Kizer Cutlery - experiences?

akthor said:
I have yet to read a bad review on a Kizer.
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I shop at WalMart also. But I drive a rather expensive vehicle (I am "older" and reliability is everything to me)
and I carry a Chris Reeve folder. I know value when I see it, and I only have to buy it once.
Most reviews on the Kizer folders have been good. But when I read one post where a guy just got his brand new Kizer and put it in his pocket...and THE POCKET CLIP BROKE OFF...
Reminded me of Japan in the early days after the war. But today, I love Spydercos from Seki City and ZDP-189.
I'm sure that Kizer will get better. It sounds, from the posts, that these knives are good value "for the money."
And...generally...you get what you pay for. IMO.
 
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Sonnydaze said:
I shop at WalMart also. But I drive a rather expensive vehicle (I am "older" and reliability is everything to me)
and I carry a Chris Reeve folder. I know value when I see it, and I only have to buy it once.
Most reviews on the Kizer folders have been good. But when I read one post where a guy just got his brand new Kizer and put it in his pocket...and THE POCKET CLIP BROKE OFF...
Reminded me of Japan in the early days after the war. But today, I love Spydercos from Seki City and ZDP-189.
I'm sure that Kizer will get better. It sounds, from the posts, that these knives are good value "for the money."
And...generally...you get what you pay for. IMO.
Click to expand...

I believe you are referring to the post by member "phxgadgets" on 3/6/14 where his clip snapped. If you read it again carefully, phxgadgets does state that the clip snagged when he was getting in the car and broke. Your comment is making it sounds as if the clip spontaneously snapped in half by itself and that is not what happened.

Kizer.
 
hi kizer, is there a tool to use to open the locking screw on the blade? the action is smooth but i feel could be better.

thanks!
 
Sonnydaze said:
I shop at WalMart also. But I drive a rather expensive vehicle (I am "older" and reliability is everything to me)
and I carry a Chris Reeve folder. I know value when I see it, and I only have to buy it once.
Most reviews on the Kizer folders have been good. But when I read one post where a guy just got his brand new Kizer and put it in his pocket...and THE POCKET CLIP BROKE OFF...
Reminded me of Japan in the early days after the war. But today, I love Spydercos from Seki City and ZDP-189.
I'm sure that Kizer will get better. It sounds, from the posts, that these knives are good value "for the money."
And...generally...you get what you pay for. IMO.
Click to expand...

Not to pick on CRK, but bringing them up in any discussion of value seems a bit rich. Even serious fans of the knives tend to agree that they are well past the point of diminishing returns when it comes to value. They are exquisitely built, finely engineered implements, and there are many people that appreciate that, but you can get a $40 Cold Steel Voyager and it will very likely outlive you. There's no need to spend $400 for that kind of longevity.
 
zephyr11 said:
hi kizer, is there a tool to use to open the locking screw on the blade? the action is smooth but i feel could be better.

thanks!
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I have found that my SAK has a wide enough blade, on the end of the bottle opener, to fit the screw. You can also use a hex driver. If you want to use a hex tool go back in this thread and you can find the size it takes. But a screwdriver
 
zephyr11 said:
hi kizer, is there a tool to use to open the locking screw on the blade? the action is smooth but i feel could be better.

thanks!
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Are you talking about the thumb studs on the blade or the pivot screw? For the pivot screw use 5/32" hex bit. For the handle screws use T08 torx bit.
 
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pivot screw

i also remembered suggesting a hex wrench, but if you check my pic above, they have somehow "updated" that, it's round now.
 
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thanks for that, will give it a try.

sidenote;

i'm not pro in this world, if anything a newbie.

but to me, i think if you've (Kizer) kept your blade simple, and clean, you might be selling more then you know it.

like the Ki412A2, it looks cool with the "jellyfish" styled ano, but i to me it looks too flashy, even the tipup carry is not a problem, of course it could be just me.

something like the Ki404B1, Ki3404A3 (most prob the next kizer i'll get), Ki401B1 (what i have) i think will sell better the others with rainbow ano scales, and over the top detailing on scales.

this is of course just a feedback.

lastly, thank you for making solid knives at very competitive prices!
 
Sonnydaze said:
But when I read one post where a guy just got his brand new Kizer and put it in his pocket...and THE POCKET CLIP BROKE OFF...
Reminded me of Japan in the early days after the war. But today, I love Spydercos from Seki City and ZDP-189.
Click to expand...

Oh my, I hate to give you the bad news, then. I SNAPPED THE CLIP OFF of a brand new made in Japan Spyderco when it snagged something getting out of my car, the first day I had it.
 
My first experience with Kizer Cutlery was in the July 2014 Tactical Knives. An article by Terrill Hoffman had nothing but good to say about the Kizer GTI folder (Mod. Ki4416A2). Nothing was said in the article that is was made in China. I ordered one after reading the article. I didn't know it was made in China until I received it yesterday. If not for the made in China sticker and reading this forum I still would not know it was made in China. I haven't used it much yet but so far I would say it is an excellent knife. I will definitely purchase another. By the way this knife is in collaboration with Justin Gingrich. According to the TK article Mr. Gingrich served 4yrs in the 3rd Ranger Battalion before joining the 20thSpecial Forces Group for 2yrs. His military csreer was ccompleted with 4yrs in the Ranger Training Brigade. Currently he provides training to the military, State Departure employees and civilians in shooting, demolition and CQB techniques. He sure sounds like a true America Patriot to me. If he can work with a Chinese company, I have no problem purchasing a Chinese knife and this is definitely a high quality knife.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Not to pick on CRK, but bringing them up in any discussion of value seems a bit rich. Even serious fans of the knives tend to agree that they are well past the point of diminishing returns when it comes to value. They are exquisitely built, finely engineered implements, and there are many people that appreciate that, but you can get a $40 Cold Steel Voyager and it will very likely outlive you. There's no need to spend $400 for that kind of longevity.
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True. But there are many reasons to own a product that don't necessarily have to do with its functionality or longevity, pride of ownership among them. Look around and see if you've ever purchased anything when a less expensive product would have worked just as well and probably lasted just as long. Then ask yourself why you were willing to pay more for the higher-priced product and perhaps you'll understand what I'm talking about.
 
I haven't been very happy with mine.

The blade is far from centered, almost seems like the blade would rub against the sides of the frame. I also have nasty blade play when the blade is out.

I've tightened the pivot screw but it just comes loose again.

I have the Kizer 3404A3



 
bld522 said:
True. But there are many reasons to own a product that don't necessarily have to do with its functionality or longevity, pride of ownership among them. Look around and see if you've ever purchased anything when a less expensive product would have worked just as well and probably lasted just as long. Then ask yourself why you were willing to pay more for the higher-priced product and perhaps you'll understand what I'm talking about.
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No, I totally agree! And, having had a chance to handle a Sebenza pretty extensively, I don't blame those that love them one bit. My issue is more with the implication that you need to drop that kind of cash for a solid, reliable knife. You're paying for, and getting, a whole lot more than just a knife you can count on.
 
uphoto said:
I haven't been very happy with mine.

The blade is far from centered, almost seems like the blade would rub against the sides of the frame. I also have nasty blade play when the blade is out.

I've tightened the pivot screw but it just comes loose again.

I have the Kizer 3404A3
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Is it good when the pivot is tight? You could always just loctite the pivot if you're having problems with it coming loose.
 
bpeezer said:
Is it good when the pivot is tight? You could always just loctite the pivot if you're having problems with it coming loose.
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To get the blade play to go away you have to tighten the pivot so tight that it won't flip out! And then still the blade is way off center. I really want to love the knife though.
 
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