Well, AUS8 and 8Cr13MoV are really really similar. AUS8 from my experience(and I have a ton of it, thanks to Cold Steel) sharpens pretty much as easily as 8Cr13MoV, but is a little better at holding an edge.
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Ontario Utilitac II - Best modern folding knife under $30?
- Thread starter o4tg
- Start date
Well, AUS8 and 8Cr13MoV are really really similar. AUS8 from my experience(and I have a ton of it, thanks to Cold Steel) sharpens pretty much as easily as 8Cr13MoV, but is a little better at holding an edge.
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- Oct 11, 2013
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I just received my Utilitac 2! And I have a couple of impressions to add.
Grownstar. Grown. Dude. WHAT. WHAT THE HELL, MAN?!?!?
Ok, so, I'm probably going to be flamed for this, but I have to tell you guys something. (Flamesuit on)
Ok. SO. I have to tell you something about my new Utilitac 2. Let's just say you're not a super knowledgeable knife person, who doesn't know all of the benefits of different steels, this versus that steel, all of that. Let's just theorize that you possibly are someone who doesn't know all about knives. Well, let me tell you this. Just gotta get it out there. If you didn't know a ton about knives, and all of the markings were removed...you'd easily think this Utilitac was a friggin' ZT product. BAM, YEAH, I SAID IT. Absolutely am not kidding. You'd swear this cheap $30 knife was a KAI made ZT product, at the lower end of the spectrum, down with the ZT 0700 or other non-assisted offerings. I mean, wow. WOW. The "SNACK" sound it makes upon lock-up, the fit and finish of the blade and scales, the out-of-box sharpness, the weight, the feel of overall strength and durability....man. It's straight ZT.
In my opinion, the Utilitac 2 is THE knife for people who want a ZT product while on a Mora budget. Now, understand, I haven't put this knife through any super dragout torture test. I generally don't do that with ANY of my knives. I am a white collar professional who doesn't get as much time into the woods as he'd like these days, so I'm not beating this knife through a cinder-block with a hammer to see if it still shaves. I'm not trying to chop down any saplings. I'm not going to war, and I don't intend to fight a street gang. For all I know, I could try to cut a piece of paper with this knife today, and the blade snaps off and jabs into my friggin' leg, severing an artery and I die on the spot. BOOM, SHOULDA BOUGHTA ZT! That could happen, but I doubt it.
All I'm saying is that this knife is absolutely not what you expect to get for a $30 knife. You just don't expect it. This cheapo knife is everything I like. I even like the tanto blade (and I don't like tanto blades these days!)! In the light, all the differing angles, it just looks sweet. I just....like this knife. It's heavy, solid, and rugged feeling. I got this Utilitac in the same day I got my orange 0350, and handling them back to back, that's when this understanding struck me.
So, thanks for reading my meandering positive somewhat-review. As always, your mileage may vary.
For what it's worth, I got these knives in the same day I got my Spyderco Gayle Bradley in and it blew BOTH of these out of the water, so take it for what it's worth. At the end of the day, it's a fantastic time to be a knife guy (or gal)!
Pics!
If I'd whipped out my ZT 0700, the comparison would have been even more evident.
Grownstar. Grown. Dude. WHAT. WHAT THE HELL, MAN?!?!?
Ok, so, I'm probably going to be flamed for this, but I have to tell you guys something. (Flamesuit on)
Ok. SO. I have to tell you something about my new Utilitac 2. Let's just say you're not a super knowledgeable knife person, who doesn't know all of the benefits of different steels, this versus that steel, all of that. Let's just theorize that you possibly are someone who doesn't know all about knives. Well, let me tell you this. Just gotta get it out there. If you didn't know a ton about knives, and all of the markings were removed...you'd easily think this Utilitac was a friggin' ZT product. BAM, YEAH, I SAID IT. Absolutely am not kidding. You'd swear this cheap $30 knife was a KAI made ZT product, at the lower end of the spectrum, down with the ZT 0700 or other non-assisted offerings. I mean, wow. WOW. The "SNACK" sound it makes upon lock-up, the fit and finish of the blade and scales, the out-of-box sharpness, the weight, the feel of overall strength and durability....man. It's straight ZT.
In my opinion, the Utilitac 2 is THE knife for people who want a ZT product while on a Mora budget. Now, understand, I haven't put this knife through any super dragout torture test. I generally don't do that with ANY of my knives. I am a white collar professional who doesn't get as much time into the woods as he'd like these days, so I'm not beating this knife through a cinder-block with a hammer to see if it still shaves. I'm not trying to chop down any saplings. I'm not going to war, and I don't intend to fight a street gang. For all I know, I could try to cut a piece of paper with this knife today, and the blade snaps off and jabs into my friggin' leg, severing an artery and I die on the spot. BOOM, SHOULDA BOUGHTA ZT! That could happen, but I doubt it.
All I'm saying is that this knife is absolutely not what you expect to get for a $30 knife. You just don't expect it. This cheapo knife is everything I like. I even like the tanto blade (and I don't like tanto blades these days!)! In the light, all the differing angles, it just looks sweet. I just....like this knife. It's heavy, solid, and rugged feeling. I got this Utilitac in the same day I got my orange 0350, and handling them back to back, that's when this understanding struck me.
So, thanks for reading my meandering positive somewhat-review. As always, your mileage may vary.
For what it's worth, I got these knives in the same day I got my Spyderco Gayle Bradley in and it blew BOTH of these out of the water, so take it for what it's worth. At the end of the day, it's a fantastic time to be a knife guy (or gal)!
Pics!
If I'd whipped out my ZT 0700, the comparison would have been even more evident.
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- Feb 19, 2013
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The topic is best MODERN folding knife, not best folding knife of the late 1800s.
No matter the knife question that is asked here, you can bet your ass SOMEONE is going to answer Opinel or Mora.
There are few posts that make me sit in an empty room and laugh out loud for 45 seconds to a minute, but this one did. Even after reading about the OP's edit to "Modern."
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- Apr 24, 2013
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Lol!!! I'm glad you like the knife, bro. I was really curious what you were gonna think when you first opened it. Great little overview, buddy. Thanks for the pics. That satin finish looks really clean. How smooth is yours?
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- Oct 11, 2013
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I honestly went into it with an open mind. I actually received multiple knives in the mail that day, and I waited until last to open the Utilitac. Your pictures have been great, but I candidly was ready for an inexpensive knife that while decent, would feel "light" or in some other way inexpensive, or at least had some obvious shortcut taken.
Well, for anyone else reading this, I'm here to tell you. NO. It's sturdy and rugged feeling, just like my two ZT 0350's. EXACTLY like those two, in fact. The blade locks up with authority, and there is absolutely no blade-play in any direction. Yes, this is Taiwan AUS-8, but for 99.99999999% of people, this steel is good enough. This knife is just crazy good for what it costs, and everyone should have one. Hell, I would recommend this knife to anyone who was considering one of the ZT line, just to get an idea of whether or not a heavier, sturdy, rugged knife like that is what you want. That way, if it's not, you're only out $30.
This is a great knife, and to answer your question, the finish on mine is perfect. It flips open smooth, and just feels like $100+ knife.
I sincerely appreciate your recommendation.
I just ordered my second one. I knew I wanted to sample each blade and each handle style, and since my first was the rounded handle tanto, I figured I'd go coffin handle drop point. Got the black blade version simply cause I didn't care either way if the blade was black or satin, and the black blade version was a couple bucks cheaper.
And I'm not certain this will be the last one I get! I still see a serrated version in my future somewhere...
And I'm not certain this will be the last one I get! I still see a serrated version in my future somewhere...
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And I appreciate your opinions!
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Yeah, I've been thinking about getting one in their satin finish. Can't wait for payday!
Quiet, you're not the only one who thinks this knife is very ZT like. Not in that it's a knock off, but in that it's something that I would expect to see in the ZT line up. In fact, I have a buddy who's a Spyderco fiend that when he first saw it asked me if it was a ZT. When I let him handle it, he thought it was assisted opening and missed the Taiwan and AUS8 markings and said the knife was awesome but he couldn't afford a knife like that. He about sharted when I told him it was $25 and unassisted. 
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Quiet, you're not the only one who thinks this knife is very ZT like. Not in that it's a knock off, but in that it's something that I would expect to see in the ZT line up. In fact, I have a buddy who's a Spyderco fiend that when he first saw it asked me if it was a ZT. When I let him handle it, he thought it was assisted opening and missed the Taiwan and AUS8 markings and said the knife was awesome but he couldn't afford a knife like that. He about sharted when I told him it was $25 and unassisted.
I'm beyond happy with my purchase. This thing is a tank and I love the tanto blade, probably more than any other tanto knife I own.
I dunno ... maybe I just suck at sharpening this knife lol But The knife itself is cool I do like the brass washers seprating blade from liner . It almost feels bearing assisted its so smooth. Maybe its the blade angle?? I dunno . My 8cr13mov kershaw asset? I can put a blade on that incredibly easy . I just dont get it .
I heard AUS 8 is more similar to 440B And 8cr13mov is more comparable to 420HC . Not that theres MUCH difference between any of them .
I heard AUS 8 is more similar to 440B And 8cr13mov is more comparable to 420HC . Not that theres MUCH difference between any of them .
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- Jan 27, 2013
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I have half a mind to drive down to Texas just to shake your hand. I applaud you, sir :thumbup:
Is yours the tanto or the recurve?
It's called a trailpoint blade . I dunno if that's what people refer to as a recurve ?? It's not the tanto though .
Yeah, it's got a slight recurve to it. I've found even the slightest bit of belly can be trouboesome though. Are you using a stone or rods to sharpen?
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Haha go for it! I'll be waiting
lansky stone and a smith pocket pal utilizing most the diamond rod and the ceramic finishing slot . hardly ever the carbide.
Hmm. I had similar troubles with my 0350, and I found that starting from the tip and going against the grain was the only way I could get an edge on it with a stone. I actually chose the tanto version UT2 for that exact reason as I wanted something I could get razor sharp on the fly with an easy to carry stone.
Knives with bellies scare me.
