SanRenMu is getting original (kinda) and fancy (kinda) (picture heavy [kinda])

[Comeuppance]

SRM is doing some interesting things these days. No, I'm not a vendor, or affiliated with them in any way. I pulled these images from google image search and tried to find ones without watermarks. One of them has a sort of watermark, but it's not a URL or anything.

They've come out with a lot of variations on previous models, and the most relevant to most of us on the forums is the 710s (these are the "7010" series, not 710):

First is something simple - they took the all-black 710 and stonewashed the whole damned thing.


Also, a brand new handle pattern. Looks to be engraved, from the different pictures I've seen.


Now, on with the new.

The 6026:


It looks like they took the handle shape from the Spyderco Lava... But changed everything else. Now it's a framelock flipper with a recurved drop-point TiNi-coated blade. I don't even know what to make of that handle.

The GB9:


Micarta with bolsters. Also, if any of the information I can find is correct, an absurdly high weight. It's a somewhat-classy brick, with a very small blade for the weight. Not a fan of the choil, either. Points for aesthetics, I suppose.

The GB9-908:


This pleases my inner mall ninja.

They even made a really ugly slipjoint:


I'm kinda hoping they continue to stray away from the plagiarism that they relied on in the past. Some of these - actually, all of these - look pretty silly, but it's a step in the right direction. I like that they aren't trying to ape Chris Reeve's handle art, but instead doing their own. I do wish they'd drop the FLAMING PANTHERBALL OF RADNESS (not pictured) that they kept on two of the three new 710 remakes and go for something that doesn't look like it belongs on a polyester virginity-armor shirt.

 

[theAntihero]

i like the 908

 

[Cereal_killer]

I have always been a fan of the 707 (the knife CRKT sells as the "Drifter") and had at one point a few of them in different finish options, gave them all but a DIY scale'd one away. I never got into the 710's, not cause I don't like them, just never had a need for such a knife with the other stuff I had/have (this was before I was much of a collector) and now that I'm more into knives I don't lust after the chicom stuff like I do Spyderco's and BM's and kershaw's.

Still I must agree its nice to see them stepping up with their original art/designs (tho both of the bottom two remind me somewhat of spyderco it's far from a knock off/copy). Maybe slightly influenced but its got enough major differences that I definitely couldn't accuse them of any sort of plagiarism or copy-catting. The GB9 looks like a Ulize and Szabo had a baby and the GB9-908 looks like a Navajo and a ZT had ababy.

Actually some of the art is just plain cool, the 2nd pic down is nice enogh I may just want to pick one of them up for my son, he's big into that sort of design, especially if it is engraved enough to provide some actual relief, it would be an interesting grip.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

I like the first one. That is just plain cool. Maybe I'll buy one.

 

[mmarkh]

I'm not into knock off junk.:barf:

 

[dkb45]

I'm not into knock off junk.:barf:

For the love of... You missed the entire point! Haters gonna hate, I guess...

I hate all of these knives. None of them have lefty clip drilling. We buy knives too! Don't tell me it is for production costs, because I know that is BS. Drilling and tapping 3 holes won't take long...

 

[mmarkh]

For the love of... You missed the entire point! Haters gonna hate, I guess...

I hate all of these knives. None of them have lefty clip drilling. We buy knives too! Don't tell me it is for production costs, because I know that is BS. Drilling and tapping 3 holes won't take long...

Didn't miss the point at all. My point is people like them because they are CHEAP! They steal from real makers like Chris Reeve. Cheap Chinese crap.

 

[Mephtyrm]

Didn't miss the point at all. My point is people like them because they are CHEAP! They steal from real makers like Chris Reeve. Cheap Chinese crap.

What did they steal from Chris Reeve? That guy ain't losin anything from the sale of 710s, and if people want a Sebenza they'll get a dang Sebenza.
EVERYONE keeps saying they steal from everybody somehow, but I'm not seeing it, when I first saw the 710 I thought nothing of it even remotely resembling a Sebenza.

 

[Redeye]

Do people really want to read about third rate Chinese garbage on knife forums? I definitely don't.

 

[baldtaco-II]

Thanks for this. I would never have known that M1 existed, and even if I had spotted it out the corner of my eye I would have dismissed it as a locking liner. Even looking at your image I wouldn't have guessed it was a slippy.

A follow up sniff about leads me to think with a bit of a tweak those will be a great little working slippy for EDC. Given the law here it's a bit of a strange situation in as much as there isn't a great deal of choice in gooduns. With a few notable exceptions they are either rubbish, goofy, or priced well in excess of their worth. The 710s I have all work great, and none of them came with pissed blades or dud parts, or in any way anything less than immaculate. Now I'm seeing the radiused spine and whatnot I envisage grabbing a couple of handfuls of these when they show up locally.

Cheers.

 

[Freman Bloodglaive]

Given Sanrenmu is one of the companies that make knives for Spyderco, although apparently not the Byrd line, I'd hardly say they produce third rate Chinese garbage.

Also, this is "Blade" Forums, and these are "blades" so yes, this is a place to discuss them.

If you don't want to discuss them, stay out of this thread.

On the subject of Lands, I'm not sure Sanrenmu make that brand anymore. I given to understand another company has taken to using that branding.

The stonewashed 710 looks nice, and the 6026 is very... colourful. It's only a 53mm blade though, so seems a bit small to me (probably too many Cold Steel knives in my collection ). Probably a good knife when you're not around knife people.

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Stonewashed 710 looks good! I got a couple of SRM's and they're pretty good for the $. Became more and more consistent over the years too.

Do people really want to read about third rate Chinese garbage on knife forums? I definitely don't.

Knocking on something 'cause it's cheap, hmm? Says enough .
I'm pretty sure every single one of my SRM's could beat my other cheap folding knives such as Opinel or whatever when I'd try to beat the crap out of them. Does that mean there's no place for an Opinel? Heck no, it's one of my most used blades. Cheap, expensive,... I'm in it for the love of the hobby. Couldn't care less about how much it cost or what country it originates from. If it pleases my and it's not counterfeit, why not get it?

 

[RemyKaze]

Given Sanrenmu is one of the companies that make knives for Spyderco, although apparently not the Byrd line, I'd hardly say they produce third rate Chinese garbage.

Also, this is "Blade" Forums, and these are "blades" so yes, this is a place to discuss them.

If you don't want to discuss them, stay out of this thread.

On the subject of Lands, I'm not sure Sanrenmu make that brand anymore. I given to understand another company has taken to using that branding.

The stonewashed 710 looks nice, and the 6026 is very... colourful. It's only a 53mm blade though, so seems a bit small to me (probably too many Cold Steel knives in my collection ). Probably a good knife when you're not around knife people.

I wonder if at some point knife companies will work a bit like car companies; producing similar and/or domestic models in other countries with the same quality. Or places like China having their own well-known brands of knives.

 

[shuutr]

I like the stonewashed one and even that last one. Thanks for the post.

 

[Shorttime]

6026 reminds me of a Yuna....

 

[Kryptoglow]

Thanks for the post. I carry a sanrenmu everyday. It's the small linerlock that has the 1.7" blade(605-I think?) and weighs nothing. Just like my other sanrenmu's it's well built, sharpens easily and holds an edge(8CR13). They have many of their own designs and make the majority of high end american knife companies chinese models.
I must admit though...that copying any makers knife is low down thievery. The only one I have seen copied by sanrenmu is the 710. Maybe some of you who are more in the know could post some of the models they have copied? I don't mean similar but out and out copies. I have seen american knife companies get sued for copying fellow american designs. If it's just the one 710 knife then let CRK sue them. If it's numerous copies then I might have to join the "haters"

 

[philllll]

:barf: :thumbdn:

 

[Insipid Moniker]

That 908 is pretty reminiscent of a Dendra Typhoon.

 

[WadeWilson]

6026 reminds me of a Yuna....

My thoughts exactly.

 

[powernoodle]

Do people really want to read about third rate Chinese garbage on knife forums? I definitely don't.

Its real easy not to read this thread. Just don't click on it. :thumbup:

Maybe you've never had your hands on a Sanrenmu or similar maker, but they are definitely not junk. I quite enjoy paying $9 or $12 for a knife that is in every respect as good as the other guys' $40+ knives. Which are also Chinese, btw. And as for whether we want to read about them, the answer should be obvious given the number of threads and posts they generate.

Do some of Sanrenmu's designs mimic other makers? Certainly. Weird Al Yankovic imitates Michael Jackson too, but I can tell them apart. Are there any actual pecuniary damages resulting from this mimicry - i.e., actual lost sales of the Benchmade 710 or Sebenza? No way. Not one person will honestly say that he was about to buy a $460 Sebenza, but decided instead to buy a $9 Sanrenmu. I quite like these cheap knives, because in their own way they reveal how overpriced some of these other knives really are. And I'm okay with them, because they aren't actually harming Benchmade or CRK. They are nice, good quality knives.

[youtube]ZcJjMnHoIBI[/youtube]
Is this the real Michael Jackson? You be the judge.