Newbie looking for tactical folder

B

bladelust89

Joined
Oct 28, 2010
Messages
6
I'm planning on buying a tactical folder, my first tactical folder.

Saw the review by Cold Steel, the Recon 1 seems like not a bad choice. Then I surveyed for a knife from Fox Cutlery its the FKMD Combative Edge M1, it has a nice steel which is Bohler N690 and lastly I'm looking into the ZT0200ST (partially serrated).

So now there are 3 choices:

1) Cold Steel Recon 1

2) FKMD Combative Edge M1

3) Zero Tolerance 0200 ST

Which is more recommended, serrated or plain edge? Any advantages or disadvantages if I go for the serrated edge?

Just wondering whether any of you guys have the first hand experience of using all these knives. I've checked out some of the Benchmade line ups and they are not bad too. Plus I am on a tight budget of USD180 and I desperately in need of an all rounder, tactical/ utility folder that can withstand hell so I can take it back to heaven.

I appreciate if you guys can help.

Cheers!
 
Hey, welcome to BF! Alright, for the serated v. plain edge question, its pretty much unanimously decided that plain edge is much better because its easy to sharpen, and if sharpened correctly it will cut just as good, if not better than a serrated edge(my steak knives are plain edge. I don't really have any experience with any of the knives you have mentioned except a griptilian, but the griptilian I have is the hollow ground one. I hate the hollow grind on it, but love the design of the handle so much im going to buy to tanto one. I think a recon one would be good, it has a large following, and is seaid to have the strongest lock. With a limit of 180$ other good options would be the spyderco military, benchmade 710, emerson cqc7/8. Good luck and im sure we would be willing to answer any more questions you would have.
P.S. people tend to get pretty turned off buy the idea of tactical knives, you'll prob. have more luck with asking for hard use knives.
 
I've had an M1 since they came out. Rob is a great guy to deal with and the knife has held up to a lot of abuse. I can fully recommend that without hesitation.

I just got a recon1... and its obivously not a ti framelock like the m1... but it is a tough SOB. locks up like a vault. I am not a fan of the blade shape offerings or the steel... but for 60 bucks...

All ZT knives are awesome... but I'd go for the m1 over a 200 or 350... now the 550 or 300 series... its far closer...

You really CANT go wrong with any. I did a review of an M1 HERE. And the recon1 can be turned into quite a looker with a little work as seen HERE and HERE.

Hope this helps a little.
 
Thanks to the both of you.

I just thought that having options on a single blade would be more reliable. Just in case if the plain edge gets dull, I can use the serrated edge for cutting ropes and stuff. But if there's any downside, please let me know.

About the grinding, I am a little confuse because there are many types of them. Some that I have heard are hollow, flat and chisle? Mind enlighten me about these grinding stuff.

myowngood:

Its cool to finally have someone who has experience the M1 firsthand. Now I am beginning to see the light. Some say that Italian knives are like their cars, they can perform but at one point, it will give us such pain in the arse. BTW, how long have you been using the M1? Is there any trouble sharpening the Bohler N690 steel?

Talking about sharpening, the sling re-curve on the blade seems like impossible to be sharpen using whetstones. Will the Spyderco Sharpmaker do the job?

Thanks a lot guys, really appreciate the info!
 
Those are all good choices. I would also recommend a Spyderco Endura they are great all around knives and have good steel for the price.
 
I'm not a fan of partially serrated blades... to me it's easier to have a fully serrated knife if you cut alot of rope.. otherwise a sharp plain edge is more useful to me.. but that's a whole new thread. I've probably had my m1 for 9-10 months? I haven't had an issue with it at all. I touch it up using whatever I can get to work with the recurve (my only dislike of the blade is the recurve). No trouble using sharpmaker rods and some practice.

The grinds are rather self explanitory... flat grind, straight angle all the way to the final bevel - chisel ground on one side only - hollow, ground concave - convex is ground convex usually to a zero bevel... I prefer hollow and flat for folders, and convex for fixed blades.

Oh and I wanted to add... If you have any hesitations about the quality of the M1, just shoot Rob Walker an email.. he is a standup guy and talking with him definitely adds confidence to your purchase. I bought mine before there were reviews or any real input on the knife, only because after speaking with Rob, I felt it was worth the risk of buying an unknown blade. I will buy another when they make a new model... (M3 folder).
 
I'm thinking at least ditch the serrations. Plain edge is easier to sharpen, and if you need it in an SD situation, a serrated blade would make it harder for your attacker to heal. It's not about revenge, it's about getting out of a situation.
 
the only combo edge i'd ever be intrested in is - the SOG Pentagon :D otherwise, i'll take plain edge, every time.

i had a good friend buy a Cold Steel Recon I. it was before the Triad lock, back when they had what resembled an Axis lock. i was pretty impressed with the knife. i'm more into Benchmades, but that Cold Steel did everything he asked it to. AFAIK, he still carries it.
 
You might also want to look at the Wilson Combat folders.

CE01P.jpg


Found it here for $234... http://www.discountcutlery.net/en-us/dept_23306.html

I traded for one and sent it to my cousin who enlisted as an 11b in the state guard. Some tweaker stole it off his porch. A dude on Jerzeedevil read my post and sent my cousin a Combative Edge M1 plainedge to his office address. Gotta love knife people.
 
Combo edges are annoying to me. As far as I'm concerned half of your cutting edge is lost with a combo edge. And if I were forced to get a combo edge I'd want the serrations to be on the tip end. Try using a combo edge and you "may" see what I mean.

I don't own any knives with serrations but if I did it would be 100% serrated or not at all. But my vote goes to plain edge by a long shot.
 
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Why not have both?

MT110-3T_F.jpg
 
i 've had my COMBATIVE EDGE M1 for about a year now. i just touch up once in a while on my sharpmaker and it ready to again! :thumbup: don't care for combo edges, although a do have three. i have Kershaw Boa, Mission MPF-1 and last a ZT 0650ST. are you looking for a heavy duty folder than a ZT200 is great for the price. :thumbup:
 
I'll add my props for the M1. I've been carrying, and training with, this for nearly a year now. Of all the tacticals I've tried, this is far and away one of the best. Move quick if ya want one, though.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
The ZT200 is nice, but it wouldn't pass spine whack test. I'd spring for the ZT300 or the Combat Elite folder. Nothing wrong with 440c.
 
I can see a lot of positive comments about the M1.

I'll be getting that one soon. The only trouble is, it is very hard to find from where I come from. But definitely getting that one.

Thanks a lot for all the infos!
 
Try emailing Rob and seeing if you can get one directly from him... perhaps even if you have to ship internationally it'd be cheaper.
 
That is the problem. I am in Malaysia right now and the Customs here, they are very strict. The last time I asked about importing a knife, they asked me to write a letter to some kind of ministry up there.

I wonder if anyone has any experience shipping stuff to Malaysia or importing knives here.
 
Charlie Mike said:
The ZT200 is nice, but it wouldn't pass spine whack test. I'd spring for the ZT300 or the Combat Elite folder. Nothing wrong with 440c.
Click to expand...

99.9% of them pass with flying colors, sorry to hear you got a bad one. All of the ones that I've handled (hundreds) passed just fine. :thumbup:
 
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