Recruit vs Cadet

P

platbuck

Joined
Nov 16, 2006
Messages
82
I have owned a nylon econo vic recruit (driver/recruit II/squatter) whatever you want to call it, and love the features, size, and feel of it - great EDC!!

thought the cadet would be even better as has most of the same features(replaces small blade with file) but slimmer. I believed that build wise they were identical except for alox scales making it thinner, this was incorrect. The Cadet is extremely thin, it appears that even the center liner is thinner, now I am thinking whether or not it will be flimsier than the recruit.


But will probably get one anyway, its pretty sleek.
 
Worry Not.

The Cadet is not in the least fragile, and great to pocket carry, you won't know it's there till you need it. It will feel a bit thinner than your Recruit though.
 
I have never had a cadet but really like my recruit. I would thing the cadet would be a little sturdier than the recruit. Go for it, I bet you will be happy with it.
Jim
 
I EDC a Cadet because it is thin, lightweight, and has the tools which I most often need. It is by no means flimsy. I also have a Recruit, but I think the Cadet's nail file is more useful for a variety of non-cutting tasks than a small blade.
 
You have to remember that the handle scales on the plastic SAKs are really just for looks and feel and they don't add any strength to the knife. They just snap on. When you compare the 1mm thick aluminum liners on the plastic ones to the much thicker Alox handles there is no question as to which one is stronger.
 
canook said:
You have to remember that the handle scales on the plastic SAKs are really just for looks and feel and they don't add any strength to the knife. They just snap on. When you compare the 1mm thick aluminum liners on the plastic ones to the much thicker Alox handles there is no question as to which one is stronger.
Click to expand...

Partly true. Those scales can contain tweezers and toothpick and on the plus-models, they also contain a pen.

The Cadet is a great pocket knife. Small, light, thin, but sturdy and useful.
 
my main point here was the center liner , between the two tool layers, is noticeably thinner.

I was just wondering about the sturdiness because I have a bantam and it has some noticeable flex when you use. never experienced this with recruit.

anyway will get one, just want a colored model
 
platbuck said:
my main point here was the center liner , between the two tool layers, is noticeably thinner.

I was just wondering about the sturdiness because I have a bantam and it has some noticeable flex when you use. never experienced this with recruit.

anyway will get one, just want a colored model
Click to expand...

One of my regular edc's in rotation is an alox bantam. It's a super thin easy light weight knife to carry, and I've pushed it hard on occasion. So far after several years of service, it's still going strong.
 
The Cadet is not flimsy at all. I have a alox Bantam and it is extremely thin but not flimsy either. They both disappear in the pocket.
 
Adding the extra backspring when you go from the Bantam to the Cadet adds alot of stiffness plus the center liner helps a bit too. The extra thickness of the Alox scales should more than make up for the thinner center liner. You might notice some flex in the blade but I doubt you'll feel it in the handle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top