Kizer Cutlery - experiences?

[jeffsenpai]

Are you serious? $50 and $25 for those knives? Was it a show only special? Those look great at that price point.

 

[pnsxyr]

My experience with Kizer has been very positive and it is probably the production maker I am most excited about in terms of future designs and evolutionary improvements. I also welcome the challenges their presence and quality will give makers of knives priced higher.

In comparing them to other brands, my feel is that they are currently at a point Fenix was at when it hit the "very nice and rapidly advancing new R&D findings" (a few years later, Fenix established a commanding presence in the market and a reputation for using the best materials at super competitive prices and as of today, they are among the finest makers of illumination tools). The quality is competitive with many knives costing significantly more, and it is just outstanding relative to the pricing. They are very good at machining titanium, which isn't an easy material to work with by any means!!! The knives themselves also seem to be getting better. Presumably, Kizer will continue to get better with heat treatments over time as most makers do.

In other terms, I think they are a company worth buying from now, and I think in a few years they will be a company worth buying from even more and they will become a much more popular name. As Kizer continues to further refine their designs and produce newer designs based on the experience they are currently getting, I think it is going to become much harder to justify the higher pricing on many other mid-high production folders.

For anyone who likes frame locks, they have a lot worth checking out. The multi-color finishes they do are also really neat and very unique.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Hairlesstwinkie...

What's the model # of that orange knife? I haven't seen any kizer's like that one yet; maybe a 2015 prototype?

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Double post...

 

[CottonRocket]

Hi guys,

I received my new Kizer 4412 two days ago from Extream Addiction. I haven't cut anything but paper and string, but I have been carrying it and opening/closing the knife to get a feel for it.

Lets start with the good:

WOW! The knife is beautiful! It is a full titanium frame lock with titanium pocket clip. There is a steel lock bar insert with over travel protection. It has a ceramic ball detent. The blade has a nice stonewash. I love the fuller combined with the harpoon swedge up top. The edge came reasonably sharp and glides through paper with little effort. The detent is strong in the closed position, without play. The action is pretty smooth and it locks up solid, with no blade play. I also like the nice polished screws and standoffs. I have not taken the knife apart, so I cannot speak to weather the screws are secured with locktight, or if they are soft. A few people here on BF have mentioned they had trouble with the screws when repositioning the pocket clip. This model is single position(tip down/right hand), so I won't have to test that. I am ok with tip down on a thumb stud opening knife. If it were a flipper, I would prefer tip-up.

Now for the not so good:

I have only had this knife for 2 days and the thumb studs are already coming loose. On this model the thumb studs act as the stop pin in the open position. This has occurred just from opening and closing the knife. I have not done any heavy cutting. I have not "spine wacked" the knife(I can't see a reason to do that to any knife IMO). They are so loose from 2 days of opening/closing that they will rattle if I shake the knife in the closed position. When I received the knife the lockup was around 30%. It's now around 50%. I assume this is in part do to the loosening of the thumb studs, as now the lock bar has to move over more to take up the slack in the studs.

The second issue I have noticed is when the blade is partially open, there is movement in the pivot/handle scale interaction. If I hold the blade and handle with separate hands (while partially open), then push/pull, I can see and feel the pivot moving slightly back and forth in the scale. It's as if the hole cut in the handle scale is slightly too large for the pivot. This doesn't occur while the knife is locked open. There is no blade play currently while locked open. It is also not apparent when closed as the detent is securing the blade.

I'm not sure what to do. I really like this knife and feel it's a tremendous value for the price. These issues don't really affect the cutting performance of the blade and lockup is solid for now. My concern is the loosening thumb studs and pivot play developed rather quickly(2 days from new out of box). I bough this directly from Extream Addiction and the knife looks brand new, so I don't think it is a used knife that someone before me abused. This knife appeared perfect when it arrived, and still looks like new. I'm worried that if the thumb studs continue to loosen, or even come unattached, then I will have a non-functioning knife(remember that on this model the studs act as stop pins in the open position). I don't want to give up on this knife, as I really do like the design and materials. I will try contacting Kizer and see if a repair is possible.

 

[SaintlyBrees]

Hi guys,

I received my new Kizer 4412 two days ago from Extream Addiction. I haven't cut anything but paper and string, but I have been carrying it and opening/closing the knife to get a feel for it.

Lets start with the good:

WOW! The knife is beautiful! It is a full titanium frame lock with titanium pocket clip. There is a steel lock bar insert with over travel protection. It has a ceramic ball detent. The blade has a nice stonewash. I love the fuller combined with the harpoon swedge up top. The edge came reasonably sharp and glides through paper with little effort. The detent is strong in the closed position, without play. The action is pretty smooth and it locks up solid, with no blade play. I also like the nice polished screws and standoffs. I have not taken the knife apart, so I cannot speak to weather the screws are secured with locktight, or if they are soft. A few people here on BF have mentioned they had trouble with the screws when repositioning the pocket clip. This model is single position(tip down/right hand), so I won't have to test that. I am ok with tip down on a thumb stud opening knife. If it were a flipper, I would prefer tip-up.

Now for the not so good:

I have only had this knife for 2 days and the thumb studs are already coming loose. On this model the thumb studs act as the stop pin in the open position. This has occurred just from opening and closing the knife. I have not done any heavy cutting. I have not "spine wacked" the knife(I can't see a reason to do that to any knife IMO). They are so loose from 2 days of opening/closing that they will rattle if I shake the knife in the closed position. When I received the knife the lockup was around 30%. It's now around 50%. I assume this is in part do to the loosening of the thumb studs, as now the lock bar has to move over more to take up the slack in the studs.

The second issue I have noticed is when the blade is partially open, there is movement in the pivot/handle scale interaction. If I hold the blade and handle with separate hands (while partially open), then push/pull, I can see and feel the pivot moving slightly back and forth in the scale. It's as if the hole cut in the handle scale is slightly too large for the pivot. This doesn't occur while the knife is locked open. There is no blade play currently while locked open. It is also not apparent when closed as the detent is securing the blade.

I'm not sure what to do. I really like this knife and feel it's a tremendous value for the price. These issues don't really affect the cutting performance of the blade and lockup is solid for now. My concern is the loosening thumb studs and pivot play developed rather quickly(2 days from new out of box). I bough this directly from Extream Addiction and the knife looks brand new, so I don't think it is a used knife that someone before me abused. This knife appeared perfect when it arrived, and still looks like new. I'm worried that if the thumb studs continue to loosen, or even come unattached, then I will have a non-functioning knife(remember that on this model the studs act as stop pins in the open position). I don't want to give up on this knife, as I really do like the design and materials. I will try contacting Kizer and see if a repair is possible...

That knife is beautiful. Nice choice.

Since it appears that you found the problems within a few days of getting it from Extreme Addiction, I would return it to the dealer for an exchange. I have a different model, but it was (and remains) flawless. Your next might well be perfect and if it isn't, then I might ask for a refund. Since Kizer is in China, sending it back for repair is problematic.

What the Kizer rep suggests earlier in this thread:

Hi, flash900:

We DO NOT ask the dealer to do the repair work for us, it is simply an exchange.

1) You return the knife to the dealer, dealer exchange a knife to you,
2) dealer sends knife back to kizer, kizer send a new knife to dealer.

You as a customer do not have to wait while the knife is under inspection and repair. The dealer is not involved in the repair work at all.

Thanks.

Kizer

Best of luck. Hope you get one that is as satisfying as mine has been. I love the looks of yours. Gorgeous.

 

[CottonRocket]

Thank you. I will contact Extreamaddiction and see what they say. I seem to remember David from Kizer saying somewhere that Kizer was setting up a return center in the US for exchanges, but that it may not be operational as of yet.

 

[Cjarrett56]

Today i got my new KI4403G - great knife. It has a very solid lock up, smooth action, nice weight. I have one issue - mismatch in the grind on one side of the blade. Below are pix of either side of the blade. The first is the good side - you can see how the swedge and the spanto grinder perfectly intersect.

on this side of the blade it looks like the swedge was ground too much (lower) and it creates a mis-alignment with the spanto lines.

I know it has no impact to the use of the knife... but it just bugs me. Do you think this is a defect or within acceptable tolerance.

thanks

 

[Bigfatts]

If it bothers you, send it back for an exchange. Whether it is acceptable to anyone else is irrelevant. If it bothers you now, it will likely continue to bother you. Depending on who you purchased from you should have no problem with an exchange. Might even get them to hand pick you one.

 

[scotchleaf]

I looked at them at Blade, seemed over-flashy/cheesy, but nicely built.

 

[zephyr11]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

they have quite a few of that type, but they do also have some really wicked ones...

 

[Bigfatts]

I looked at them at Blade, seemed over-flashy/cheesy, but nicely built.

My new one probably falls right in the middle of that for you. I don't think it's cheesy personally, but it sure is flashy. Well built for sure.

 

[S.R.B]

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.

Anyone know what the coating on the handle of this knife is?

 

[Kizer Cutlery]

Hi, SRB:

I'm finding out if there is a coating on it, as far as I know, it's just titanium with graphics put on by laser, but I'll check with the team and make sure.

Thanks.

Kizer.

 

[Lost Cosmonaut]

So I posted some experiences in the 3404 thread and I'm really liking my 3404 but it's small for my tastes. Thankfully I also picked up a 404A2 and a 403B2 and I am really enjoying both of them.

I love the finishing they do on the titanium, it really makes it stand out as just another titanium slab knife like every other one on the market.

Can't wait for new designs!

 

[Sonnydaze]

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.

I respectfully disagree. I have bent various pocket clips on numerous occasions in my bench vise to test the flexibility and/or toughness of the clip. Sometimes, just to tighten or loosen the clip in my pocket. NO breakage occurred with my folders.
The pocket-clip design, by its very nature, WILL SNAG on things. Therefore, clips that recognize this potential are manufactured with a tougher steel-type or proper hardness which will permit the clip to BEND rather than BREAK under adverse circumstances.
I suspect that you would concur.

 

[Sonnydaze]

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.

I respectfully disagree. I have bent various pocket clips on numerous occasions in my bench vise to test the flexibility and/or toughness of the clip. Sometimes, just to tighten or loosen the clip in my pocket. NO breakage occurred with my folders. Of course, repeated flexing will result in metal fatigue and the clip will eventually break.
The pocket-clip design, by its very nature, WILL SNAG on things. Therefore, clips that recognize this potential are manufactured with a tougher steel-type or proper hardness which will permit the clip to BEND rather than BREAK under adverse circumstances.
Of course, I realize that there is a "reasonable" limit to permissible bending prior to snapping.
All of that aside, it appears that you are producing folders that are very reasonable in cost versus quality of product.
Sonnydaze

 

[evilgreg]

I respectfully disagree. I have bent various pocket clips on numerous occasions in my bench vise to test the flexibility and/or toughness of the clip. Sometimes, just to tighten or loosen the clip in my pocket. NO breakage occurred with my folders.
The pocket-clip design, by its very nature, WILL SNAG on things. Therefore, clips that recognize this potential are manufactured with a tougher steel-type or proper hardness which will permit the clip to BEND rather than BREAK under adverse circumstances.
I suspect that you would concur.

I respectfully disagree with your disagreement. I've had clips on a couple of knives snap off when snagged, and once had a clip randomly snap clean off when I clipped it to the pocket of a pair of thin dress pants (it was the the clip on a Spyderco Kopa). Admittedly, it was pretty damn cold that day, which may have contributed to the breakage. I think that if you make enough of a part, there will probably be a few defective ones eventually . . .

 

[HuntBomb]

Ive had several clips bend when snagged on random objects but never had one SNAP.
Titanium and S35 for $50 sounds too good to be true, which means it probably is. There are corners being cut and it sounds like a future headache from where I'm sitting.
These look familiar...
Did Tim Britton have a yard sale?
Did Ed Snowden leak his documents or what?

 

[Horizon_Seeker]

deleted.