Please help me pick a new EDC knife for my rotation. - Pictures

Bigskymt

Bigskymt

Joined
Apr 9, 2010
Messages
96
My current EDC rotation is:

1) ZT0550 Gen 1 w/frag grips ( love it, one of my favorites, very smooth) Only neg - I would say is its a tad thick.

2) Spyderco Jason Breeden Rescue VG-10 (Great knife, super smooth, cool factor and sharp as hell)

3) Spyderco Manix2 G-10 XL (Its a beast, fits perfect in hand, G-10 is grippy, a slicer) only neg- is hard to close with one hand with the ball bearing lock.

4) Spyderco Native 5 Lightweight ( Its a user, great feel in the hand, takes a beating and comes back for more)

Others I have thats jump in edc rotation. ZT350 and Leatherman Juice S2

Here is what I'm looking at next to add:

Thoughts? pros? cons?

ZT0560BW BlackWashed (BW):thumbup:

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Chris Reeve Large Sebenza 21 Insingo Micarta Inlay:thumbup:

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Strider SNG CC coyote tan stone washed:thumbup:

 
ZT: If the 0550 is too thick for you then this one may be also. It's more contoured than the 0550 but the maximum thickness is the same or close to. It's also quite a bit longer, it does look nice though.

CRK: Meh, not my thing.

SNG: The Lego SNG is my favorite knife. My vote is for the Strider, though I would go with the Lego or maybe gunner grip, CC is too smooth.
 
ZT: Eh... Big and clunky and fat in the pocket. Every one I've played with has a ridiculously stickie lock. Just not a fan.

CRK: Too plain for my tastes but very nice knives.

SNG: Winner for me. The ones I've handled are very comfortable in the hand, F&F is excellent. Mt PT was wonderful, just too small. The SNG is the perfect size for me. Strider also has a top notch warranty. I like the CC or DGG.
 
ZT: Can't go wrong with them in my opinion but if you feel the 0550 is to big probably not for you.
CRK: Great quality but pretty pricey.
Strider: Winner! SNG is a perfect pocket size and a tank of a knife all at once.
 
I just got my trident yesterday and I was disappointed. I had a SOG visionary and it was a great little knife. I lost it so i wanted to try a different SOG. The trident seemed harsh in my hands. The visionary could be deployed with the thumb or with a wrist flick if the arc lock was pulled back slightly. I liked that ability. The Trident can not be deployed in that way. The Trident spring is stiff and my thumb is sore from a couple days of opening and closing. I expect I will get used to that. It just seems "cheaper" than the visionary. If it didn't come in a blister pack I would have returned it. I just bought my first benchmade today (griptillian) as a result and will probably either use the trident when doing down and dirty work or I will give it to my step son.
 
I bought a trident a couple of years ago as well. Very cheap feeling knife unlike my ZTs and my BM Grip. The blade didn't hold an edge well at all. I sold it to a guy, who wanted a decent knife, for 20 bucks (all he was wanting to spend so it was the only one I felt comfortable selling for that low). While it did feel cheap, the blade sharpened up nice and it never failed on me. My dad carries a Flash II that has a ton of blade play, poor edge holding ability, and also feels cheap. I can't get him to switch to a different knife though due to him not wanting to step up in weight. I don't think I will buy a SOG again.
 
I have a large sebenza had a strider sng lego and now a strider smf and don't carry my zt's at all anymore unless it's just me but I'm spoiled buy the quality
 
Its been on the backburner of my knife budget for a long time, but ive always wanted a small insingo. Gorgeous blade shape.
 
I've been interested in the Manix2 XL myself. If you are considering that one then I can tell you that it probably isn't that hard to close one-handed. I got a Manix2 recently and the BBL felt very stiff to me compared to an Axis lock, but I discovered that I could close it easily one-handed. I would hold the knife so the blade was pointing mostly down, then pull the lock with my thumb on one side and first finger on the other side. When I disengaged the lock the blade would pivot down under gravity and I could then close it the rest of the way with my finger like normal. The other thing is that if you are willing to carry a knife of that size you should consider the ZT 0560/0561.
 
Thanks Guys for the great input! Looks like the Strider got the overall vote. But that being said I found a great deal on the exchange on a Chris Reeve Large Sebenza 21 Insingo Knife w/ Micarta Inlays.
My thought is the Strider is very close to ZT0550. And I want to try a CRK and a Strider.

The Strider is next in my list.
 
I've only had experience with the ZT. I have a 561 and I love love love it. Framelock broke in after a few days and is very smooth. Excellent design. It's actually very light and slim for its size, less than six ounces, and very thin, (in a good way) relative to other ZT's. it's a damn fine folder for the price if you don't mind a big knife, and judging by your Edc, you don't.

Never had a CRK, but if I was going to have just one knife out of the three you picked, it'd be that one. I know of no one who owns one that is dissatisfied. It's a simple design, because its a design that works. CRK has top notch customer service from what I here to. It doesn't really fit in with your current rotation, but that should be a problem. A little diversity is nice.

I've heard very mixed reviews on striders. Never had one, to much money for something I'm not wild about.

Bottom line, if it was me. If get the CRK. You can always sell/ trade it very easily If it's not to your liking.
 
lintonindy said:
I bought a trident a couple of years ago as well. Very cheap feeling knife unlike my ZTs and my BM Grip. The blade didn't hold an edge well at all. I sold it to a guy, who wanted a decent knife, for 20 bucks (all he was wanting to spend so it was the only one I felt comfortable selling for that low). While it did feel cheap, the blade sharpened up nice and it never failed on me. My dad carries a Flash II that has a ton of blade play, poor edge holding ability, and also feels cheap. I can't get him to switch to a different knife though due to him not wanting to step up in weight. I don't think I will buy a SOG again.
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I agree the handle is cheap and they cut a couple small corners. however what are you talking about with edge holding?! The only time i EVER sharpened my trident was to fix the tip after a drop straight into cement (Which it survived well considering!). Ive had mine for a year and it is still going. Also I don't think its hard to open at all. After 10 minutes of playing around I got used to it and it opens faster than any knife I've ever handled. It is a LITTLE cheap but performs very well. The corners cut show like no blade in the cord cutter and a less quality handle but it is also cheaper than most of their other folders yet holds up just as well. Look around. You can find it for $50. I use it around water all the time and it never rusts either.
 
TantoFan said:
I agree the handle is cheap and they cut a couple small corners. however what are you talking about with edge holding?! The only time i EVER sharpened my trident was to fix the tip after a drop straight into cement (Which it survived well considering!). Ive had mine for a year and it is still going. Also I don't think its hard to open at all. After 10 minutes of playing around I got used to it and it opens faster than any knife I've ever handled. It is a LITTLE cheap but performs very well. The corners cut show like no blade in the cord cutter and a less quality handle but it is also cheaper than most of their other folders yet holds up just as well. Look around. You can find it for $50. I use it around water all the time and it never rusts either.
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Compared to my other knives that I currently own the SOG wouldn't last but a couple of days using it like I use my knives. I work at a small packaging supply place selling packaging supplies to small businesses and individuals. I probably use my knife 50 times a day to cut cardboard, tape, compressed foam, plastic sheeting, and hard poly based strapping. I torture my knives and the SOG plain sucked comparatively. I have stepped up my budget and currently use two ZTs (350 in S30V and 550 in S35V) and a Benchmade Griptialian. I still need to sharpen my knives once a month or so but the SOG wouldn't last two days. So maybe for everyday tasks it was fine, but for my use, it was horrible. It did deploy fine and I didn't even mind the cheap feeling handles so much but what I did mind was the blade play and the edge holding ability. For 50 dollars I think a used BM Grip or a Kershaw Blur especially in S30V is a better choice. I would guess that a cold steel would be a better choice due to a different heat treatment on their AUS8. JMHO from my personal experiences only.
 
TantoFan said:
If you can carry assisted, I always reccomend my Trident.
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Glad you like the Trident! :thumbup:

But I gotta ask...OP is asking for suggestions among three mid- to high-end production framelocks ($250-500) all with kinda exotic steels, and you suggest the 50 buck, AUS-8 Sog Trident?

I trust your call that it's an excellent knife, but how do you feel it "fits in" with the three in the original post? It seems kinda out of place, in context. Just curious! :thumbup:
 
I actually didnt think he had a preference on price range. I thought he would be looking for any good value edc knife, which the trident is. It's not best but good value and one of my favorite knives

Add: I don't have the budget for higher end knives but I am very satisfied with the trident. I can't speak on expensive ones but I think he'd be satisfied with the trident
 
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