Sanrenmu... not for me.

As I mentioned in previous similar threads I've bought several of these SRMs and related knives for use as loaners, beaters and backup knives. More specifically, for times where I don't want to loan a more expensive knife to someone for fear they use it for reasons other than its intended purpose of cutting (been there, done that, not happening again!), or for when I don't want to abuse one of my more expensive blades on a task that I know will be hard on a knife, or finally as backup blades I can keep in my car glovebox, my get home bag in the trunk, etc so I don't have to worry about forgetting where my higher-end knives are all scattered about in different places.
I keep all knives in a lockable toolkit in my office where I can keep an eye on them. The SRMs can be left in various locations as I mentioned above and I have no worry about forgetting where they are, etc. The relatively low cost of these knives buys me the piece of mind that my more expensive blades can be kept safe and sound in my office until I specifically want to EDC them.
Unlike some of you guys here, right now I can't justify spending hundreds to thousands on Striders, Sebenzas, Hinderers, etc. As much as I'd love to spend more on those, I think the max I'll be spending on any one knife any time soon will be for the ZT0560 when it's released. All my other knives fall below the $200 price. So what to you may seem like your beater knives (your Ritter Grips, Para 2s, etc) I consider my higher end knives. It's all relative after all.
 
I agree 100% Tom. I have since stopped purchasing chinese knives released by western brands, makes no sense to me.

I stick to Enlan/Bee & SRM for low cost well made regular knives and spend $$$ on more interesting/unique offerings from more premium manufacturers.

Dagon said:
Yes it is quite remarkable that one.

What I think about knives like the recent big Enlans is that they make a better known budget knife, like a Tenacious (or a Byrd or a few other contenders) in principle obsolete. You get very much the same level of fit and finish (no surprise as it's this kind of company that western company use to outsource), for very little money. Currently I think it's better to start with an EL-02, and then save towards a Manix or a Paramilitary.
Click to expand...
 
forcedestrike said:
I agree 100% Tom. I have since stopped purchasing chinese knives released by western brands, makes no sense to me....
Click to expand...

I agree for the most part. Somehow it feels more honest to me to just buy direct from Chinese manufacturer without the US label on same quality.

However, there are exceptions, because some very good $25-50 knives are only available as US branded Chinese and can't find equivalents directly from China.

For example, there are in particular a good number of fine neck knives (or pocket fixed blades), like my current carry, a Meyerco Blackie Collins Law Dog. Many Meyerco models are just junk, but I like the Law Dog so much that I even had a better Kydex sheath made for it, which cost just a bit more than the knife. The Meyco Dirk Pendelton Wharning is another credible choice. The Meyerco Boker Plus Tom Krein Pocket Bowie and the (David) Mosier are other good examples. All Chinese, but only found through US contractor.

The Ka-bar K-2 series and the Warhog are also remarkably robust blades. Many examples like this.

So, I'm just not a knife snob; neither am I naive enough to think my knife buying habits are a political statement. I daily carry 2 US bucks, a US Spyderco, the Chinese Law Dog, and the Chinese Boker "credit card" knife.

Though I'm not yet back out into the country much again, although I do have a couple of US Ka-Bars, I also am quite impressed with my two El Salvadorean Condors.

- OS
 
Ok I ordered 4 different SRMs to "test" out and I am disappointed. They are cheap, small and uninteresting. I feel like I should have used the money I spent on these (35.00 shipped) and bought something better like a Kershaw or a Spyderco.

I just want to warn anyone who is borderline on getting SRMs... they are not nice. I suggest you spend the extra 20-30 dollars and get something that fit properly in your and and has a nice weight to size ratio.

Now I don't even think it's fair to re-sell these... I'm going to keep one of them to remind me to never buy them again and give the rest away.
 
For those thinking that SRM rip-off designs or patented features, they would not be totally correct.

Do they use the Axis lock? Yes, but they are allowed to do so in China. SRM is contracted by American companies to produce their knives(Spyderco,Benchmade), and one stipulation in their contracts is that they don't manufacturer any counterfeits even from companies not contracting with them.

Lastly, remember SRMs are not meant for the American market. The only way they get here is through 3rd party sellers that sell through ebay and the like.
 
I just want to warn anyone who is borderline on getting SRMs... they are not nice.
Click to expand...

That has NOT been my experience. I just ordered several Chinese knives and so far, they have been mostly bullet proof. OUTSTANDING fit and finish. Great designs; perfectly centered blades (one out of eleven is slightly off); high quality construction.

Could they be sharper? Sure. But they are easy enough to touch up (in very short order) while watching TV. Big deal. I've learned that price point is NO indication of a blade's sharpness-- including a custom knife I had to send back to the maker to touch up! (Dullest knife I ever bought.)

I bought these knives for Christmas presents, and I'll keep a few. They include (and I'm still waiting for two more models): SRM 710, Bee L06, and Ganzo G701. I just got the Ganzos yesterday and am blown away by their quality. Amazing.

I do agree the 710s are very small and are difficult to manipulate one handed. I think of them more as superbly made gentlemen's knives that you can slip into your pocket and use as a money clip.

I think the biggest hit & miss aspect of these knives has been their opening action. Some are pretty smooth, others need some breaking in.

But who doesn't like breaking in folders while watching TV?? :)

Will any of these be replacing my Chris Reeve Umnumzaan as my EDC? No. :)
 
I just received a second SRM 962 (like the OP's model) because I liked the first one so much. It took some damage in its travels from China, but fit and finish is excellent (just like my first) and deadly sharp out of the box. Sorry the OP got a bad one, but that happens even with top-quality US-produced knives.

That said, one big concern is always the warranty and protection from problems. For my scuffed-up 962, I could complain to the Post Office or to the Chinese distributor who packed my parcel poorly, but I won't bother. I also have no warranty protection should something happen to the knife -- blade, locking mechanism, etc. But that's the tradeoff. I spend $20 on a fun knife that's worth $50-60 and add to the variety of my EDC choices.

I also recently bought a Ganzo G710 -- the one that looks just like a Benchmade Rift. It too is excellent (though heavy). The problem with the Ganzo is that I like it so much, I went out and ordered a real Rift today (which will be a couple ounces lighter and so easier to carry).

Variety in knife-owning is an end in itself.
 
ThePharce said:
How many times are we going to have this thread? Really?
Click to expand...

i am thinking the same exact thing.

the end result is always the same.

oh and congrats on hitting post # 666 in this chinese knife thread.:)
 
I got the aluminum handled 763 recently, and I like it a lot. It's pretty unique in what exactly it offers: it carries very small, but fills the hand pretty well. I think it does this better than the popular Böker plus Subcom. It's well-made and smooth, has a bottle opener, good locking mechanism, and very cheap. I don't think there's a better knife out there to suit the needs of a college student on a budget. Plus it has an original design, and while the Axis lock isn't theirs, I don't feel too sorry for Benchmade (like their knives, but their legal practices are a bit hypocritical). So I'd say it's not just a "good knife for the money," it's a good knife all around. Does that mean that I'll be buying more SRM's? Not at the moment. This is the only design that really appeals to me from them; everything else is more or less a cheaper version of something I have. But SRM can put out a good knife every once in a while.
 
attachment.php
 
I got a 710 and a 763 for ~$6 each shipped. For the price I'm happy, but I don't carry them that often. They're ok to leave in the car or in a drawer, though. They really don't see much use.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top