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Need help on a decision.
- Thread starter 86blade
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All 3 are entirely different knives. What will you be using the knife for? Once you decide what you'll be using the knife for it'll be much easier to make a choice.
++ 1 on what RByers91 said
The Zaan would be the best all around edc choice IMO. Strider= HD knife not much of a slicer thou,
Lionsteel is too nice a knife to edc and get scratches and dings in it IMO
++ 1 on what RByers91 said
The Zaan would be the best all around edc choice IMO. Strider= HD knife not much of a slicer thou,
Lionsteel is too nice a knife to edc and get scratches and dings in it IMO
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- Sep 28, 2008
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Spyderco is coming out with a collaboration lion steel very soon that looks incredible. You could find pics online somewhere and might want to consider that as well. I have an um and a pt, I would feel much more comfortable putting my um through the wringer, the pt has a little play. Strider has had some qc and cs issues in the past, something to keep in mind.
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Here are some side by sides if that helps too. The Umnumzaan and Lionsteel are two of the best executed mid-tech production knives I have ever held and seen.
I agree with the others that Lionsteel "seems" too pretty to carry but to be honest, the finish is probably more scuff resistant and wear resistant than the bead blast CRK finish. DO NOT consider the SR-1 to be just a pretty face though. The SR-1 is one hell of a tough feeling, well built, apt folder. However, my opinion is that the CRK is the easiest to carry due to the narrower footprint.
The CRK is very smooth to open but is not a flicker by any stretch. At least not when new. Neither is the SR-1. The SMF CC I have has a very nice action that can be flicked if that's your schtick. It's not my style but I can easily say the SMF CC is the fastest of the three to deploy if speed by the second matters to you.
The Zaan and SR-1 have pretty stiff lockbars to disengage compared to the SMF so I would have to say that between the three I have, the SMF is certainly the easiest to operate one handed when closing.
Don't ask me to pick my favorite because that is impossible when one has all three. I haven't carried the SR-1 or the Zaan yet because I just recently got them and I keep picking up my ZT 0551 or Spyderco SuperLeaf but I fully intend to carry them at this point.
Pictures:
I agree with the others that Lionsteel "seems" too pretty to carry but to be honest, the finish is probably more scuff resistant and wear resistant than the bead blast CRK finish. DO NOT consider the SR-1 to be just a pretty face though. The SR-1 is one hell of a tough feeling, well built, apt folder. However, my opinion is that the CRK is the easiest to carry due to the narrower footprint.
The CRK is very smooth to open but is not a flicker by any stretch. At least not when new. Neither is the SR-1. The SMF CC I have has a very nice action that can be flicked if that's your schtick. It's not my style but I can easily say the SMF CC is the fastest of the three to deploy if speed by the second matters to you.
The Zaan and SR-1 have pretty stiff lockbars to disengage compared to the SMF so I would have to say that between the three I have, the SMF is certainly the easiest to operate one handed when closing.
Don't ask me to pick my favorite because that is impossible when one has all three. I haven't carried the SR-1 or the Zaan yet because I just recently got them and I keep picking up my ZT 0551 or Spyderco SuperLeaf but I fully intend to carry them at this point.
Pictures:
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You could save specifically for em and get the three over a year or six months or whatever based on your income and expenses
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I don't like Strider because of their history. I also think CRK should harden their S30V a couple more points. I'm also not a huge framelock fan but I do have the SR1 and like it a lot. It at least has the rotoblock so the lock can't slip off the tang which I have had frame/ liner locks do. For some reason some will 'walk' under the right conditions and can unlock without a lot of force. Maybe I'm just unlucky. I am also really impressed with the Sleipner steel in the SR1. It seems to hold an edge just as well as my production Spyderco S90V although the actual composition doesn't look that impressive so it must have a really good heat treat. I was also really excited about the Spyderco version of the SR1. That is until I saw the changes and the price. It is about the same price as the original SR1 but is no longer a one piece titanium handle and I think it no longer has the rotoblock but could be mistaken about that. I have carried my SR1 since the first run came out and it has held up great and shows no marks on the ti.
It is the best made knife I have owned and is the one I would pick. I really like the wide blade but wish it had a little more of a point and have thought about having a clip or drop point ground on it with a swedge. I think that would make it look bad a$$ and only lose a little bit of blade length.
It is the best made knife I have owned and is the one I would pick. I really like the wide blade but wish it had a little more of a point and have thought about having a clip or drop point ground on it with a swedge. I think that would make it look bad a$$ and only lose a little bit of blade length.