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Knives are not prybars!
- Thread starter lazy otter
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I have seen more broken claw hammers than I have knives. Maybe you should go back to shop class.
Seriously though. People can break whatever they want. I find it entertaining.
Only two folders I'll pry with are a HEST and a Grayman...and then ONLY when I can leverage (fulcrum) only on the blade with zero involvement of pivot or handle. With blade thicknesses and grinds like those it doesn't worry me so much.
One reason I like my original HEST fixed blade by Rowen so much is the prybar on the handle. It's saved the knife tip about 50 times I'm sure. My other HESTS have the modified pryer shape...not quite as handy but still tip savers.
A cheap screwdriver always makes a better prybar anyway.
One reason I like my original HEST fixed blade by Rowen so much is the prybar on the handle. It's saved the knife tip about 50 times I'm sure. My other HESTS have the modified pryer shape...not quite as handy but still tip savers.
A cheap screwdriver always makes a better prybar anyway.
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I belong to the "Don't Give a Flip" foundation.
I lie. I'm a make a wish recipient myself (1991, as an 11 year old undergoing experimental brain surgery). I also am a member of and supporter of the Magic Foundation, which helps children and adults with growth hormone deficiency, like myself.
Back to the topic at hand. I've never pried with a knife, ever. Stupid thing to do. Its like the guy back in the 80's who picked his lawn mower up to trim the hedges, and cut his fingers off. He proceeded to sue Briggs and Stratton for not having a warning label to not pick it up while running. One of the origins of the Darwin award.
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Most knives are not intended to pry and, but some models do so with flying colors.
I used my SNG and SMF in the past to pry just about anything within reason with proper technique when needed. Oh and a American Lawman. Putting pressure mid knife and not on the end as to damage the frame lock. As said in the past I once locked my keys in the car and all I had was my SMF and a stick. It pried the door open great. As well as for many work applications.
That said I also have an appreciation for using a knife for cutting lol. And I have a great slice in my pocket, that I would not dream of prying with.
Also, I have never damaged or broke a lock or tip in my life, by accident any way. Maybe on purpose when I was a kid.
Anyone can do whatever they want with their knives, but if you break it by being a dummy or have a failure.
Do NOT complain. That's all.
I used my SNG and SMF in the past to pry just about anything within reason with proper technique when needed. Oh and a American Lawman. Putting pressure mid knife and not on the end as to damage the frame lock. As said in the past I once locked my keys in the car and all I had was my SMF and a stick. It pried the door open great. As well as for many work applications.
That said I also have an appreciation for using a knife for cutting lol. And I have a great slice in my pocket, that I would not dream of prying with.
Also, I have never damaged or broke a lock or tip in my life, by accident any way. Maybe on purpose when I was a kid.
Anyone can do whatever they want with their knives, but if you break it by being a dummy or have a failure.
Do NOT complain. That's all.
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riversidedep
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I don't always pry with my folding knives, but when I do, I'm drinking a Dos Equis............(or two...or three.....or four 
)
)I think where people get upset by their knives not being able to pry is the fact that recent trends advertising "over-built" and "hard use" have had a significant impact on these modern folders. Namely:
-Greater weight due to slab sided, thick Ti and thicker blades
-Thicker, chunkier knives that take up more pocket space
-Edge geometry that isn't very good for cutting
-Higher prices due to higher material and manufacture cost
When you're making that many compromises in exchange for the idea that your knife is overbuilt and can survive hard use, it does seem like a letdown when those knives can't actually perform those tasks.
-Greater weight due to slab sided, thick Ti and thicker blades
-Thicker, chunkier knives that take up more pocket space
-Edge geometry that isn't very good for cutting
-Higher prices due to higher material and manufacture cost
When you're making that many compromises in exchange for the idea that your knife is overbuilt and can survive hard use, it does seem like a letdown when those knives can't actually perform those tasks.
I want to know one thing-
Why is it OK for people to break their knives by beating the crap out of them with sticks when they really should be using a hatchet, but it is not OK to pry open something? Either one is potentially damaging to the knife. I generally am very gentle on my knives, but I am 100 times more likely to be in an emergency situation where I might need to pry with the knife than a situation where I need to reduce a forest to twigs.
Why is it OK for people to break their knives by beating the crap out of them with sticks when they really should be using a hatchet, but it is not OK to pry open something? Either one is potentially damaging to the knife. I generally am very gentle on my knives, but I am 100 times more likely to be in an emergency situation where I might need to pry with the knife than a situation where I need to reduce a forest to twigs.
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If people want to use folders to pry or battoning/cutting down trees use a friction folder, the tab can be used to pry and undo knots and they have no lock to fail I did a lot of battoning with mine and it was only 3/32 of an inch thick and .005 behind the edge I have also battoned with a 1/16 bird and trout knife. so if you cant batton reasonably sized straight grained wood with your knife something is wrong. now if you don't want to that is different.
Lots of knives are designed to function as prybars. There's a genuine need, for some, for a cutting tool to double as a prybar. It's the whole reason the Strider DB was deisgned - as a compact cutter that could be used to bash and pry a building or vehicle apart.
I don't recall the last time I read about a properly built (for prying) knife being broken doing anything reasonable. I wouldn't hesitate to do some moderate prying with my Strider SnG. If I had an ESEE-5 or Strider DB, I'd actively look for reasons to use it as a prybar. These are knives that were designed for truly 'hard use' and have warranties to back it up.
I've broken a few tips, the only reason I prefer non-coated knives is because they don't look as bad when I have to drop the back of the blade down to meet the new (broken) tip. It usually happens eventually with a user knife no matter how nice I treat the knife, the first time they fall onto concrete most tips snap right off.
I don't recall the last time I read about a properly built (for prying) knife being broken doing anything reasonable. I wouldn't hesitate to do some moderate prying with my Strider SnG. If I had an ESEE-5 or Strider DB, I'd actively look for reasons to use it as a prybar. These are knives that were designed for truly 'hard use' and have warranties to back it up.
I've broken a few tips, the only reason I prefer non-coated knives is because they don't look as bad when I have to drop the back of the blade down to meet the new (broken) tip. It usually happens eventually with a user knife no matter how nice I treat the knife, the first time they fall onto concrete most tips snap right off.
rio
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I respectfully disagree.
Hahahhaaha :thumbup:
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Some of those discussions border on the ridiculous, especially when their expectations and reality are on opposite ends of spectrum. I'm in the "I don't care what people do with their stuff" camp, unless things get silly in a hurry.
That might make for a good tool, who knows.
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i own a Vox Prymate in D2 , never had a problem- i think the trouble lies in Owner/Operator error. clearly you wouldnt piss on a house fire in hopes of extinguishing it. but hey this thread exists so .....
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This is like what you posted in the other thread where the guy pried with his ZT 0562. You posted the exact ad copy from ZT in an attempt to back up the argument that the advertising made it seem okay to pry with the knife. However, the ad copy uses vagaries and never says it is okay to pry with the knife. You infact invalidated your own point in buying into the marketing terms. When in fact the ZT warranty information explicitly states that anything other than cutting is not covered under their warranty.
Point being, people need to be smart enough not to believe advertising. Look at the fine print, that is the only thing that counts. Any company will say almost anything to market a knife to the masses. Common sense must be used when using a knife. When buying a knife terms like over built mean jack squat when you break your knife. If a company won't cover prying then the tool is not meant to do it. It is a knife, not a pry bar.
Thanks!
I don't pry with my folders (or most of my fixed blades)...they are slicers. If I did pry and one broke, I know it would be on me.
But. I DO think makers' ad copy is giving people the expectation that their new Titanium XTreme Olympian Slab-Master folder is going to be capable of that stuff.
Its not...
Oh marcinek, you aren't really one to believe ad copy now are you? If so I have a survival knife you might be interested in
I'm guilty of prying with my knife. I don't want to carry a mulitool on me in addition to my knife, lets be honest why carry both when many multiools have a basic cutting blade on them? You could just leave your folder at home then, unless for some reason you think you will need and actually use your folder for self defense, I think there are better suited self defense options, but that is just me. I have not come across many times where I need to use my knife for cutting tasks and have come across even less needs to pry. When the time comes and I need to pry something (within) reason then yeah I will use my knife. If it breaks, well that sucks, but I knew the risk when I started prying. I will just have to suck it up and buy a new one because unfortunately I do not (can not 
) purchase knives like some on here do. I usually purchase bottom level brands such as CS Recon 1 and my new Blur, but will use them if I need them. Besides I have to admit I agree with a previous poster(s) that the hardcore knife use vids have some people thinking the blades are pretty much indestructible. Most people do not read the fine print or use common sense when they purchase a "made for the masses" knife.
) purchase knives like some on here do. I usually purchase bottom level brands such as CS Recon 1 and my new Blur, but will use them if I need them. Besides I have to admit I agree with a previous poster(s) that the hardcore knife use vids have some people thinking the blades are pretty much indestructible. Most people do not read the fine print or use common sense when they purchase a "made for the masses" knife.
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I didn't buy into the marketing terms. Marketing or not, the disadvantages of folders built to appear like they are overbuilt and hard-use (weight, price, edge geometry) still apply. Many might be left wondering why they purchased an overbuilt-looking knife with these disadvantages when that knife isn't really "overbuilt", since they sacrificed some amount of performance, convenience and cost effectiveness.
In my eyes, it's even worse when you consider that ZT says that anything other than cutting is not covered under the warranty. Now you've got a company that not only markets their knives as "hard use" knives when their knives are not suitable for hard use tasks, but does not cover such use under warranty. Companies such as Strider and Busse have no such caveat in their warranty policies.
Oh marcinek, you aren't really one to believe ad copy now are you? If so I have a survival knife you might be interested in
I don't, but I believe people do...especially when it comes to manufacturers' claims of indestructibility.
I just think that, not only can you blame those people, but you can blame those manufacturers. Really, if they are saying their knives are bomb proof then maybe they should be.
And if they aren't...then they shouldn't say it.
That's my point and, I believe, asdf's also.
Yes, the warranty does say that, but out the other side of their mouth ZT says
So, seems to me ZT/Kai is being, at best, disingenuous.
Cue the ZT fans shouting "hater" and "troll."