Knife to carry with an HDS light

tjswarbrick

tjswarbrick

Joined
Mar 31, 2011
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I'm sure many of you are familiar with HDS EDC lights.
For those of you who are not, it's hard-anodized aluminum with a stainless bezel. Exquisitely made in the USA. Eminently useful. Great ergos. A pocketful, but suitable for EDC. A tank of a light. I probably missed a few, but they are very highly regarded in the flashlight community. Mine is coming in shortly.

My original intent was to carry it with my blue M390 Paramilitary2.
I still may.
But I've been considering a new knife to celebrate. (I ordered and paid for the light a year ago. Long story. Don't ask.)
Thinking a high-quality tank of a knife, with black aluminum scales.
I'm not worried about the clip - I usually remove 'em, and deep-pocket carry.
Here's what I've considered:
BM Sequel 707: too small for my hand, and not very tank-like. Hard for me (XL hands) to access and deploy.
Hogue Ex01 3.5" manual: looks about perfect. Price is right. How's the quality, and the action? (None locally to try out.) Can the lock be trusted?
HTM-DDR Gun Hammer Torpedo manual: Tough, tank-like, exudes quality. Kinda pricey.

So, here's what I need from you:

How do you like your EX01 3.5"?
Is the Gun Hammer mid-tech worth the extra cost over the Hogue, in terms of build, F&F, function, action, ergos, and robustness?
Is there something else out there which you feel is a better fit?
Should I give up because there is no better EDC than the Para2?

Your comments are welcomed, and pics of your choice with YOUR ARC/Novatac/Ra/HDS are encouraged.
Thank you.
 
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I dont usually bother with pairing off knives and lights - I prefer Novatac anyhow:D

The Novatac is a little bit similar in looks to the HDS, so it might slip through:)

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BladeScout said:
I dont usually bother with pairing off knives and lights - I prefer Novatac anyhow:D
The Novatac is a little bit similar in looks to the HDS, so it might slip through:)
Click to expand...
IIRC original Novatacs were designed by Henry as well.
I carry 120T from the first batch for years. I am a knife guy, not a lightmaniac. I carry the knives, which I love. The light is complementing my knives and not opposite.
 
What hds did you get. I assume a clicky as folks have been receiving those on cpf after a year. I'm waiting on a high cri, stainless bezel, flush rotary. You've got to pair with a hinderer xm18 or xm24!
 
Benchmade 520 Presidio with satin blade, would match the black/stainless HDS perfectly. It's also made in the US and pretty darn tank-ish. Really the only downside as I see it is that it eats pockets, but if you don't plan on using the clip then that ain't a problem.

benchmade520.jpg
 
Thanks guys!

BladeScout - is that an Anso custom? Nice!
Novatac is all good - so are the original ARC lights.
Dan - I haven't tried a Presidio for a while. I think I passed the first time due to the gap between the spine and scale when closed, the big one felt heavy, and the small one was too small. Need to locate one and fondle it for a while again.
sqchram - I think I'm going to save my Hinderer XM purchase for when I finally get a Haiku...

The light I ordered is a Hi CRI Executive Clicky with silver bezel and flush tailcap. It hasn't arrived yet, but it seems to be getting closer. Hopefully. People have said they're receiving the silver-bezel lights, but I have yet to see a photo confirming it.

Keep 'em coming - Presidio, Hogue, Gun Hammer, other???
 
I read black aluminum and tankish, and immediately thought of the Hogue like you. I think that is the one I would personally go with in your situation.
And here's my current light/knife combo: 560 and Sunwayman

IMAG0088.jpg
 
I had a Hogue and sold it, but only because I found the handle on the 3.5" a little short for my hands. It was very smooth and locked up like vault. I have heard nothing but good things about their fit and finish. I have L/XL hands to give you some perspective. Maybe the 4" model would be better suited to your XL hands.

Other knife options with Aluminum handles:

Kershaw Knockout
Benchmade 943 or 940
Lionsteel SR-1a
 
If you didn't mind waiting till Q3 you could pick up a ZT0770. I figure you must be a patient person since you bought an HDS.

IMG_0114_zpsd19e2707.jpg
 
the hogue is a lovely knife, i trust the lock and on my specimen it has extremely solid lockup with zero play in any direction. the action is buttery smooth and the blade can be flicked closed in somewhat of a compression/axis lock action once the lock is depressed. the blade came extremely sharp out of box and arrived with one of the best highly polished edges ive seen from on production knife. as far as ergos go, the 3.5 has the craziest blade to handle ratio in any of the knives i own. i honestly feel the handle is a bit short and find myself choking up past the finger indentation for a comrotable working grip. iirc, the 4" model has better handle ergo and feels a lot more comfortable in hand. i suggest the 4" model if youre legally able to carry it.

heres my ex01 and hds
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550
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zaan
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well since you said beefy and put an axis lock knife in there...How about the BM Contego or Adamas
 
Great stuff, all. Keep it coming.
Scout - I missed both your threads on those scales - just read through 'em. Awesome! I made a lay-up of CF in college, and made scales from my own laid-up burlap micarta for a Becker. But none of it turned out any where near what you have there - your friend is very talented, and you have a fantastic one-of-a-kind carry blade.
Dan - I knew there was an aluminum ZT coming out, but I couldn't remember which one. I want to like the 770, but something in that blade shape turns me off. The more I look at the pic you posted, the more it's growing on me! It's probably not too tough to de-assist. (Here I thought I only wanted the 0801...)
Spam and others - I didn't realize that the extra 1/2" of blade comes with only 1/8" more handle on the EX01. I've got to find a lks that carries such things.
I suppose I could get/make an aluminum scale for my 0551 - but that beast seems a little big and heavy for EDC. Not sure a 4" Hogue (or 520 Presidio) will be any smaller.
Spam - I remember seeing a thread on the making of that 0550 - but I can't find it now. Did you do it yourself?
 
Random Dan said:
That's a mighty fine looking 0550, where'd you get the scale from?
Click to expand...

its a battleship grey hinderer scale with a hot glue gun black rite dye job :)

tjswarbrick said:
Spam and others - I didn't realize that the extra 1/2" of blade comes with only 1/8" more handle on the EX01. I've got to find a lks that carries such things.
I suppose I could get/make an aluminum scale for my 0551 - but that beast seems a little big and heavy for EDC. Not sure a 4" Hogue (or 520 Presidio) will be any smaller.
Spam - I remember seeing a thread on the making of that 0550 - but I can't find it now. Did you do it yourself?
Click to expand...

the 4" hogue will definately be lighter (not sure about smaller) than the 551 if you get a g10 model. i love the ex01, definately handle one if you get the chance.
regarding the 550, i did the choil mod and scale dying myself :) http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/949839-zt-0550-zzzzzzzzzzzz-*snore*-got-bored-of-it
 
Blue M390 paramilitary and HDS Rotary is perfect pair.
That's what I carry every day. Fantastic knife and fantastic light.
 
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