Kizer Intrepid and Gemini Vanguard series...G10 scales

[Gary W. Graley]

Having owned the Ti versions of these, I felt I needed to give the G10 versions a try out and the Intrepid arrived today, very nice, but in need of a sharpening, which took a while but she be keen now!

Fit and finish on both of these knives are top notch, bearing pivot system provides smooth opening via the flipper, good lock up, while the Gemini on mine and at least one other has VERY slight vertical play, but only if you pull it, otherwise you might never notice it, Kizer is checking into this now. The Intrepid is solid from the git go, it is also a much heavier knife than the Gemini, as you might expect being a larger over all folder, blade steel on both is VG10 which gets quite sharp, the Gemini being a thinner stock than the other.

Right now I'd be hard pressed to pick a favourite, so, I won't here are some images taken of both knives, clips work well, I've added a paracord lanyard with a Celtic bead that you can slide up to your wrist as a keeper, making it an even more secure lanyard than I've made before.

Good stuff all around, now the Intrepid has Ray Laconico's name on the spine, as the Ti models do, but the Gemini I have has it on the side of the blade, word from Kizer is they will go back to keeping Ray's name on the spine...and the crowd goes wild....

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[fewpop]

Very nicely done Gary. As always your photography is top shelf, and combined with your descriptions provides helpful information regarding those 2 Kizer models. I sure like the lanyards also. Thanks for sharing. :thumbup:

 

[makariotes]

Nice blade, thanks for the write up and pics. The first picture I assume is the intrepid? Nice blade shape, reminds me of Bob Lum's onslaught; I have no experience with any Kizer but they seem to be made very well. Thanks again.

I forgot; that lanyard is awesome, really like it!

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks and yes, first one is the Intrepid and the lanyard works great, the wrap you see right at the end of the handle is what's called whipping, wrapped tightly around the two strands so that the lanyard can't swing up and around the end of the knife and get in the way of the blade, the cord wraps around and then you pull the one end beneath the wrap so there are no knots visible on that.

I did a small tutorial on that seen here in this thread

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[makariotes]

Thanks Gary! I will check it out for sure, I love making my own lanyards and any good ideas are always welcome.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

I'm surprised that they use VG10. I thought Japanese steel are not exported, are these made in Japan?

 

[makariotes]

Gary, thanks for the link to the tutorial, I'm going to be practicing that one; very nice!! Liked the video too!!

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Chris, the packaging doesn't have any indication of country of origin that I could see, Blade HQ lists these as from China though.

And makariotes, you're very welcome, hope they help, tip on length I go from the end of my finger tips to the back of my neck, there abouts in order to tie two of the diamond knots.
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[makariotes]

And makariotes, you're very welcome, hope they help, tip on length I go from the end of my finger tips to the back of my neck, there abouts in order to tie two of the diamond knots.
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Another great tip! Thanks again, I'll post a pic when I get it done, much appreciated!

 

[vmmvmmm]

Nice pics, as always, Gary. I was at Blade HQ today and they pulled out the Vanguard Intrepid for me to play with. Really nice deployment action. I almost walked out with it, but wanted to hold myself to just one knife purchase.

 

[makariotes]

And makariotes, you're very welcome, hope they help, tip on length I go from the end of my finger tips to the back of my neck, there abouts in order to tie two of the diamond knots.
G2

Another great tip! Thanks again, I'll post a pic when I get it done, much appreciated!

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Gary,

Thank you! We might be seeing a change in trend, Japanese steel by other maker & US steel by Seki maker :thumbup:

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Nice pics, as always, Gary. I was at Blade HQ today and they pulled out the Vanguard Intrepid for me to play with. Really nice deployment action. I almost walked out with it, but wanted to hold myself to just one knife purchase.

It's a new day might as well go back to get the one you left behind now?

And it is a nice knife, showed her off at work today, folks were amazed at the grind lines and overall look of the folder, of course, they are not knife people but they can tell a nice knife when they see it.
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[Gary W. Graley]

Found the Made in China beneath the UPC code on the box, just didn't notice it when I looked earlier...
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and for good measure here's a collage I did in Picasa of the Intrepid

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

My goodness, I love that flat grind and green G10!

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I agree the Gemini is pretty sweet but that Intrepid, to me, has a bit more going for it in the looks department overall, plus, it has a very secure feel when using too, just a more substantial model there...again for me YmMv
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