- Joined
- Feb 14, 2021
- Messages
- 87
Hello fellow blade enthusiasts!
New to the forum. I recently (after a terrible bout with the 'rona) decided to get back into collecting knives and whatnot. I have always carried a pocket knife of some flavor, and never hunted or hiked without a decent fixed blade, but the collecting and acquiring bug didn't overwhelm me until now.
So my first trip out of the house to a city had me passing a knife store that had relocated, and on a whim I went in. I decided it was time to upgrade my carrying knife. Typically I carried an older 940 benchmade. Good knife, just never loved it. When I hit the woods it was usually with a 2002 vintage Emerson Cqc 7, pre-wave and pre chisel grind. I had added a couple other Emersons over the years, but the chisel grind and overall quality of the knives were kind of disappointing. The chisel grind has its advantages, I suppose, but for civilian daily tasks they left a bit to be desired. Plus tip up carry and a weak detent sent me to the ER when I stuck my hand in my pocket one day.
At any rate, I walked out with a Spyderco Yojimbo2, and that set off a full fledged sickness. I loved the compression lock, and went back the next week and acquired the vaunted PM2. Wonderful knives. Love the feel, love the steel, action, etc. Sypderco has really upped their game in the last few years. My first good tactical knife was an old Delica, when the clip was still plastic and part of the handle. That finally snapped, and Spyderco quit fixing those for free. Still have the knife, and I do want to grind off the remains of the clip and drill a new one in, but I digress.
Somehow or another, this led to examining the ZT line. I acquired a 0462, because that is one cool looking knife that carries quite well in most circumstances. So of course, I needed the smaller 0460 for occasions when the large knife probably shouldn't be packed. This led to swapping one of the Emersons for a 0620 cf. Never did I imagine that an Emerson collaboration would turn out to be way better than the full-blooded product. Solid knife, for sure, with what appears to be better steel and a better lockup. It was dull and scratched, but a really well-built knife. Some major time with a whetrock and sandpaper made the blade look almost new again, and the edge (I had no idea these new steels were such a bear to sharpen, but I'm learning) is finally getting there.
I sold my remaining Emersons, and thereafter acquired a 0566cf, which I'm loving. I found killer deals on a 0350 bw and a 0350 tiger stripe. I really like these knives, but a problem arose here. The BW zt came tip down for right side carry, and this makes me a little nervous with an assisted opener with the business end potentially opening in my pocket close to parts I'd rather keep unsliced. I went to remove the torx heads on the clip and reverse the clip. Should be simple, right? The torx screws are not very hard, and wallowed out (I'm sure due to locktite) when I was trying to remove. So I contacted Kai and mailed the knife back to them. They fixed and I should have it in my hands on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the newly acquired other 0350ts DID THE SAME THING. I tried every trick I could come across to get the torx heads off, but alas, this one is bound back to Bladehq or Kai to fix for me as soon as the post office reopens. Wonderful knives, but that torx issue appears to be a common problem. Maybe better tools would have helped, but I used the right torx heads, and still....two in a row. Other than that, I am quite happy with the zt line as a whole. Confidence-inspiring blades, to be sure.
So the bug has hit big time, as you can tell. But I'm enjoying it, and it's cheaper than a gun bug or a guitar bug, so I think it's ultimately ok. After spending some time ghosting around this forum, it doesn't appear that I am alone in this sickness. I already have begun plotting the next acquisitions.
New to the forum. I recently (after a terrible bout with the 'rona) decided to get back into collecting knives and whatnot. I have always carried a pocket knife of some flavor, and never hunted or hiked without a decent fixed blade, but the collecting and acquiring bug didn't overwhelm me until now.
So my first trip out of the house to a city had me passing a knife store that had relocated, and on a whim I went in. I decided it was time to upgrade my carrying knife. Typically I carried an older 940 benchmade. Good knife, just never loved it. When I hit the woods it was usually with a 2002 vintage Emerson Cqc 7, pre-wave and pre chisel grind. I had added a couple other Emersons over the years, but the chisel grind and overall quality of the knives were kind of disappointing. The chisel grind has its advantages, I suppose, but for civilian daily tasks they left a bit to be desired. Plus tip up carry and a weak detent sent me to the ER when I stuck my hand in my pocket one day.
At any rate, I walked out with a Spyderco Yojimbo2, and that set off a full fledged sickness. I loved the compression lock, and went back the next week and acquired the vaunted PM2. Wonderful knives. Love the feel, love the steel, action, etc. Sypderco has really upped their game in the last few years. My first good tactical knife was an old Delica, when the clip was still plastic and part of the handle. That finally snapped, and Spyderco quit fixing those for free. Still have the knife, and I do want to grind off the remains of the clip and drill a new one in, but I digress.
Somehow or another, this led to examining the ZT line. I acquired a 0462, because that is one cool looking knife that carries quite well in most circumstances. So of course, I needed the smaller 0460 for occasions when the large knife probably shouldn't be packed. This led to swapping one of the Emersons for a 0620 cf. Never did I imagine that an Emerson collaboration would turn out to be way better than the full-blooded product. Solid knife, for sure, with what appears to be better steel and a better lockup. It was dull and scratched, but a really well-built knife. Some major time with a whetrock and sandpaper made the blade look almost new again, and the edge (I had no idea these new steels were such a bear to sharpen, but I'm learning) is finally getting there.
I sold my remaining Emersons, and thereafter acquired a 0566cf, which I'm loving. I found killer deals on a 0350 bw and a 0350 tiger stripe. I really like these knives, but a problem arose here. The BW zt came tip down for right side carry, and this makes me a little nervous with an assisted opener with the business end potentially opening in my pocket close to parts I'd rather keep unsliced. I went to remove the torx heads on the clip and reverse the clip. Should be simple, right? The torx screws are not very hard, and wallowed out (I'm sure due to locktite) when I was trying to remove. So I contacted Kai and mailed the knife back to them. They fixed and I should have it in my hands on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the newly acquired other 0350ts DID THE SAME THING. I tried every trick I could come across to get the torx heads off, but alas, this one is bound back to Bladehq or Kai to fix for me as soon as the post office reopens. Wonderful knives, but that torx issue appears to be a common problem. Maybe better tools would have helped, but I used the right torx heads, and still....two in a row. Other than that, I am quite happy with the zt line as a whole. Confidence-inspiring blades, to be sure.
So the bug has hit big time, as you can tell. But I'm enjoying it, and it's cheaper than a gun bug or a guitar bug, so I think it's ultimately ok. After spending some time ghosting around this forum, it doesn't appear that I am alone in this sickness. I already have begun plotting the next acquisitions.
. Invest in a good sharpening system -- my preference is freehand (diamond hones work on any steel) but there are lots of popular guided systems, too.
I just picked up a SharpByDesign Brian Nadeau Micro Evo Typhoon / American Tanto that I can't wait to get my mits on. Yes the sickness is real. 
