Looking to upgrade from my trusty Spydercos

pialia

pialia

Joined
Feb 11, 2012
Messages
494
Hiya folks

I've kind of got an urge to explore the more higher end knives with all the talk of their awesomeness. I'm looking at knives in the 8-9" OAL region and from the models I've seen while lurking the forums I've narrowed the choice down to an Umnumzaan, VECP or XM-18 3.5.(open for suggestions!)

I guess availability wise the Umnumzaan would be easiest to obtain, but iirc Hinderer has a batch of 3.5's coming this autumn. But finding the knife is half of the fun, is it not? :D

Anyhoo... I'd just like to pick your guys' brains for more alternatives and for those of you who own any of these knives - especially those who have handled more than one of the above - please share your thoughts!

The knife itself will be a EDC blade for the most part, but during the summer months it does see a lot of hard use while I'm working.

Thanks!
 
CRks and XMs are pretty much my whole collection after owning most of the production knives out there.
I would like to get a VECP though but this may be difficult on our side of the pond:(
 
Are there any other makers out there that are associated with the same type of robustability(is that even a word? :D) that CRK/Hinderer is? I guess there are different opinions on the Strider knives, but I don't like the ergos so I didn't even consider them.

As previously mentioned, I'd gladly accept some links to other makers/sites so I can further the research a bit :)
 
pialia said:
Hiya folks

I've kind of got an urge to explore the more higher end knives with all the talk of their awesomeness. I'm looking at knives in the 8-9" OAL region and from the models I've seen while lurking the forums I've narrowed the choice down to an Umnumzaan, VECP or XM-18 3.5.(open for suggestions!)

I guess availability wise the Umnumzaan would be easiest to obtain, but iirc Hinderer has a batch of 3.5's coming this autumn. But finding the knife is half of the fun, is it not? :D

Anyhoo... I'd just like to pick your guys' brains for more alternatives and for those of you who own any of these knives - especially those who have handled more than one of the above - please share your thoughts!

The knife itself will be a EDC blade for the most part, but during the summer months it does see a lot of hard use while I'm working.

Thanks!
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I would just go with one of the Custom makers here on BF and have them make you a knife that way you can choose the steel that you want and other options.
 
Get zt 0560 if yo dont have one already, to see if you would like a hinderer. I would hate to blow that much money to find out i dont like the knife, just my suggestion.
 
Lycosa said:
Hit up your neighbor Mikkel Willumsen, yo.
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His work, although beautiful, doesn't really appeal to my tastes.

mayhemflipper said:
Get zt 0560 if yo dont have one already, to see if you would like a hinderer. I would hate to blow that much money to find out i dont like the knife, just my suggestion.
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Good advice, although paying lots of import taxes does get a bit tedious considering I'm located in Swedenland.

Ankerson said:
I would just go with one of the Custom makers here on BF and have them make you a knife that way you can choose the steel that you want and other options.
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I'm lost when it comes to custom makers on BF, anyone in particular I should check out?
 
pialia said:
(open for suggestions!)
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My (suggestion) votes are definitely for Sebenza, any flavor, Lg or Sm, or a Gen7 Strider SnG. But the differences between the Lg & Sm Seb are huge... & the differences between them and an SnG are significant as well! While I am not a fan of the Umnumzaan (looks mainly) I am a BIG fan of the Sebenzas. & while I see the Sebenza as a better all around use knife than an SnG, the SnG is my go-to knife for general EDC. WHY? It just feels like more of a multi-tool. For whatever reason I'm more comfortable using the SnG for whatever comes along. I've taken down a pallet for firewood with an SnG when no other tools or kindling were around. Surely plenty of folders are capable of the task, but the SnG begged for it. I think Spyderco is probably the best sub-midtech manufacturer out there. The spydie hole on MOST Spydies causes a big bump/ramp on the spine of the knives that I don't care for... but I love the hole opening system. The Sng's spine is relatively flat, which I prefer. Grippy surfaces and the indexing which the handle shape provides equals extremely articulate manipulations in hand. That's always a good thing especially if you find yourself in a wet or tense situation (or if you just LIKE manipulating a knife!). I love the SnG's minimal, industrial design. Materials/heat treat are top notch. I've never had much of a problem with previous gens, but the Gen7's fit and finish is obviously upgraded. As far as ergos go, I've had every flavor. I like the plain 'ol "lego" SnG. I carved a hickory hatchet handle with various knives & really expected the SnG to be very uncomfortable. It was great. I think that the flat handles actually lock it into the hand, so less fatigue is caused by squeezing the handle. Anyhoo... I realize you said you did not like the SnG's ergos. I'm just thinking it may have been a premature bypass!
 
Get the Les George, they're worth every cent! I have an xm18 3.5' spanto gen 4 and love it, but my VECP still holds the throne.
 
Are you eligible to get an XM direct from Hinderer? If not, then the price difference is pretty huge between the Umnum and the XM... Personally, of all of the knives mentioned so far in this thread the XM is the one I would go for... But the new gen SNGs are pretty impressive.
 
jasonp said:
. the Umnumzaan while marketed as somewhat tactical, to me is more a gents folder. The XM-18 is as tough as they come.
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Really? A gent folder is the last thing I would categorize an umnum. What part of it makes you think that? Certainly not the blade.
 
I've owned a first gen VECP and a handful of Umnumzaans. Out of those two I would go with the Umnumzaan hands down. As much as I loved the VECP it didnt feel as solid as my Umnumzaan. The VECP is incredibly smooth and slightly easier to deploy and close compared to the zaan. Overall I just like the Umnumzaan a lot more than the VECP. As for the Hinderer I cant really say since I've never owned one but the two 3 inch xm-18s that I got to handle were very nice but I think they are hideous aesthetically.
 
Hauling said:
Really? A gent folder is the last thing I would categorize an umnum. What part of it makes you think that? Certainly not the blade.
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Classifying it as a Gents folder is a personal opinion. I think the Umnumzaan is a very "classy" looking folder, one that I cannot "flick" open with near as much authority as I can a whole slew of Spyderco's, my XM's and many others. I can sure open it easily one handed BUT for me to classify something as (as much as I hate the word) tactical, I picture myself on the losing end of an ass whopping and someone going for my weapon (if on duty), someone trying to choke me out or just down right beating the snot out of me and the questions would be, with sweaty or bloody hands could I retrieve said knife from my pocket, deploy it instinctively / AKA snap it open and use it as needed? Allot of it depends on muscle memory from repeated flicking open and just getting to know your knife. I can do the above with authority with my XM-18, many spyderco's, ZT's and many others. While I can open my CRK knives one handed, in the above senario(s), I just don't have the same confidence to deploy it as quickly and with authority under extreme duress.
It has nothing to do with the blade shape. One of the worst knife incidents I ever worked as a cop in East Texas was a guy that was on the wrong end of a box cutter. Contrary to popular belief, blade shape IMO has little to do with it's ability to hurt someone. Sure a larger blade is better for penetration, gets more reach, etc. but to answer your question, it has nothing to do with blade shape. The Umnumzaan could make of a mess of someone's day just as much as any knife of similar size. So this is no ding against the Umnumzaan, I LOVE the knife but it's not one I carry on duty. It's an off duty knife for me. If the OP is not looking for a tactical knife, it's a moot point anyway. They are both awesome knives. Hope this makes sense.
 
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Makes a lot of sense, it isn't a fast deployment compared to some other flippers I have that is for sure but it is silent. Sounds like a bad scene you had to witness though.
 
Zookie said:
Get the Les George, they're worth every cent! I have an xm18 3.5' spanto gen 4 and love it, but my VECP still holds the throne.
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Dang. You folks aren't making it easy :D

docbp87 said:
Are you eligible to get an XM direct from Hinderer? If not, then the price difference is pretty huge between the Umnum and the XM... Personally, of all of the knives mentioned so far in this thread the XM is the one I would go for... But the new gen SNGs are pretty impressive.
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I am. How would you say the new SNGs compare in the lock up department? The reason I've been turned off from Striders is mainly all the negative press they've gotten, aside from the less than pleasing looks(personal opinion!)

jasonp said:
Classifying it as a Gents folder is a personal opinion. I think the Umnumzaan is a very "classy" looking folder, one that I cannot "flick" open with near as much authority as I can a whole slew of Spyderco's, my XM's and many others. I can sure open it easily one handed BUT for me to classify something as (as much as I hate the word) tactical, I picture myself on the losing end of an ass whopping and someone going for my weapon (if on duty), someone trying to choke me out or just down right beating the snot out of me and the questions would be, with sweaty or bloody hands could I retrieve said knife from my pocket, deploy it instinctively / AKA snap it open and use it as needed? Allot of it depends on muscle memory from repeated flicking open and just getting to know your knife. I can do the above with authority with my XM-18, many spyderco's, ZT's and many others. While I can open my CRK knives one handed, in the above senario(s), I just don't have the same confidence to deploy it as quickly and with authority under extreme duress.
It has nothing to do with the blade shape. One of the worst knife incidents I ever worked as a cop in East Texas was a guy that was on the wrong end of a box cutter. Contrary to popular belief, blade shape IMO has little to do with it's ability to hurt someone. Sure a larger blade is better for penetration, gets more reach, etc. but to answer your question, it has nothing to do with blade shape. The Umnumzaan could make of a mess of someone's day just as much as any knife of similar size. So this is no ding against the Umnumzaan, I LOVE the knife but it's not one I carry on duty. It's an off duty knife for me. If the OP is not looking for a tactical knife, it's a moot point anyway. They are both awesome knives. Hope this makes sense.
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I understand what you mean about the CRKs, and some part of me agrees - but still wants one... The self defense/tactical aspect of it doesn't really factor in with me. I live in Sweden and I don't work as a LEO. I just want a really nice EDC that will handle whatever I throw at it when it accompanies me into the forest during summertime(I dabble in forest firefighting.)

For my current purposes - and because I really love the aesthetics - I think my first choice would be an XM-18 3.5, but then I'm faced with two new problems... Slicer/Spanto, Flipper/Non-flipper... Why don't more people own these knives in Sweden? I need tactile feedback!
 
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