto said:
Take a look at the al mar s2k. Solid tough knife. A little on the heavy side for edc but it didn't bother me. Great knife IMO.
Click to expand...

Sonnydaze said:
My palm measurement is only 3.5" across the knuckles, so yes, you have large hands. I have a 0550 and it's a bit too large of a knife for me to carry in casual EDC. For camping or whatever, it's be great. The 0560 flipper model mentioned above is a 1/2" longer in the handle and has a 1/4" longer blade than the 3.5" of the 0550.
ZT's are great knives. The S35VN and the Elmax are good steels and are rated closely together in the Ankerson "cutting" tests. Both are tough and hold a good edge. Jim Ankerson might chime in here and give his opinion.
ZT is a fine company and has great customer service.
Okay. That's ZT.
Someone suggested the Gayle Bradley by Spyderco; another excellent knife in CPM-M4, a non-stainless but one that won't rust if you wipe it down occasionally and don't put it away wet.
My personal suggestion for you is the Spyderco Military. A long-handled folder with a 4" blade that is available in an excellent variety of "super-steels" here on the forum exchange. M390 would be my suggestion, and you will find one on the Exchange, sold by individuals NIB, for about $220 quite often. Sal Glesser, head of Spyderco, designed this knife personally for someone who would be taking it into the armed forces. Great blade strength, great blade-steels available. Can be had also in Titanium with S30V blade-steel if you like that, or a lighted carbon-fiber which owners enjoy. I have that knife and also one in D2, another good steel but is non-stainless. Yes, I'd pick the Military: 4" blade, the finest blade-steels are available in your price range, long handle which should be FINE in your large hands, and should last forever. There is another slightly smaller Spyderco called the Paramilitary 2, which is my personal favorite, which might be a mite short for your large hands. 3.3" blade, many super-steels available here on the Exchange, not quite as "robust" as the Military, but an excellent EDC for most folks, including me.
Sonnydaze
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Wow I went away from the computer for a few hours and figured I would check in and see if there was anything new here. DAMN.
Ok now I have some more research to do. I have to say before I start looking into the ones mentioned above that right now IM contemplating the ZT 0550 or the 0560. That being said I am by no means set and will enjoy looking up these othe knives mentioned. Good thing I am home from my 2 jobs on disability for a few more weeks and I can sit here like a gargoyle and look this stuff up. I would have hated all of you had I asked this question while I was still healthy and working.

Thanks guys. As I am a glutton for punishment feel free to either back p whats already said here or to chime in with a diff option

Rob
 
Check out some Emersons. Most if not all are within your price range. Plenty different blade styles and sizes and very solid knives. Not the prettiest knives according to some, but elegant in their simplicity. The Wave feature is awesome.
 
As far as the toughest knife for hard use within your price range. I chose the zt 0333/0301, zt 0200 would also work well.

My zt 0300 is my work knife, my zt0301 is my edc. They are literally pocket tanks.

However I do plan to pick up the zt 0560 as soon as I have funds, but I don't think it is as heavily built as the zt0300's.
 
My ZT 0560 is just as solid(if not more) as my 0301 was.
It too is a tank.
The ZT 055X - was more solid than my 0301 was.
 
Bleh I got stuck watching some movies and stuffing my face with doritos and cheez-its. Still havent looked up the other blades that were suggested, may have to get to them tomorrow. What do you guys think of the 2012 Bladeforums knife? I might get one for a light duty knife. As of right now I own a few Busse fixed blades and only one Folding ...well utility type folder. A leatherman skeletool. I can have whatever I decide on in htere for my hd knife and maybe snag a bladforums one for light duty.
 
rlacan71 said:
I was close on pulling the trigger on the 550 but the handle seems small.

The strider is to pricey for me atm.
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Trust me, I'm not a huge person but I can never fit into anything other than large or extra large gloves, and the 550 has a plenty big handle. It doesn't waste space, but it will fill up your hand plenty. If you think it's a little small, then go for the 560, which has PLENTY of handle room and a little bigger blade. Again, I have large hands and there's room to spare on the 560. The 550 and 560 are both plenty big. The 550 actually feels almost bigger because it's more bulky and squared. But if you can afford the 560, I'd get it over the 550 personally. Love the KVT system, the flipper, the feel of the 3D machining, and ELMAX seems to be a great steel for me.
 
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