Severely underrated knives

[bdmicarta]

My suggestion is the Spyderco Tenacious. I use mine as a camping knife so I don't risk losing a more expensive knife. The Tenacious works very well for me and holds an edge better than I would think.

 

[midnight flyer]

I will go to my grave proclaiming that the Zt 0909 is one of the most underrepresented and criminally discontinued folders. Everything about it worked and landed itself to being a great work/camp knife. Killing it off started to sour me on the ZT pocket jewelry they started to focus on after that.

And I will go with you. I think that knife was a sign post to indicate that the time of ZT's knives for working men was over. I bought one because I found it on closeout and was really surprised at how robust it was. Why was it dropped from ZT's line? Reading along here, people thought it was too heavy, too blocky, the blade was too wide, and the complaining about the nut on the pivot was almost whining.

I thought it was brilliant. In construction I am always interested in a good work knife. i have XXL hands, and although I can bury it in my mitts, it is really comfortable to use and hang onto. The handles don't slip and the ergos good for me. I LIKE the small pocket clip as I don't care for people to ask me to see my knife, use my knife, or even know I have one. So small is good as long as it stays clipped to my pocket. The fact that it wasn't aesthetically pleasing was nonsense to me. I like the weight, too. Feels like I have a work knife in my hand when I pull it out. I really appreciate that it isn't a frame lock. I can't stand slick metal (and worse, slick metal with uncomfortable edges) when my hands are soaked with sweat and dirty. I can't stand a knife that slides in my sweaty hands as I am always sure I will slip and cut myself.

In fact, I like the 0909 knife so much I bought another one just in case I lose or break the original! But after about 5 years in rotation, aside from some pocket and blade wear, it shows absolutely no sign of me needing to replace it.

After the failure of that knife, it was like ZT said to their designers, "take all the best features of that knife and go the other way with the next designs." I haven't bought another ZT since. They chased me off to Cold Steel.

 

[Chronovore]

Civivi has a lot of models that gets a lot of play with their Praxis, various button locks, etc but a discontinued model that still gets pocket time for me is the Incite. It is just so thin behind the edge and has an arguably more comfortable handle than the praxis.

I'm still kicking myself for skipping the Incite. I'm not a big fan of D2 and wasn't sure about their Damascus back then.

It wouldn't hurt to contact them about the Incite. They occasionally bring things back or do runs in different materials. I'd love to see an Incite in 14C28N and Micarta.

As for the Damascus Civivi uses ... 9cr18mov, but preforms likes well treated 440c. Perhaps is layered in some way. According to Larrin in the last thread, a lot of the cost of Damascus is labor. Labor is cheap in some countries aka China/Pakistan. Kershaw makes Damascus in Alabama according to the last thread, and so that is what they use in their made in USA Damascus knives. Makes me want to pick one up, so I think that should be added to the underrated knives category. American Damascus for fairly cheap.

I have it direct from Civivi that their Damascus is a mix of 9Cr18Mov and 10Cr15CoMov.

 

[dirc]

...
I have it direct from Civivi that their Damascus is a mix of 9Cr18Mov and 10Cr15CoMov.

that really makes no sense - to etch damascus, you need one steel with nickel, or one non-stainless or some larger variation right?
those 2 listed seem too similar

 

[Deino]

that really makes no sense - to etch damascus, you need one steel with nickel, or one non-stainless or some larger variation right?
those 2 listed seem too similar

Yes. The 2 listed are analog to 440C and VG10, which are both highly polished stainless. Maybe they meant that the 2 steels are the cores for their different grades of Damascus?

Btw, I find it funny that the knives listed here as "underrated" are quite expensive. Many of them are well over 100$, which is the expensive range for me. Meanwhile, some are just, well, normal, with hundred of analog at similar price with different style for different preference.

 

[dirc]

yes, that is why my pick was the kershaw leek, which was a $50 USA folder (before covid inflation recently)

 

[Chronovore]

that really makes no sense - to etch damascus, you need one steel with nickel, or one non-stainless or some larger variation right?
those 2 listed seem too similar

Yes. The 2 listed are analog to 440C and VG10, which are both highly polished stainless. Maybe they meant that the 2 steels are the cores for their different grades of Damascus?

While 10Cr15CoMov is a close analog of VG-10, 9Cr18Mov is a little different from 440C. It has a little more chromium, a little less carbon, and small amounts of nickel and vanadium.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Moras would definitely qualify.

 

[Deino]

While 10Cr15CoMov is a close analog of VG-10, 9Cr18Mov is a little different from 440C. It has a little more chromium, a little less carbon, and small amounts of nickel and vanadium.

Whatever the difference is, the 2 steels they told you are 2 very bright annoys, their pattern wouldn't be very visible when they are mixed together. This put it at odd with the Damascus that Civivi offers, which has clear contrast of black and white.

This is my 3rd post in this thread, so to contribute to the main subject: Fiskars harvesting knife, half tang, but durable and it does what it supposed to do well for the low price.

 

[Weiss]

I like the one on top, the Utilitac II (although the Boker isn't bad).

 

[c7m2p3]

Yes. The 2 listed are analog to 440C and VG10, which are both highly polished stainless. Maybe they meant that the 2 steels are the cores for their different grades of Damascus?

Btw, I find it funny that the knives listed here as "underrated" are quite expensive. Many of them are well over 100$, which is the expensive range for me. Meanwhile, some are just, well, normal, with hundred of analog at similar price with different style for different preference.

I did make mention originally that this was underrated regardless of price. The presidio 2 mentioned a few times is a perfect example of this underrated but not cheap. It is underrated in that if someone recommends an axis folder from Benchmade, you will hear a lot of people talk about the bugout, or the griptiliian, maybe you will get someone to mention a Freek, but very few talk about the presidio 2 which is ground better than a griptilian in my experience and has has very good action and ergonomics.

This underrated knife category can also mean aftermarket support which is another thing. Just using the presidio 2 as an example again, it is very easy to come across all kinds of aftermarket scales and options for Griptilians and bugouts but not much for the presidio line of knives.

 

[tknife]

Cold Steel Kiridashi folder. I picked it up on a whim from Amazon for around $20. That little thing is so handy. It is the perfect little beater utility knife. Rock solid lock, perfect size, comfy handle and the angle of the blade to the handle makes long term cutting a breeze. I hate the big funky plastic clip though. It makes the handle very comfortable, but I hate it in use as an actual pocket clip.

 

[sadmin]

Cold Steel Kiridashi folder. I picked it up on a whim from Amazon for around $20. That little thing is so handy. It is the perfect little beater utility knife. Rock solid lock, perfect size, comfy handle and the angle of the blade to the handle makes long term cutting a breeze. I hate the big funky plastic clip though. It makes the handle very comfortable, but I hate it in use as an actual pocket clip.

I like that one too, wear it when I run. It weighs as much as a fly too

 

[Deino]

I did make mention originally that this was underrated regardless of price. The presidio 2 mentioned a few times is a perfect example of this underrated but not cheap. It is underrated in that if someone recommends an axis folder from Benchmade, you will hear a lot of people talk about the bugout, or the griptiliian, maybe you will get someone to mention a Freek, but very few talk about the presidio 2 which is ground better than a griptilian in my experience and has has very good action and ergonomics.

This underrated knife category can also mean aftermarket support which is another thing. Just using the presidio 2 as an example again, it is very easy to come across all kinds of aftermarket scales and options for Griptilians and bugouts but not much for the presidio line of knives.

I see, in that case, still on the BM that you are giving out example, I would want to throw in the BM North Fork, which is small, thin and light while having a full length metal liner (I don't even like full scale liner folder much). I almost never see anyone recommend it.

 

[tony281sc2]

And I will go with you. I think that knife was a sign post to indicate that the time of ZT's knives for working men was over. I bought one because I found it on closeout and was really surprised at how robust it was. Why was it dropped from ZT's line? Reading along here, people thought it was too heavy, too blocky, the blade was too wide, and the complaining about the nut on the pivot was almost whining.

I thought it was brilliant. In construction I am always interested in a good work knife. i have XXL hands, and although I can bury it in my mitts, it is really comfortable to use and hang onto. The handles don't slip and the ergos good for me. I LIKE the small pocket clip as I don't care for people to ask me to see my knife, use my knife, or even know I have one. So small is good as long as it stays clipped to my pocket. The fact that it wasn't aesthetically pleasing was nonsense to me. I like the weight, too. Feels like I have a work knife in my hand when I pull it out. I really appreciate that it isn't a frame lock. I can't stand slick metal (and worse, slick metal with uncomfortable edges) when my hands are soaked with sweat and dirty. I can't stand a knife that slides in my sweaty hands as I am always sure I will slip and cut myself.

In fact, I like the 0909 knife so much I bought another one just in case I lose or break the original! But after about 5 years in rotation, aside from some pocket and blade wear, it shows absolutely no sign of me needing to replace it.

If you want even more grip (like a ridiculous amount), GP has some aftermarket scales for the 0909, I bought the green ones recently, and put some skiff bearings in it…
Love it, and even tho it’s heavy it’s been my EDC most days lately.

 

[justjed]

Civivi Tamashii. Bob Terzuola design, done right. I have the micarta version. Sweet. and discreet. And nobody talks about it.

Ruike, their 14C28N is very nicely done, and their designs are mostly function over flash. I carried a P-108 every day for three years, replaced it with an M-105, ti and N690, and I have a Jager. All good knives, inexpensive, not cheap.

 

[Chronovore]

Civivi Tamashii. Bob Terzuola design, done right. I have the micarta version. Sweet. and discreet. And nobody talks about it.

Ruike, their 14C28N is very nicely done, and their designs are mostly function over flash. I carried a P-108 every day for three years, replaced it with an M-105, ti and N690, and I have a Jager. All good knives, inexpensive, not cheap.

I'd say the Jager is underrated but it does come up consistently in budget fixed blade and camping discussions. It's an excellent knife for the money, and even better if you upgrade the sheath.

 

[justjed]

The Jager is not unlike any of a number of other 4-ish inch utility fixed blades, but is nicely done. It's not too much of anything. It's similar in feel to a TOPS knife. Heavy for its size. Solid. Chunky. Begs you to work it.
It's not gonna replace my White River Sendero Classic as an EDC, but if I need a tough 4" stainless blade, this one is my go-to. Except for right now. It's lashed to the Kydex of a big Bowie. You know, for jobs that
don't necessarily require a 12" blade.

 

[Chronovore]

The Jager is not unlike any of a number of other 4-ish inch utility fixed blades, but is nicely done. It's not too much of anything. It's similar in feel to a TOPS knife. Heavy for its size. Solid. Chunky. Begs you to work it.
It's not gonna replace my White River Sendero Classic as an EDC, but if I need a tough 4" stainless blade, this one is my go-to. Except for right now. It's lashed to the Kydex of a big Bowie. You know, for jobs that
don't necessarily require a 12" blade.

There are a few things that make the Jager stand out. Being 14C28N is one of them. In a role where some people are inclined to reach for carbon steels, 14C28N is a great stainless alternative. It's exceptionally tough, holds a reasonable edge without being hard to sharpen, and offers significant resistance to corrosion. Other than that, the Jager has a nifty look including a very pretty stonewash. It's surprisingly comfortable in hand. The quickly adjustable clip can be very handy. The price helps too.

I'd agree that the Jager isn't really an EDC knife for most people. It's definitely more of an outdoors knife for me. From the same manufacturer, in the same steel, and with a better sheath using the same rotatable clip; the Real Steel Pointman is within my upper size limit for an EDC fixed blade. While the Jager is comfortable right out of the box, the scale edges on the Pointman were a little crisp. Taking a little time to round off those edges with a couple of grits of sandpaper or a dual-sided emery board does a world of good. It's very easy to do but loving the knife is based on having done it and that constrains my recommendation.

Here it is with a couple of excellent EDC choices. I don't know if that Domin is underrated or just not widely known. If I could recommend just one EDC folder this year, that might be it.

 

[Billy The Blade]

... sad part is, most people who dislike 'mall-ninja' naming refused to give the broken skull a chance (myself included).... even tho the design seemed good

please, any companies that read this, please keep the mall-ninja naming reserved for gas station cheap models

The C.S. Broken Skull was a collab. with Steve Austin and named after his ranch, fwiw...