Shorttime
Gold Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2011
- Messages
- 4,127
I got my Cryo about a week ago, based in part on the recommendations of Bladeforums members. I thought I would give back a little.
Out of the box
Right out of the clamshell, the Cryo was so tight, the Speedsafe would not open the blade. I decided to let it go for a while.
I spent some time looking the knife over, and noticed that there is some buildup in the jimping. I believe it to be an effect of the coating process. It does not impair the function of the jimping in any way.
There are some minor scratches on the handles, but it took some careful looking in good light to find them. Again, nothing that will impair the function or strength of the knife.
I found two small burrs, one on the cutout for the lockbar stabilizer, and one on the outside of the framelock, at the bearing end. Neither is large enough to notice in use, nor indeed, large enough to see without close inspection.
The Cryo was sharp out of the box, about what you would get on a 400 grit stone. This may not be very sharp to some, but it is quite serviceable for me.
Blade length is 2 3/4". Width is just under 1", not including the flipper tab. Thickness is 1/8" of an inch. Frame scales are also 1/8" thick.
Some people are bothered by blades that don't center, and this is one. I think it's part of the Speedsafe mechanism.
Into the pocket
The pocket clip is very strong, to the point where it takes some work to draw and replace it. I like knowing that my folder will stay where I put it.
The clip is also set up to let the knife ride low in your pocket.
I am used to a full size folding Razel, among others, so I hardly notice the weight of the knife in my pocket. Those who are used to knives with plastic handles may find it feels much heavier.
Although it is very flat (13/32"), it is also very wide (1 1/2" including the flipper), and if you like your jeans tight, the Cryo can feel like it takes up a lot of space. I find the thickness of a knife to have much more influence on whether or not it feels like it gets in my way.
At work
I was anxious to take the knife to work, and lucky to get the chance to use it on my favorite cutting test material, plastic drain hose. This polypropolene wonder is about 1/16 of an inch thick, dense, and usually crudded up with dust after we use it. The Cryo's size and width make it easy to control the blade, and maintain leverage, in forward or reverse grips, making short work of the drain hose, and thirty or so layers of duct tape, which we use to hold the hose together.
Along the way through all this plastic and adhesive, I got the edge in contact with some metal, and I am pleased to say it did not dull the edge. By the end of the day, though, it did need to be retouched.
I have some experience with 8/13 chrome-moly steel from some other companies, and Kershaw got something right. Although edge retention is about average for my experience with this steel, Kershaw's version sharpens more easily, and the edge has plenty of "tooth", when sharpened on a 320 grit diamond. It's sharp enough for me.
Other observations
I usually remove the spring from AO knives, but I quickly realized that this would be difficult, because the whole mechanism is recessed into the handle slab, and covered by a metal plate. I'll leave it the way it is, and see if Speedsafe is a match for stone dust.
After a dozen or so deployments, the pivot loosened up, and now snaps open with authority. It is still tight enough to keep the blade from deploying without deliberately working the tab. This is important, because the knife comes set up for right hand, tip down, and I've kept it that way. This means that the flipper tab is against the side of my pocket.
The handle slab that rides against my leg has started to develop a nice wear pattern on it's top side. I like the "used look", but I didn't expect it to happen after five days. We'll see what kind of patina develops.
The mystique
The blade says "Hinderer Design." The look is classic Hinderer, and the ratio of length to thickness of the blade and slabs make for a very solid feeling to the knife.
At least one company calls it "the Hinderer for the rest of us".
Is it true?
Now, I've never handled an XM, or even one of ZT's collaborations. So I may not be the best person to answer the question.
A fifty dollar knife is not a two hundred dollar knife, and certainly not one of Rick's customs.
I think that if you expect to get the quality of a Hinderer, or a ZT, at a bargain price, you will be disappointed. But considered on it's own merits, the Cryo is an excellent value, and probably should retail for somewhere around eighty dollars. The knife offers excellent control and leverage without generating any hot spots on your hands. It feels solid and backs up this feeling with zero blade play in any direction. The coating offers traction and an attractive finish that looks neither flashy, nor overly "tactical'. The knife rides low and secure in your pocket, without taking up a lot of room. It deploys fast and easily, but you still have to make it do want you want it to do. Overall, it does what I need, and it doesn't do anything I don't want it to.
I like that in a knife.
Out of the box
Right out of the clamshell, the Cryo was so tight, the Speedsafe would not open the blade. I decided to let it go for a while.
I spent some time looking the knife over, and noticed that there is some buildup in the jimping. I believe it to be an effect of the coating process. It does not impair the function of the jimping in any way.
There are some minor scratches on the handles, but it took some careful looking in good light to find them. Again, nothing that will impair the function or strength of the knife.
I found two small burrs, one on the cutout for the lockbar stabilizer, and one on the outside of the framelock, at the bearing end. Neither is large enough to notice in use, nor indeed, large enough to see without close inspection.
The Cryo was sharp out of the box, about what you would get on a 400 grit stone. This may not be very sharp to some, but it is quite serviceable for me.
Blade length is 2 3/4". Width is just under 1", not including the flipper tab. Thickness is 1/8" of an inch. Frame scales are also 1/8" thick.
Some people are bothered by blades that don't center, and this is one. I think it's part of the Speedsafe mechanism.
Into the pocket
The pocket clip is very strong, to the point where it takes some work to draw and replace it. I like knowing that my folder will stay where I put it.
The clip is also set up to let the knife ride low in your pocket.
I am used to a full size folding Razel, among others, so I hardly notice the weight of the knife in my pocket. Those who are used to knives with plastic handles may find it feels much heavier.
Although it is very flat (13/32"), it is also very wide (1 1/2" including the flipper), and if you like your jeans tight, the Cryo can feel like it takes up a lot of space. I find the thickness of a knife to have much more influence on whether or not it feels like it gets in my way.
At work
I was anxious to take the knife to work, and lucky to get the chance to use it on my favorite cutting test material, plastic drain hose. This polypropolene wonder is about 1/16 of an inch thick, dense, and usually crudded up with dust after we use it. The Cryo's size and width make it easy to control the blade, and maintain leverage, in forward or reverse grips, making short work of the drain hose, and thirty or so layers of duct tape, which we use to hold the hose together.
Along the way through all this plastic and adhesive, I got the edge in contact with some metal, and I am pleased to say it did not dull the edge. By the end of the day, though, it did need to be retouched.
I have some experience with 8/13 chrome-moly steel from some other companies, and Kershaw got something right. Although edge retention is about average for my experience with this steel, Kershaw's version sharpens more easily, and the edge has plenty of "tooth", when sharpened on a 320 grit diamond. It's sharp enough for me.
Other observations
I usually remove the spring from AO knives, but I quickly realized that this would be difficult, because the whole mechanism is recessed into the handle slab, and covered by a metal plate. I'll leave it the way it is, and see if Speedsafe is a match for stone dust.
After a dozen or so deployments, the pivot loosened up, and now snaps open with authority. It is still tight enough to keep the blade from deploying without deliberately working the tab. This is important, because the knife comes set up for right hand, tip down, and I've kept it that way. This means that the flipper tab is against the side of my pocket.
The handle slab that rides against my leg has started to develop a nice wear pattern on it's top side. I like the "used look", but I didn't expect it to happen after five days. We'll see what kind of patina develops.
The mystique
The blade says "Hinderer Design." The look is classic Hinderer, and the ratio of length to thickness of the blade and slabs make for a very solid feeling to the knife.
At least one company calls it "the Hinderer for the rest of us".
Is it true?
Now, I've never handled an XM, or even one of ZT's collaborations. So I may not be the best person to answer the question.
A fifty dollar knife is not a two hundred dollar knife, and certainly not one of Rick's customs.
I think that if you expect to get the quality of a Hinderer, or a ZT, at a bargain price, you will be disappointed. But considered on it's own merits, the Cryo is an excellent value, and probably should retail for somewhere around eighty dollars. The knife offers excellent control and leverage without generating any hot spots on your hands. It feels solid and backs up this feeling with zero blade play in any direction. The coating offers traction and an attractive finish that looks neither flashy, nor overly "tactical'. The knife rides low and secure in your pocket, without taking up a lot of room. It deploys fast and easily, but you still have to make it do want you want it to do. Overall, it does what I need, and it doesn't do anything I don't want it to.
I like that in a knife.
