Production Flipper Shootout: Spyderco Southard, Domino, ZT 801, and ZT

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Oakengroves

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Sep 4, 2012
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Over this past year, production manufacturers have engaged in a full-on flipper arms race. The three knives that have generated the most buzz are the Spyderco Southard, Spyderco Domino, and ZT 801. Other popular contenders are the BM 300SN, ZT 770, and ZT 560.

I've never been much of a flipper fan for a number of reasons. But, unfortunately, I find myself with only $250ish left for annual knife related-purchases and would like to delve into the new wave of production flippers with these limited funds. I prefer strong, light, and sleek knives that pack a good blade-to-handle ratio and carry thinly in the pocket [favorite non-flippers: CRK Sebenza, BM 940, BM 710, and Spyderco Stretch].

Which recent production flipper leads the pack? Do the big three listed above rise above the competition, and which of them reigns supreme? Choices, choices.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
I like all three, but beyond being popular flippers made out of titanium, they're very different knives.

The Southard is light and very pocket-friendly. It has a funny shape and ugly scale, but it feels great in the hand.

The ZT 0801 is a pretty but much heavier knife. The blade is a wedge that doesn't always cut well, but the design of the thing is fantastic.

The Domino is a giant handle with a little blade, but it has a gorgeous scale with a really nice texture.

My order out of those knives would be:

1. Southard
2. ZT 0801





3. Domino

That said, these things are pretty subjective, and I'd say that if a person was into that funky Spyderco style (wide blade, big handle, big in the pocket) they'd probably love the Domino where I don't.

Here are some of mine side by side:

y2fIL8X.jpg
 
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One that I really like that is not on your list is the Kershaw 1725CB Junkyard Dog. I have always loved the Galyean JYD design and I think the Kershaw version is a fantastic production knife at a great price. You get full steel liners, a composite blade with a CPM-D2 edge, and full black G-10 scales for a price in the neighborhood of $80-$90. The ergonomics on this knife are some of the best that I have handled and the knife flips very smoothly.

Just another one for you to consider. :D
 
^^^^^^ What boobar said in post #3 above.... Great value.... I've got an older one (...aluminum scales...) that works like a charm.... Check out Kershaw Guy's site....

leroy
 
evilgreg said:
I like all three, but beyond being popular flippers made out of titanium, they're very different knives.

The Southard is light and very pocket-friendly. It has a funny shape and ugly scale, but it feels great in the hand.

The ZT 0801 is a pretty but much heavier knife. The blade is a wedge that doesn't always cut well, but the design of the thing is fantastic.

The Domino is a giant handle with a little blade, but it has a gorgeous scale with a really nice texture.

My order out of those knives would be:

That said, these things are pretty subjective, and I'd say that if a person was into that funky Spyderco style (wide blade, big handle, big in the pocket) they'd probably love the Domino where I don't.

Here are some of mine side by side:
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input and the great comparison picture. Which do you find is the most ergonomic for extended use? The Southard has the best blade and handle-to-blade ratio of the three.
 
Oakengroves said:
I find myself with only $250ish left for annual knife related-purchases
Click to expand...

Just something to ponder:

January - Kershaw Cryo

March - Kershaw Tremor

May - Kershaw Chill

July - Kershaw Asset

Sept - Kershaw Compound

Nov - Kershaw Skyline

Dec - Kershaw Knockout
 
Oakengroves said:
Thanks for your input and the great comparison picture. Which do you find is the most ergonomic for extended use? The Southard has the best blade and handle-to-blade ratio of the three.
Click to expand...

Well, just from experience carrying the three I prefer the Southard for just about everything. Pocket-friendliness? Southard. Cutting things, actually using it? Southard.

That said, the ZT 0801 makes the old lizard brain happy and I love the design. It doesn't perform as well (for actually cutting things) as my Benchmade 710, but I end up carrying it in place of my 710 a bunch just because it's fun. The Domino is a distant, distant third to me--I don't really prefer anything about it over the other two, except that it has that gorgeous scale. I know some folks don't like the funky checked CF, but I think it looks and feels great.
 
powernoodle said:
Just something to ponder:

January - Kershaw Cryo

March - Kershaw Tremor

May - Kershaw Chill

July - Kershaw Asset

Sept - Kershaw Compound

Nov - Kershaw Skyline

Dec - Kershaw Knockout
Click to expand...

Ha, that's true. My favorite two from that list cost me a grand total of ~$30 added together (the Chill and Tremor).
 
801 for sure out of that list. Like someone else mentioned the JYD is an awesome flipper, may even be smoother than the above mentioned and it uses washers not bearings.
 
Waiting on the ZT 0801 but I don't think it will replace my Brad Southard for pocket time. Slight home mod. Also changed to tip down carry.
P1000383-vi.jpg
 
I really like the domino. The handle ratio isn't great, but the knife is very comfortable in the hand. I like the finger choil on the blade. It does reduce the actual cutting length of the blade, but I like the feel of it. For my purposes I don't find myself needing more cutting edge. I also like the replaceable lockface, and that cf/g10/glass weave whatever scale is surprisingly grippy. It's also a newer steel I haven't had before, which I always like to try out, and like I said, the scale is new too, I've never seen another knife with that kind of handle. In a perfect world would I like a little more blade to handle ratio? Yes, but I still love this knife as is. Then again, I've always been a Sage fan, and this knife is basically a flipper Sage.
 
deathofallthings said:
I really like the domino. The handle ratio isn't great, but the knife is very comfortable in the hand. I kind of like the finger choil on the blade. It does reduce the actual cutting length of the blade, but I like the feel of it. For my purposes I don't find myself needing more cutting edge. I also like the replaceable lockface, and that cf/g10/glass weave whatever scale is surprisingly grippy. It's also a newer steel I haven't had before, which I always like to try out, and like I said, the scale is new too, I've never seen another knife with that kind of handle. In a perfect world would I like a little more blade to handle ratio? Yes, but I still love this knife as is.
Click to expand...

I'm not in love with the Domino myself but I agree with you completely about the scale. It's nice looking and the texture of it is really pleasant in hand. I was surprised to see some folks dogging the Domino for the scale when it came out--that's my favorite part of the knife.
 
I don't have any experience with the other knives you've listed, but the 0801 is a fantastic knife. The ergonomics are amazing and the flipping action is even better. It carries very well in the pocket for a knife its size. So much so, that I don't even notice it. The ELMAX has performed well in my experience. No issues with that.
 
It's the age of of great production flippers and the best snappy-smooth actions comes from ZT 0801 and Spyderco Domino. Southard is not as snappy but very smooth.

ZT 0801 looks and feels great with a beefy side. The all-titanium handle gives it an air of coolness. Possible issues are weight (5.8 ounces) and width (compared to Southard).

Domino looks great and the CF/G10 laminated scales give great texture. It would've been perfect with narrower blade & profile and more cutting surface (2.89").

Southard for me wins because of its slim, narrow profile while still giving you a longer blade that's both thick and cuts well. It's also the lightest. For you it fits the BM 940 comparison although thicker. The rough brown G10 scale is the only issue but I got a LSCF scale that makes it look much nicer, even lighter and great grip. However, that's an extra $115 so perhaps painting and sanding it down. Problem with the Southard is that the next production batch is not out yet. I paid $230 for BNIB from a Spyderco dealer.

ZT 0801 and Spyderco Domino are readily available now for under $200 delivered and you don't need to change scales or anything. You really can't go wrong with any of these three.
 
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I personally own the southard and domino and strongly prefer the domino for some of the exact reasons other posters dislike it. The action on the domino is superior to the southard, its faster and easier to open with the flipper as well as the spyder hole using both your thumb or the middle finger flick. The handle is not "huge", in fact, its pretty trim by spyderco standards, the delica and para2 both have worse blade to handle ratios than the domino and they are some of spyderco's most popular knives of all time. The forward finger choil makes detail work incredibly comforable, and the handle as a whole is far more ergonomic than the southard in my opinion. I almost never need more than 3" or so of blade length, but i have big hands and as such i almost always appreciate a full sized handle. The blade is a wide leaf shape, which given the same blade thickness and grind, makes the domino thinner at the edge than most production knives (its a better cutter than a para2 and WAY better than the southard...), but does add to the size in pocket. That said, its still not as wide in pocket as something along the lines of a manix2, another of spyderco's most popular models. The domino also has the steel lock bar insert which the southard does not. As for blade steel, the southard has a slight advantage, but they're both high end super steels so take from what what you will. But most of all, I'm a big fan of the classic spyderco design and performance, and the domino has it, while the southard just doesnt.

I'll likely never own a 0801, or any ZT with elmax for that matter, until they sort out the edge retention issues. I just wont buy a knife that doesnt cut all that well to begin with then loses its edge quickly no matter how pretty it is or how nice the flipping action.
 
mkjellgren said:
I'll likely never own a 0801, or any ZT with elmax for that matter, until they sort out the edge retention issues. I just wont buy a knife that doesnt cut all that well to begin with then loses its edge quickly no matter how pretty it is or how nice the flipping action.
Click to expand...

I sold the Southard, not sure what it was but it didn't do it for me. Haven't tried a Domino yet but I find the 0801 to be fantastic. Fires nice, fit the hand well and cuts just fine.

Can you please share your first hand account of pour ELMAX performance.
 
I don't know much about the spydercos mentioned but the 801 is really nice great build quality I cant say enough good things about that knife. Also mentioned was the kershaw jyd 2.2 version this knife is also top shelf at a mid range price. The 801 feels better in my hand and I like the fact that both these models are usa made not Taiwan. Just my opinion
 
I like the Southard over the 0801. I haven't handled a Domino so no input there. I like the 204P the Southard used and found it to be an easy to pocket blade. Plus its a Spydie flipper which is just cool. And I think Spyderco does a world class Reeve Integral Lock. The 0801 is crazy smooth but I'm not sure it out cuts the Southard.
 
ceptor781 said:
I sold the Southard, not sure what it was but it didn't do it for me. Haven't tried a Domino yet but I find the 0801 to be fantastic. Fires nice, fit the hand well and cuts just fine.

Can you please share your first hand account of pour ELMAX performance.
Click to expand...

I personally owned a 0561 with elmax, edge holding was less than ideal, although that wasnt the reason I got rid of it, it was just too big for me to justify carrying on a daily basis.

Here are a few vids from youtube though, the elmax IS a problem...
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FY6Iz2gU15E#
[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J9hgBtWmUoE#[/video]
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P_5v2AU87Gc#
 
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