My thoughts on the Umnumzaan

johnnytoxin

johnnytoxin

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The Umnumzaan is probably my favorite folding knife. I own and enjoy several others but if I could only own one, this would be it. I’ve owned several from various time periods, old pivots, s30v, s35vn, s45vn, and now the newest magnacut version with a glass blasted handle. I can say without a doubt, the quality has been incredibly consistent from all time periods. This newest version actually has a small design improvement. The choil/plunge area of the blade has been redesigned and manufactured so that as you sharpen it your bevel won’t encroach into plunge area. So far I haven’t noticed much difference between the older steels and magnacut in use. However, I am still just maintaining the factory edge. Once I re-profile it, I’m hoping to see a small boost in performance.The glass blasted handle is not unique to the Zann, however it works really well on this model since the handle design doesn’t require a tactile finish for a secure grip. I very much prefer the smooth feel of the glass blasted handle. Other than those small tweaks, the design remains the same: an exercise in simplicity. The thumb lug serves as the opening device, open stop and closed stop. I can’t think of another folder that was thought out well enough to accomplish this. The lug is cushioned by polyurethane o-rings. An idea borrowed from Grant and Gavin Hawk. The ceramic detent ball serves double duty as the mechanism used to keep the blade closed when not in use and as the lock interface. A more elegant solution than a steel lock bar insert in my opinion. The handle feels good in my hand, plenty of room and very secure feeling. Not as comfortable as something designed by Demko (the king of folding knife ergonomics in my opinion) but still very good. I do wish they would do what they did on the Inkosi and angle the clip to get it off the lock bar. The deep hollow ground harpoon shaped blade looks cool and performs very well, while also providing areas on the spine to place your thumb/finger when choked up. Anyway, just some thoughts on my favorite folding knife!

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Excellent review! Concise but thorough.

Question for you: When you say that the handle design doesn’t require a tactile finish, are you basically saying that the crosshatched grooves on the show scale help provide a secure grip? Or is it the shape of the handle? Or both?

I ask because my experience with my two Sebenzas — one glass blasted the other sandblasted — makes me prefer sandblasted. While I think glass blasted looks better, I’m willing to sacrifice the looks for the increased grippyness of the sandblasted, especially because it makes it more secure in my pocket. I hadn’t had my glass-blasted Sebenza a week before a mishandled garbage bag snagged the clip, sliding the knife out of my pocket and sending it clattering to my cement garage floor. (Happy to report that — incredibly — no visible damage was done.) My sandblasted Sebenza, on the other hand, is almost *too* secure in my pocket.

So, I guess I have a second question for you: Do you have any reason to believe that a glass-blasted Zaan is more secure *in the pocket* than, say, a glass-blasted Sebenza?

P.S.

Here’s as good a place as any to share that I don’t know how to pronounce Umnumzaan so I just call it a Num-num-zaman.
 
The crosshatch adds a bit of grip but the handle shape is what really locks you in. I’ve had a sandblasted Zaan get pulled out of my pocket when putting on a backpack. The strap snagged the clip and pulled it out. Fortunately I noticed it was missing fairly quickly and found it right away. So I’d say neither finish reduces the chance of something snagging and pulling it out of the pocket. The sandblast will eventually be smooth once it’s worn in also, so no real advantage except when it’s new. I really dislike the feel of the new sandblast. Touching it gives me the same feeling of nails on a chalkboard
 
Could you possibly post a side-by-side picture of the new choil/plunge on the MagnaCut compared to an older generation? I got one in MC and want to see the difference.
 
brandonc said:
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Could you possibly post a side-by-side picture of the new choil/plunge on the MagnaCut compared to an older generation? I got one in MC and want to see the difference.
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I don’t have an older version anymore to post a side by side but these pictures I found online should help.
 
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