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Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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recommendations on a hard use/tactical folding knife!
- Thread starter Fixxil
- Start date
Ajack60
Platinum Member
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- Apr 21, 2013
- Messages
- 8,479
The 0562 is a good slicer. It was designed that way. The earlier batches of Elmax were iffy. ZT has corrected that and the Elmax is as good as it gets. I've got a first release ZT560 and it does have chipping issues. The current ZT's I have in Elmax are not a problem at all, it's what convinced me how good Elmax really is.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2014
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- 294
Buck 830 marksman
Very strong lock (maybe the strongest lock) 3.5" blade 154CM, best slicers I've ever seen.
Good luck
ZTD
Very strong lock (maybe the strongest lock) 3.5" blade 154CM, best slicers I've ever seen.
Good luck
ZTD
Thank you all so much for the comments! There are some tough choices! The hogues are nice and man that al mar has some stories, i bet its been through everything!The dpx gear heft/f looks pretty sweet and i do really want a zt! After horrible situations/ fails with Gerber I don't think I'd ever buy another one ( I have the scars and nerve damage to show for it)! How do the hogues 154cm compare to benchmades?
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- Aug 27, 2012
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So, what is your tally of preferences so far?
Yes: Flipper or assisted opening?
No: Tanto, 154CM or (based on Cold Steel experience) AUS-8?
I was going to suggest the Buck/TOPS CSAR-T, but it's a tanto with thumb studs (manual) and 154CM; the previous generation had S30V as I understand it. I bought one as a hard use folder for a "get home bag" due in no small part to the excellent sheath/holster, and would absolutely use it in a work context such as you described, but I think it misses the mark on your other requirements. I'm a ZT fan as well, but my issue with most models I've tried is that the flipper is either too small or the wrong shape for me to consistently deploy. I have a 0770 (earlier aluminum handle) that I bought for EDC, but the flipper is just not a good shape or size for me, and would be nearly impossible to deploy with gloves on. On the other hand, the 0801 is perfect for me, but a little bigger than I like for EDC, so it stays at home.
The Hogue EX series is nice too, but you'd have to decide if you prefer the (in my opinion) slippery aluminum versions or the (also in my opinion) somewhat flimsy polymer or "G-Mascus" versions. I have the latter, and the handle does flex a bit if you give it a strong squeeze. I don't doubt the blade strength, but I would have taken my chances with the aluminum handles at a slightly higher price if I needed something rock solid.
Yes: Flipper or assisted opening?
No: Tanto, 154CM or (based on Cold Steel experience) AUS-8?
I was going to suggest the Buck/TOPS CSAR-T, but it's a tanto with thumb studs (manual) and 154CM; the previous generation had S30V as I understand it. I bought one as a hard use folder for a "get home bag" due in no small part to the excellent sheath/holster, and would absolutely use it in a work context such as you described, but I think it misses the mark on your other requirements. I'm a ZT fan as well, but my issue with most models I've tried is that the flipper is either too small or the wrong shape for me to consistently deploy. I have a 0770 (earlier aluminum handle) that I bought for EDC, but the flipper is just not a good shape or size for me, and would be nearly impossible to deploy with gloves on. On the other hand, the 0801 is perfect for me, but a little bigger than I like for EDC, so it stays at home.
The Hogue EX series is nice too, but you'd have to decide if you prefer the (in my opinion) slippery aluminum versions or the (also in my opinion) somewhat flimsy polymer or "G-Mascus" versions. I have the latter, and the handle does flex a bit if you give it a strong squeeze. I don't doubt the blade strength, but I would have taken my chances with the aluminum handles at a slightly higher price if I needed something rock solid.
If buying gerber, you have to buy the USA made stuff...like most brands that produce made in USA blades, the non USA stuff with their brand name on it is absolute garbage
For now I won't be picky on the assisted or flipper opening. As long as its smooth and fast. I really do like 154cm, I have a ton of knives in 154cm it's a great blade steel. It just doesn't hold an edge long enough for me. That's why i want to try elmax, CPM m4, m390 or other high end steels.
To learn an honest opinion, Why wouldn't the 0350 be in a defensive category? That's the whole problem I'm not set on just one lol! In all honesty I just don't have experience with the higher end stuff, I learn so much from the actual users!
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- Jul 6, 2009
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- 11,683
The Spyderco Gayle Bradley model, in CPM-M4, is a great knife, 3.5" blade, for heavy-duty work. The M4 blade takes a great edge and is famous for holding its edge. I've owned at least 8-10 folders of this model. The reputation of this model is outstanding.
And also the Gerbers that almost cut my fingers off was a USA made knife lol. Thank god I was a machine gunner at the time so I could use my middle finger!
That's a good option thank you. How is the lock? Has it stayed sturdy and strong very well? Can the blade be deployed fast for a manual
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- Apr 3, 2001
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- 27,068
Oh yeah Fixxil - my Sere's seen some sh!t for sure! I just think it looks better well used like it is, but it was damn sexy new too.
I think you'd be really pleased with one. VG10 blade, very comfortable handle, thick liners, stout lock. Built like brick chithouses. They are excellent as a stout work knife, and they were designed for self defense! (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape)
The ONLY drawback I can think of is that they are damn expensive now. They're still worth it, but at that price there are lots of knives to consider.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2013
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- 1,337
If you are a Right Handed person, check out the EMERSON MINI FIFTEEN.
It has been torture tested so many times. I feel it's safe to say that it's at the top of the list of folders that have proven themselves to take a lot of abuse. For the price, not much can beat it. It has been compared with knives like the Strider, and you get way more for your money when you go with the PM2. Just my opinion, but I know many others would agree with me.
I think the 0350 would be a good choice. Having worked construction I'm surprised you want a frame lock. I have yet to meet anyone in real life that worked trades that didn't hate metal scaled knives on the job site. When it's -5 with a wind chill or 105 you really learn to appreciate the grippy, moisture wicking, and relatively temperature neutral attributes of G10.
Ask a corrections officer how shiv fights go down. It's not the guy with the razor that wins, it's the guy who gets the deep stabs. So I wouldn't worry about how good of a slasher a knife is in general for defense.
Assisted knives are a huge plus for defense. Lots of knife fight trainers who have never been in a real fight never the less a knife fight will have brand preferences, but assisted knives are as fool proof as you can get under stress outside of a fixed blade. Aside from neck knives at least. I will say they're about the worst defensive knife idea ever. Anyone who's been in physical confrontations knows in the time it takes to use both hands to reach in your shirt will be enough time for even the lankiest aggressor to land multiple punches, or stab wounds with no answer.
American tantos are far and away the best slashers you'll find by the way. I hated them for years but once I used one on the job I'll never go back. It just has to be one with straight angles, and not a curved upsweep. Think of it as having two tip points on the blade. You can demonstrate it with an easy test too. Set a phone book on a scale. Take your knife and put down 10 pounds of consistent as possible force and drag the knife across the phone book to cut it. Do it with the natural hand angle too. You want it to be in the front of the belly because just the tip (giggity) or the flat edge won't tell you as much. Repeat with the different blade grinds. It's not scientific, but with about 6 different knives I tested the American tanto was cutting about 50% deeper with the same amount of force. American tantos are like recurves with an exacto knife surgical tip.
Ask a corrections officer how shiv fights go down. It's not the guy with the razor that wins, it's the guy who gets the deep stabs. So I wouldn't worry about how good of a slasher a knife is in general for defense.
Assisted knives are a huge plus for defense. Lots of knife fight trainers who have never been in a real fight never the less a knife fight will have brand preferences, but assisted knives are as fool proof as you can get under stress outside of a fixed blade. Aside from neck knives at least. I will say they're about the worst defensive knife idea ever. Anyone who's been in physical confrontations knows in the time it takes to use both hands to reach in your shirt will be enough time for even the lankiest aggressor to land multiple punches, or stab wounds with no answer.
American tantos are far and away the best slashers you'll find by the way. I hated them for years but once I used one on the job I'll never go back. It just has to be one with straight angles, and not a curved upsweep. Think of it as having two tip points on the blade. You can demonstrate it with an easy test too. Set a phone book on a scale. Take your knife and put down 10 pounds of consistent as possible force and drag the knife across the phone book to cut it. Do it with the natural hand angle too. You want it to be in the front of the belly because just the tip (giggity) or the flat edge won't tell you as much. Repeat with the different blade grinds. It's not scientific, but with about 6 different knives I tested the American tanto was cutting about 50% deeper with the same amount of force. American tantos are like recurves with an exacto knife surgical tip.
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- May 11, 2011
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Para 2
ZT 0561
ZT 0561