I have decided to replace my aging Benchmade:
I have been carrying it for around 15 years, and it has served me well. However, I find myself wanting to get a knife with a stronger locking mechanism, as the lock-back mechanism is not the best in the industry. I have had an old SOG lock-back fail on me, and do not want to see that ever happen again (it hurt!)
I'm wanting a frame-lock (or at least a liner-lock), and would prefer a flipper. The ZT line is calling my name, but the prices are not.
I am wanting a folder that basically acts like a fixed blade when deployed. The Ti frame-locks are pretty much the best I have found. In addition to a strong mechanism, I want a hilt, or more precisely, a faux hilt (since a REAL hilt would prevent the knife from folding). This can be achieved through the design of the handle (like my Benchmade shown above), or through the design of the blade (flipper blades, etc...).
The ZT I like is above $200. I would like to find one that is less than $100. I am willing, but not likely, to go above $100 if it is a good value.
Blade steel is important, but not critical. I don't need the absolute best or latest/greatest steel. I do, however, want it to have decent steel. Coatings are not necessary. I don't mind a bare blade.
I found a couple that I absolutely love, but they are well above my price range.
R.J. Martin's knives:
And Fraley:
I just really like the design of these knives, with the Ti Frame-lock and the flipper design giving the handle a faux hilt.
I found a Kershaw Volt II, which is a R.J. Martin design knife, and snatched it up.
However, it was a bit smaller than I had hoped. Here it is next to my Benchmade:
The handle is just too short for me, much less the blade is pretty short. I was expecting the whole knife to be scaled up a bit. From this experience, I think I am not going to be satisfied with something less than a 4" blade, or at the very least a 3.75" blade. That should produce a knife that would fit my hand.
The Junkyard Dog is at the low end of my wish list, as it is described here:
$55-$75
Steel......Sandvik 13C26/CPM-D2 composite two-tone stainless-steel with copper accent
(The hybrid blade is $75, and the plain blade w/out the D2 is $55)
Handle...Textured black G-10
Lock.......Locking liner
Liner......410 stainless-steel
Blade......3-3/4 in. (9.8 cm)
Closed...4-7/8 in. (12.5 cm)
Weight...5.2 oz.
The ZT 0300 is at the top end of my list, as described below:
$235
Blade Material: S30V stainless-steel with Tungsten DLC coating
Blade Length: 3-3/4 inches (9.5 cm)
Blade Thickness: 0.156 inches
Handle Material: 3-D machined, G-10 and Titanium back
Handle Length: 5-1/4 inches (13.3 cm)
Lock: Titanium frame lock
Weight: 8.0 oz.
Includes SpeedSafe® Ambidextrous Opening System
Includes a quad mounting system for tip-up, tip-down, left or right handed clip carry
Made in USA
Is there something else I should look at? Something that would get me closer to what I'm looking for between the Junkyard Dog and the ZT 0300?
I have been carrying it for around 15 years, and it has served me well. However, I find myself wanting to get a knife with a stronger locking mechanism, as the lock-back mechanism is not the best in the industry. I have had an old SOG lock-back fail on me, and do not want to see that ever happen again (it hurt!)
I'm wanting a frame-lock (or at least a liner-lock), and would prefer a flipper. The ZT line is calling my name, but the prices are not.
I am wanting a folder that basically acts like a fixed blade when deployed. The Ti frame-locks are pretty much the best I have found. In addition to a strong mechanism, I want a hilt, or more precisely, a faux hilt (since a REAL hilt would prevent the knife from folding). This can be achieved through the design of the handle (like my Benchmade shown above), or through the design of the blade (flipper blades, etc...).
The ZT I like is above $200. I would like to find one that is less than $100. I am willing, but not likely, to go above $100 if it is a good value.
Blade steel is important, but not critical. I don't need the absolute best or latest/greatest steel. I do, however, want it to have decent steel. Coatings are not necessary. I don't mind a bare blade.
I found a couple that I absolutely love, but they are well above my price range.
R.J. Martin's knives:
And Fraley:
I just really like the design of these knives, with the Ti Frame-lock and the flipper design giving the handle a faux hilt.
I found a Kershaw Volt II, which is a R.J. Martin design knife, and snatched it up.
However, it was a bit smaller than I had hoped. Here it is next to my Benchmade:
The handle is just too short for me, much less the blade is pretty short. I was expecting the whole knife to be scaled up a bit. From this experience, I think I am not going to be satisfied with something less than a 4" blade, or at the very least a 3.75" blade. That should produce a knife that would fit my hand.
The Junkyard Dog is at the low end of my wish list, as it is described here:
$55-$75
Steel......Sandvik 13C26/CPM-D2 composite two-tone stainless-steel with copper accent
(The hybrid blade is $75, and the plain blade w/out the D2 is $55)
Handle...Textured black G-10
Lock.......Locking liner
Liner......410 stainless-steel
Blade......3-3/4 in. (9.8 cm)
Closed...4-7/8 in. (12.5 cm)
Weight...5.2 oz.
The ZT 0300 is at the top end of my list, as described below:
$235
Blade Material: S30V stainless-steel with Tungsten DLC coating
Blade Length: 3-3/4 inches (9.5 cm)
Blade Thickness: 0.156 inches
Handle Material: 3-D machined, G-10 and Titanium back
Handle Length: 5-1/4 inches (13.3 cm)
Lock: Titanium frame lock
Weight: 8.0 oz.
Includes SpeedSafe® Ambidextrous Opening System
Includes a quad mounting system for tip-up, tip-down, left or right handed clip carry
Made in USA
Is there something else I should look at? Something that would get me closer to what I'm looking for between the Junkyard Dog and the ZT 0300?
