TheManInBlack
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2023
- Messages
- 191
Hello! I’m trying to fill a couple specific knife needs (yes, wants 
) at the moment:
1. An Umnumzaan alternative. I currently have an Umnumzaan Tanto S45VN, love the blade and handle profiles, love the handle texture and milling, the weight and heft, but I can’t stand the ‘soggy’ action. It’s the softest opening knife I’ve ever used and most times I open it I can’t tell if the blade is locked into place because there’s no ‘click’, ‘clunk’, what have you. It just kind of… 'squishes' effortlessly into place, which probably looks good in text, but it feels like garbage and somewhat insecure. Almost every time I open it, I instinctively check the blade for lockup, which is just no way to live. So, I’m looking for a suitable replacement!
It doesn’t have to be a tanto but that or a drop point would be preferable. I’m looking for something with a similar handle style; plain/nude titanium for both scales with a grippy, rough (media-blasted) texture and some kind of deep milling pattern or other contouring for added grip. Manual folder, thumb stud or flipper tab preferred (no thumb holes or front flippers). Blade length between 3.5” and 3.75” ± ⅛”, high-end steel (M390, 20CV, Magnacut, etc.), preferably hollow ground, preferably satin finish (no stonewash, cerakote or DLC/PVD coatings). Frame/integral lock or liner lock, and something generally with similar thickness, height, length, and weight as the Umnumzaan. I’m also looking for something with a deep carry clip option, even if it must be aftermarket. I know I’m unlikely to find a 1-to-1 replacement but the closer the better. Something built for medium duty that won’t crush my soul when it gets dropped on concrete or deeply scratched but also something that isn’t ‘disposable’.
My max budget for this is $500 new but will consider raising it if the value/quality justifies it. I don’t really have any contenders for this category after many hours of research. The closest knives that suit my criteria so far are: a Curtiss F3 Large but I already own a Curtiss F3 Medium and, much as I love it, it has horrendous lockstick, so they’re out of the running for now. A Hinderer XM-18 3.5" also seems an ideal replacement but they’re always priced much higher than I’m willing to pay for this use case (even used) while usually including a garishly colored G10 show scale, which I’m not a fan of. I also don’t like the aggressive, hook-shaped flipper tab, so I’d only settle for the non-flipper version of that knife which seem to be much rarer for some reason. Same goes for a McNees PM MAC 2 3.5”. It checks all the boxes but I’ve never seen it priced lower than the high $600s and, based on what I’ve seen, I don’t think it justifies a $175+ premium over an Umnumzaan.
2. An ambidextrous flipper. I’m looking specifically for a flipper with a reversible (left- and righthand carry) clip. I would prefer it to be a righthanded knife, not a lefthanded one; I would just like the option to carry it on the left while keeping it facing ‘forward’. Looking for something for light-duty with an EDC profile; lightweight, slender, blade length anywhere from 3.25” to 3.75”, made of high-end steel (M390, 20CV, Magnacut, etc.), preferably with a satin finish but I will not shy away from certain finishes that are not stonewash.
No strong grind preference for this one. I’m looking for a couple of different blade profile options here. I would like something with a drop point and something in a wharncliffe, sheepsfoot, or reverse tanto. I’m also wanting them to be a frame/integral lock, liner lock, or even a button lock. I would also like the clip to be a deep carry clip or for there to be a viable aftermarket option.
My budget here is the same ($500) but, again, I will consider increasing it for a choice knife. Of the options I’ve found, there are a few Zero Tolerance knives but I’m just not in love with any of the designs. There’s the 0562, the 0470, and the 0450, and their various derivatives/offshoots, and even a couple of discontinued models on the secondary market but nothing that’s really grabbed me so far. I’ve been really wanting a Pro-Tech Malibu for this case, but they just don’t provide a lefthand carry option. There are quite a few options from WE Knife, like the Beacon, the Subjugator, the Speedster, and the Seer but I am leaning toward USA-made knives, and all those models are some of WE Knife’s more boring designs, with none of the usual embellishments they employ on so many of their other designs. For this case, I’m looking for something a bit flashier, not busy or extravagant, but eye-catching. Functional pocket jewelry. Bonus points for anything with carbon fiber (or other semi-exotic material inlays)!
Thanks very much for reading!
) at the moment:1. An Umnumzaan alternative. I currently have an Umnumzaan Tanto S45VN, love the blade and handle profiles, love the handle texture and milling, the weight and heft, but I can’t stand the ‘soggy’ action. It’s the softest opening knife I’ve ever used and most times I open it I can’t tell if the blade is locked into place because there’s no ‘click’, ‘clunk’, what have you. It just kind of… 'squishes' effortlessly into place, which probably looks good in text, but it feels like garbage and somewhat insecure. Almost every time I open it, I instinctively check the blade for lockup, which is just no way to live. So, I’m looking for a suitable replacement!
It doesn’t have to be a tanto but that or a drop point would be preferable. I’m looking for something with a similar handle style; plain/nude titanium for both scales with a grippy, rough (media-blasted) texture and some kind of deep milling pattern or other contouring for added grip. Manual folder, thumb stud or flipper tab preferred (no thumb holes or front flippers). Blade length between 3.5” and 3.75” ± ⅛”, high-end steel (M390, 20CV, Magnacut, etc.), preferably hollow ground, preferably satin finish (no stonewash, cerakote or DLC/PVD coatings). Frame/integral lock or liner lock, and something generally with similar thickness, height, length, and weight as the Umnumzaan. I’m also looking for something with a deep carry clip option, even if it must be aftermarket. I know I’m unlikely to find a 1-to-1 replacement but the closer the better. Something built for medium duty that won’t crush my soul when it gets dropped on concrete or deeply scratched but also something that isn’t ‘disposable’.
My max budget for this is $500 new but will consider raising it if the value/quality justifies it. I don’t really have any contenders for this category after many hours of research. The closest knives that suit my criteria so far are: a Curtiss F3 Large but I already own a Curtiss F3 Medium and, much as I love it, it has horrendous lockstick, so they’re out of the running for now. A Hinderer XM-18 3.5" also seems an ideal replacement but they’re always priced much higher than I’m willing to pay for this use case (even used) while usually including a garishly colored G10 show scale, which I’m not a fan of. I also don’t like the aggressive, hook-shaped flipper tab, so I’d only settle for the non-flipper version of that knife which seem to be much rarer for some reason. Same goes for a McNees PM MAC 2 3.5”. It checks all the boxes but I’ve never seen it priced lower than the high $600s and, based on what I’ve seen, I don’t think it justifies a $175+ premium over an Umnumzaan.
2. An ambidextrous flipper. I’m looking specifically for a flipper with a reversible (left- and righthand carry) clip. I would prefer it to be a righthanded knife, not a lefthanded one; I would just like the option to carry it on the left while keeping it facing ‘forward’. Looking for something for light-duty with an EDC profile; lightweight, slender, blade length anywhere from 3.25” to 3.75”, made of high-end steel (M390, 20CV, Magnacut, etc.), preferably with a satin finish but I will not shy away from certain finishes that are not stonewash.
No strong grind preference for this one. I’m looking for a couple of different blade profile options here. I would like something with a drop point and something in a wharncliffe, sheepsfoot, or reverse tanto. I’m also wanting them to be a frame/integral lock, liner lock, or even a button lock. I would also like the clip to be a deep carry clip or for there to be a viable aftermarket option.My budget here is the same ($500) but, again, I will consider increasing it for a choice knife. Of the options I’ve found, there are a few Zero Tolerance knives but I’m just not in love with any of the designs. There’s the 0562, the 0470, and the 0450, and their various derivatives/offshoots, and even a couple of discontinued models on the secondary market but nothing that’s really grabbed me so far. I’ve been really wanting a Pro-Tech Malibu for this case, but they just don’t provide a lefthand carry option. There are quite a few options from WE Knife, like the Beacon, the Subjugator, the Speedster, and the Seer but I am leaning toward USA-made knives, and all those models are some of WE Knife’s more boring designs, with none of the usual embellishments they employ on so many of their other designs. For this case, I’m looking for something a bit flashier, not busy or extravagant, but eye-catching. Functional pocket jewelry.
Bonus points for anything with carbon fiber (or other semi-exotic material inlays)!Thanks very much for reading!
I appreciate the suggestion, though!
