Overbuilt, heavy duty, sharpened prybars

SmedleyButler

SmedleyButler

Joined
Oct 20, 2014
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410
Heh, I love them! I realize that they have mostly traded beauty for brawn, but man, they are fun! Until today, DPx were my favorites. Today I got an Adamas Auto and it is awesome. D2, fires super hard and fast. Anyway, I'm loving these beefy knives (Burch Chubby, Dpx HEAT and HEST, Adamas, Contego (maybe?) ). How about you guys? Not really looking to hear from the haters/purists. What are your favorites when it comes to these HUMMERS?IMG_20150108_114308.jpg
 
One of my fav's; a ZT0300 and a rubber snowblower paddle I was using as a template to cut another one with from an old tire:

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The Spyderco TUFF is another beast, carries easily and the 3V steel is wicked.

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A whole box of overbuilt, modern pry bars LOL...

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I'll second the Tuff if you want to try one. Only issue is the lock can be a little slick on some models, so stabbing is a bad idea. Great way to try out 3V steel though, which is superd for impact and has insane levels of toughness.

I don't really have any "sharpened pry-bars" right now, but I've had my fair share of them over time ;)

I tend to stick to slimmer folders overall now, with more of a slicing and overall performance focus, but the Adamas is a very nice knife. I wouldn't personally consider it impractical either, as it is strong, and has a very good overall construction. A little too thick for me, but still a very nice knife :)

Never got into a DPX, but though about it. Might pick one up if I find a deal on one ;)
I liked my Strider SNG a lot more than I though I would, and it was very tough. Still regret selling that one, and I will be getting another one, just not sure when...

I will say that the Redencion 228 midtech would be very good if it wasn't on bearings. The bearings they use are teensy tiny, and really won't give you much strength around the pivot. Oh what i wouldn't give for a 228 on Phospher bronze washers with maybe a bushing pivot system... oh well

I like tough folders, and I like the feel of some overbuilt folders, but I like things that are practical too. Not a hater, just more of my taste. The Ferrum Forge Ferox is a good example. Yeah its on bearings, but the lock is very strong for a Ti framelock, and the bearings have a wider radius to give it more durability. Plus the 4V still comes to a good thinness behind the edge and performs very well.
 
(SLAPS HEAD) Not sure why I didn't mention my ZT's! The 0801, 0550, and 0300 of course (although I just can't find any love for the 0300). Oh, thanks for pointing out the Tuff. I NEED one, lol.

Charr, the Dpx HEAT (the little one) has to be one of my top 3 favorite knives in any category. You gotta check it out. I have the Olive G10 abd want to get the limited edition titanium one as well. I use the hell out of mine (well, it's not like I'm Bear Grylls) and it looks brand new.

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Czechmate said:
One of my fav's; a ZT0300 and a rubber snowblower paddle I was using as a template to cut another one with from an old tire:

15591866461_192631d4e7_c.jpg




The Spyderco TUFF is another beast, carries easily and the 3V steel is wicked.

13983373495_2a91ccd065_c.jpg



A whole box of overbuilt, modern pry bars LOL...

14327340209_7de5288530_c.jpg
Click to expand...


Very nice!

Honestly I wouldn't call any of those quite pry-bars though. They all have pretty good cutting performance (though for tougher tasks in some cases), and they aren't supremely heavy either. I think you and I have somewhat similar tastes in that regard. I just jumped too far into stuff that's more expensive and haven't had a chance to look back much at all.

Might be time to start though, looking at all those nice blades ;)
 
SmedleyButler said:
Heh, I love them! I realize that they have mostly traded beauty for brawn, but man, they are fun! Until today, DPx were my favorites. Today I got an Adamas Auto and it is awesome. D2, fires super hard and fast. Anyway, I'm loving these beefy knives (Burch Chubby, Dpx HEAT and HEST, Adamas, Contego (maybe?) ). How about you guys? Not really looking to hear from the haters/purists. What are your favorites when it comes to these HUMMERS?View attachment 503502
Click to expand...

The Adamas is a great knife, hardly a prybar. The grind is actually pretty thin behind the edge.
 
I highly recommend the Boker Minos which is extremely well-made (as good as most customs) in Germany with stonewashed titanium handles and frame lock. The 3.1" long stonewashed blade of N690BO steel is 0.20" thick and a very string tip! Here's a review: The Edge Observer: The Böker Minos designed by Jens Ansø. I have many tough use folders but this one is currently tops.
 
Charr said:
Very nice!

Honestly I wouldn't call any of those quite pry-bars though. They all have pretty good cutting performance (though for tougher tasks in some cases), and they aren't supremely heavy either. I think you and I have somewhat similar tastes in that regard. I just jumped too far into stuff that's more expensive and haven't had a chance to look back much at all.

Might be time to start though, looking at all those nice blades ;)
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It's true; most of those knives don't really fit the bill. The ZT561 is one of the worst in terms of cutting performance as it has the thickest blade behind the edge and it's been re-profiled!

I had an old Strider SMF in S35vn 3/4 grind with aluminum non-lock side that was one of the best knives I've ever owned or handled. I foolishly traded it away years ago but would like to get another. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Another sharpened prybar that hasn't been mentioned yet is the Boker Vox F3. Crazy thick blade with a nice slicer grind.
 
Czechmate said:
It's true; most of those knives don't really fit the bill. The ZT561 is one of the worst in terms of cutting performance as it has the thickest blade behind the edge and it's been re-profiled!

I had an old Strider SMF in S35vn 3/4 grind with aluminum non-lock side that was one of the best knives I've ever owned or handled. I foolishly traded it away years ago but would like to get another. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
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Yeah I feel your pain on the Strider. Striders are weird in that nothing really sings to me about them, and they aren't seem like a knife I wouldn't like too much on paper, but you put one in my hand and let me use it...and I love them. Could not for the life of me tell anyone exactly why though.

Really need to get myself another Strider and find a way to fit it into my rotation again.

My experience with the 0561 was pretty much the same. It was pretty good at cutting through heavier material, but definitely not a fine slicer. Still performed better than many others I've seen and handled though (...I'm looking at you direware...I like your looks a lot, but come on, please make a better slicer for me with a better pivot and lock...please?).

I've heard really good things about the Gayle Bradley, but I've never gotten my hands on one. I like to keep my blades from forming patina, and I know M4 doesn't agree with that philosophy. If I want something that performs close to M4, I tend to prefer 4V (AKA Vanadis 4E) because it has a little better corrosion resistance, with a gain in toughness and overall a marginal loss in edge retention.
I'd LOVE a GB in something like M390...of course I love almost any knife a liitle more in M390.
 
Damn you, dotdefender.

I love beefy, overbuilt knives. I'd love to handle a Tuff sometime.
 
grownstar said:
Damn you, dotdefender.

I love beefy, overbuilt knives. I'd love to handle a Tuff sometime.
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Okay, I'm sorry, but this will be a tiny bit off topic.
WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THE DOT DEFENDER THING?!

It's been doing that to me off and on a lot in this last week, and never did it before that at all. It's really starting to aggrivate me.
 
Charr said:
Okay, I'm sorry, but this will be a tiny bit off topic.
WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THE DOT DEFENDER THING?!

It's been doing that to me off and on a lot in this last week, and never did it before that at all. It's really starting to aggrivate me.
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Sorry to steer you off topic, Charr buddy. Here's a quick link in the Tech area.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ease-report-DotDefender-related-problems-here

Back on topic, my ZT 0550s and 0551 just screamed heavy duty to me. I know those tanks can handle whatever I throw at them.
 
I have the 550, 2 0560s, 301, and Contego. On the cheap, the Enlan EL-01 is quite beefy. Love me some knife tanks!
 
grownstar said:
Sorry to steer you off topic, Charr buddy. Here's a quick link in the Tech area.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ease-report-DotDefender-related-problems-here

Back on topic, my ZT 0550s and 0551 just screamed heavy duty to me. I know those tanks can handle whatever I throw at them.
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Thanks for the help.

I had 2 0550s. The first one I sold after a while because I didn't really need 2, and it was getting a little less pocket time. The second I gave to a friend because I knew he would love it. That knife has now been through hell and back it seems, and is still going strong. He did send it in to ZT once to have them resolve an issue that was caused by some mysterious fluid getting in the pivot and gunking it up, but that was it, and they had it back to him in just a little over a week.

I have had nothing but good experience with ZT myself as well.

I will say that if you want something that is a bit more slicing-oriented, very strong, and you have some extra cash (okay, a lot of extra), Shirogorov knives will always be my recomendation. I handled a Hati, own a 95T, have owned an F3, and really want to get a tabargan. They are all extremely capable knives that will take just about anything you can throw at them, come in a virety of steels, and have either washers or bearings, and thumbstus of flipper, depending on your preference. Oh, and they have an axis-style lock as well for those that don't like frame locks (the Tabargan).
Can't get by without recomending a Shiro, sorry ;)
 
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