SOLID Folders that feel and perform the most like a fixed blade.

Y

yexactly

Joined
Jan 29, 2015
Messages
131
Which if your folders feel and perform the most like a fixed blade?

Mine is the Spyderco Sage 4 that features a back lock.. when it locks up it makes a loud snapping noise.. The base of the blade is 0.2 inches thick and fits flush against the titanium handle.. and snaps in 0.5 inches deep to the handle ZERO blade play and the weight of the knife (vs the other Sages) make it feel as solid as a fixed blade to me when cutting.
 
My Evolution Pro from Carson Tech Lab springs to mind. Still, I wouldn't go as far as to compare a folder to a fixed blade, as the latter will always be sturdier (all other things equal). Still, I hammered that folder into a tree (found a dead tree, as I wouldn't do that to a living one), and did pullups on the knife. Nothing happened to the knife, though it took some serious abuse. And yes, the frame lock is very strong on that one, the blade opens with a resounding thud. In fact, the frame lock is so strong they even implemented a button on the non-locking side so that you could disengage the lock easier.

Of the folders I don't have, Demko models come to mind. IIRC, he hung a weight of over 800 pounds on the hande of one of his knives (the blade was wedged somewhere), and the lock held.
 
I have an old custom Elishewitz that is pretty darn solid. No flex, movement, or give in any of the components.
 
Nine of them really, but my 810 Contego is the strongest folder I have. It's ridiculously overbuilt, but still does not feel like a fixed blade to me.

All overbuilt folders accomplish for me is feeling bulky and heavy in my pocket and getting left at home.
 
Anything with a Demko TriAd lock. I've owned/used/carried a one off Demko and the production CS stuff is just as strong.
 
Agurami said:
My Evolution Pro from Carson Tech Lab springs to mind. Still, I wouldn't go as far as to compare a folder to a fixed blade, as the latter will always be sturdier (all other things equal). Still, I hammered that folder into a tree (found a dead tree, as I wouldn't do that to a living one), and did pullups on the knife. Nothing happened to the knife, though it took some serious abuse. And yes, the frame lock is very strong on that one, the blade opens with a resounding thud. In fact, the frame lock is so strong they even implemented a button on the non-locking side so that you could disengage the lock easier.

Of the folders I don't have, Demko models come to mind. IIRC, he hung a weight of over 800 pounds on the hande of one of his knives (the blade was wedged somewhere), and the lock held.
Click to expand...

While I'd guess that a tri-ad lock on a Demko, or a Cold Steel folder, is stronger than a frame lock, and I do have some Cold Steel folders (Espada XL, Recon XL, Talwar XL, Voyager XL, Spartan, Code 4.), the Carson Tech Evolution was still the first thing that came to mind for me as well when I read the thread title. It just feels so very solid. I haven't cut anything with it, though. :p
 
I would buy a Carson Tech if it had a 5" blade.
 
trevitrace said:
Ffk!!
Click to expand...

Zing!

Had a CS American Lawman, that thing was solid. Not fixed blade strong but it did lock up tight.

I do like a solid lock up with not blade play in a folder but I try not to compare folders and fixed blades. The only positive qualities that they share and require are the ability to cut well and are comfortable to use. Everything else like strength and portability are type specific.
 
This brings to mind the Roto-Lok feature on my DPx HEST folder that I wish every framelock folder had, especially my far more expensive ones.

I have often thought as I've used the HEST 2.0 folder how it can feel more solid than any of my other folders for the really rough stuff. With the Roto-Lok engaged it just may be the only folder I own I would pick not to fold or collapse with an all out stab into a tree or something.

Roto-Lok was a great idea by LionSteel.
 
I second the Roto lock used by lion steel in their sr series and dpx gear. While nothing is as strong as a fixed blade, the above mentioned are definitely far and above any other mechanism out there now. I have total confidence in my T3 and would not hesitate to use in any and all situations if it was the only thing available to me. Once you hold one and see for yourself how sturdy and solid the set up is, most fears of loping g of a digit fall by the wayside.
 
At the moment I have experience with the ZTs 0801 and 0550 , and they are the folders that are closest to fixed blades knifes
 
yexactly said:
Which if your folders feel and perform the most like a fixed blade?

Mine is the Spyderco Sage 4 that features a back lock.. when it locks up it makes a loud snapping noise.. The base of the blade is 0.2 inches thick and fits flush against the titanium handle.. and snaps in 0.5 inches deep to the handle ZERO blade play and the weight of the knife (vs the other Sages) make it feel as solid as a fixed blade to me when cutting.
Click to expand...

Doing some research about tough locking knives, I found a slew of pictures of broken Spyderco back locks. They may feel solid, but I don't think they support the blade when cutting pressure is applied nearly as much as other systems with a stop pin. The Tri-ad is essentially a fix for this shortcoming.


One thing I really like about stout linerlocks and framelocks is that they "fail" by bending - usually leaving the knife locked. This is much safer in my mind to a knife that fails suddenly when something snaps.

Koster and Enzo have well regarded liner lock folders that imitate the feel of a fixed blade while being reasonably strong.
 
My ZT 0200 locks up super tight. Trying to get the blade to move at all is a waste of time. It feels like a solid/fixed blade when opened up.
 
scottyj said:
My ZT 0200 locks up super tight. Trying to get the blade to move at all is a waste of time. It feels like a solid/fixed blade when opened up.
Click to expand...

A lot can be said for steel liners!
 
It is a big mistake to treat any folder like fixed blade because no matter how apparently secure the lock and solid the feel, under the right circumstances that lock can fail. You have to adapt your technique accordingly. Sermon over.
 
HJK said:
It is a big mistake to treat any folder like fixed blade because no matter how apparently secure the lock and solid the feel, under the right circumstances that lock can fail. You have to adapt your technique accordingly. Sermon over.
Click to expand...

Very true and crucial to remember.

Nonetheless, my Spyderco Tuff surprises me every time at just how rock solidly it locks up. The secure feeling it gives makes it my first folder choice for any real hard use, after a fixed blade, of course.
 
Any of the Medium to Large Cold Steel folders with the Tri-Ad lock. They are as close as you are going to get to a folding fixed blade knife. I love my Spyderco knives as cutters but I have come to always carry a larger Cold Steel folder as back up just in case brute force is required! The Tri-Ad just spanks any other system out there. I will ad with the new for 2015 XHP steel, DLC coatings and the best G10 in the business I believe Cold Steel is set to literally dominate the hard use folder market.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top