Kizer Cutlery - experiences?

[Comeuppance]

It is Ti Framelock...Buddy...

I meant the second one I listed - the modified sheepsfoot red/black g10 flipper. The same model that ShepardCC modified above.

 

[Sonnydaze]

A very interesting thread...informative and relatively "clean" of crap politics.
I'm a fanboy of Chris Reeve and Spyderco, so i'm very interested in how this all shakes out. I hope that someone works near a Brinell Hardness tester, so we can get some data there. Thanks to Ram Zar and others for your timely information.
I haven't yet been to the two listed websites, but will soon. Certainly, the price is right; the build "seems" by all posts to be fine, but still a dearth of testing data. Judging by the number of posts...a lot of folks here are interested.
Also nice to see that Kizer stepped in quickly, and posted and invited conversation and questions about the products. And even a tip-up change is coming...that is certainly a rapid response to customer concerns. We still need Kizer (or others) to list info concerning tip-to-grip blade-length, as that 3" maximum is a critical number to many of us who must concern ourselves with regional and state regulations.

 

[Kizer Cutlery]

Hi, Guys:

1) We are in the process of getting the Pass around knife out, and barring any unforeseen accident, the thread hopefully will be up by next week so you will be able to experience it first hand.

2) Regarding the blade length, I've confirmed that current measurement is from tip to pivot which makes it longer than the usual tip to handle. I'm working with the concerned team to get those data changed and updated. We are also considering posting both the blade length and a cutting edge length together, what are your opinions?

Thanks.

David.

 

[Comeuppance]

Hi, Guys:

1) We are in the process of getting the Pass around knife out, and barring any unforeseen accident, the thread hopefully will be up by next week so you will be able to experience it first hand.

2) Regarding the blade length, I've confirmed that current measurement is from tip to pivot which makes it longer than the usual tip to handle. I'm working with the concerned team to get those data changed and updated. We are also considering posting both the blade length and a cutting edge length together, what are your opinions?

Thanks.

David.

Having the cutting edge statistic would be much appreciated, as would a tip-to-handle blade length - which is really what people care about, especially in regards to what they can legally carry where they live. I'm limited to a 3.5" blade in Denver, for example, and they measure from the handle to the tip.

(Also, I call dibs on being first in the passaround.)

 

[Jens Schuetz]

(Also, I call dibs on being first in the passaround.)

Second

 

[goldie]

I used my 401x at work today. ive found shrinkwrap sometimes hard to cut, the 401 sailed through it very good.also cut cardboard with no problem,still doesnt need sharpening.

 

[Morrow]

The passaround thread is up.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...er-Cutlery-KUKI4411F1?p=13252454#post13252454

 

[Kizer Cutlery]

Hi, Morrow:

Thanks for posting the link!

David.

 

[cutter17]

My second Kizer arrived today. My first was the Ki4411 Glenn Klecker designed folder. I was really impressed with the Klecker and after having it for several days I am even more impressed with the design. The only thing I would have done different would be to use screws with the button top heads for the standoff's. I found that the screws used made a smooth draw harder, caught on the lip of the pocket. Extended use had me changing my grip every so often as the screw heads were rubbing into the pad below my thumb and irritating the area, I know "girlyman hands"! In my defense I rarely use a knife to do the things I did with the Kiser, or any of my knives, but I decided to cut up some cardboard, actually a lot of cardboard. I have not done a lot of cutting with any knife in a couple of years so that was aiso a factor. As far as the cutting went, the Klecker did a great job of cutting. The edge held up, but once finished so was the hair popping edge it came with. It still cut with no problems, but would not shave cleanly. I used my Sharpmaker and had the edge back in quick order.

But this post is not about the Klecker, rather it concerns the Gingrich designed Ki4416A2 GTi.

My first impressions of this knife is that it is very nice. I love the design and I thought all the photo's I had looked at would prepare me for it, but once I had it in my hand I was even more pleased by it! The 5" handle is a great fit for my hand and I have always loved the SERE design that obviously inspired this knife. It has the elements that say heavy duty to me. The blade is 3.5" in length, with a 5.0" handle, which to me is a good working/using knife. Though I really like the 4" and 4+" blades, a bulldog 3.5" blade won't get turned down. The blade measured .157" thick, and the liners are .084" thick. Weight on my postal scale came to 7 ounces, so a handful of hefty by any standard.

Like my first impressions of the Klecker, the GTi has only a couple of things I am not sure I like, and these are personal tastes. The blade finish is a bright satin, and I would prefer a brushed satin, or the stonewashed finish of the Klecker as I think it would hold up better to use. Of course this knife will probably only cut strings, paper, and some cardboard so it will do as it is. Something that was annoying, and this has happened with other brands, was the flex in the pocket clip. The clip screws were tight and the clip is inlet into the handle and the play I speak of occurs when I grip the handle to open the blade, as this causes the clip to flex and it annoys the hell out of me. It usually happens when the clip is made from thinner material and/or it does not have enough bend in it. The GTi clip is .040" thick and I have not measured any other clips to know how that stands, but it did not have enough bend in it to make it as tight as I like. I fixed that by cutting about 1/2 of the length off, bent and reshaped the tip, and put more bend into it to make it tighter. Covered it with some 3M Stair Step tape and it is good to go. The only other thing I would mention is something I said about the Klecker and that is the Loctite, to much is used. With Loctite, a little dab will do you!

To the good. Out of the box, the the blade is perfectly centered, the handle scales to liners fit was without any gaps and edges even all around. There are two standoffs, and the stop pin, with a G-10 spacer at the last 1/3rd of the handle. Like the Klecker, the standoffs and stop pin are inlet into the liners making for a stronger construction. When I open the blade, the lock snaps over behind the blade tang and covers about .06"-.07" of the blade tang leaving plenty of room for wear. The lock is stiff, which I count as a plus, and there is no stick between lock edge and blade tang. The blade grinds are symmetrical, even from choil to tip, and very, very sharp.

In taking it apart I found that a #4 (metric) allen key fit the pivot, seemed to snap right in, and the frame screws came out using a T7, while the pocket clip took a T6. I cleaned up the lube it came with, polished the bronze washers and pivot, then reassembled using Miltec. Like I did with the Klecker, I tightened the pivot to where I wanted it which is probably tighter than most. The blade opens smoothly and locks up tight without movement of any sort with the lock making an audible snap as it locks up.

All in all, I think this Kizer is a bargin, just as the Klecker was a bargin. I now have the third Kizer I was interested in buying in my sights, a framelock this time, and there is nothing in the first two that would make me even hesitate to make that purchase!:thumbup:

 

[Kizer Cutlery]

Hi, Cutter17:

Thanks for the review. I'll make a note about the screws and relay that back and see if we can make improvements.

David.

 

[cutter17]

You are very welcome.

I wanted to ask if Kiser is using metric or standard screws?

 

[prepper81]

After reading most of the thread I definitely want one. However, I have seen just 2 european sellers, with retail prices higher in euros, which is odd since this comes from China and the prices should be the same...

 

[mmarkh]

I am very surprised they are charging that much for that China crap.:barf: What is up with tip up on a flipper?

Received my Kizer KI3404A1 from ExtremAddiction today. This is a great little flipper at a great price of just under $120 delivered! Looking forward to KI3404A3 with plain titanium handles.

It flips real nicely and I added a bit of oil and it's getting smoother. The handle has a nice gritty texture. It weighs just 3.1 ounces. Most importantly, the blade length is indeed 3 inches long and 0.12 inches thick. It comes extremely sharp. No blade play and well centered. The jimping is just right.

 

[Comeuppance]

I am very surprised they are charging that much for that China crap.:barf: What is up with tip up on a flipper?

Ah, you again. Still insulting things without any actual experience, and still making broad generalizations based on nationalities. You forgot your white hood, sir.

 

[goldie]

^ i know, we are all idiots here. i guess after collecting knives for almost 40 years ive learned nothing but to gravitate towards junk. My 401x & gingrich can go head to head with about every other production knife out there,& it equals them in quality.

 

[evilgreg]

I am very surprised they are charging that much for that China crap.:barf: What is up with tip up on a flipper?

The apparent ignorance in this post is impressive. Have you even handled one of these knives? If not, how are you forming the basis for your assertion that they are crap?

I'm not a fan of tip down carry for flippers either, so I moved the clip. IMO, having actually handled one, I have pretty solid basis in fact to believe that these knives are quite nice.

 

[evilgreg]

@Kizer Cutlery:

On the subject of the screws and loctite, I'd agree that just a touch is all you need. Even the tiny screws were glued in so well with thread locker that I stripped out the clip screw when I moved the clip and had to cut a flat head notch in it to extract it.

Also, as already mentioned repeatedly, tip up carry, or at least a mounting hole that lets you swap the clip position, please.

 

[mmarkh]

Every China knife I have handled felt sub par compared to what I'm used to. I haven't held one of them but I'm sure they are good enough for the people who like them. I don't need to save a buck that bad.

 

[prepper81]

Every China knife I have handled felt sub par compared to what I'm used to. I haven't held one of them but I'm sure they are good enough for the people who like them. I don't need to save a buck that bad.

Good for you and thanks for letting us know that.

 

[mmarkh]

Just because I don't like a knife made in China doesn't make me a racist and I severely resent that implication from you. Frankly that is a violation of this forums code of conduct.

Ah, you again. Still insulting things without any actual experience, and still making broad generalizations based on nationalities. You forgot your white hood, sir.