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Just picked up an Inron MY803. I like it a lot.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
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SRM, Bee, Enlan, Navy and knives Fan post
- Thread starter mantzao
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I've been carrying a new model SRM T11 for about a week now.
This turns out to be a nice, small-ish folder with an angular sheepsfoot blade. Liner lock. Cutting edge just shy 2 1/4" long, About 3 5/16" closed. Oblong cutout in blade allows one hand opening. Has a slipjoint can/bottle opener with a backspring part of the liner and a usable thumbstud. Looks like the design allows right handed tip down pocketclip or right/left tip up carry. G10 scales. Typical SRM work, nice, crisp, clean machining all around. Design looks to be inspired by the Mantis Pit Boss.
I like this one better than I thought I would. Just seems to fit my needs well. Blade shape and grind are good. Lockup perfect. After a few open/close cycles, knife limbered up nicely. The bottle/can opener works OK. Better for bottles, a bit small for cans, but sufficient. Pocket clip is a bit tight. Overall, looks like another good SRM.
This turns out to be a nice, small-ish folder with an angular sheepsfoot blade. Liner lock. Cutting edge just shy 2 1/4" long, About 3 5/16" closed. Oblong cutout in blade allows one hand opening. Has a slipjoint can/bottle opener with a backspring part of the liner and a usable thumbstud. Looks like the design allows right handed tip down pocketclip or right/left tip up carry. G10 scales. Typical SRM work, nice, crisp, clean machining all around. Design looks to be inspired by the Mantis Pit Boss.
I like this one better than I thought I would. Just seems to fit my needs well. Blade shape and grind are good. Lockup perfect. After a few open/close cycles, knife limbered up nicely. The bottle/can opener works OK. Better for bottles, a bit small for cans, but sufficient. Pocket clip is a bit tight. Overall, looks like another good SRM.
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2001
- Messages
- 454
Nice review! :thumbup:
How do you like its handle design? Is it comfortable for bigger cutting tasks?
Two weeks and I'll receive mine too...
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2001
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- 4,608
The handle has much in common with 763. Any side by side pics, and gripped in hand pics?
I don't have a 763 to post side by side.
The thing to remember about the T11 is that it's really quite small. A hand filling grip is impossible for most adults. At best, you'll get a three fingered grip, if that's important. That may be a factor for some to consider. The angularity looks like it might be an impediment to comfort, but I've found it unnoticeable in use.
The thing to remember about the T11 is that it's really quite small. A hand filling grip is impossible for most adults. At best, you'll get a three fingered grip, if that's important. That may be a factor for some to consider. The angularity looks like it might be an impediment to comfort, but I've found it unnoticeable in use.
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- Mar 7, 2001
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I guess so. It's very much like 763, except that on 763, the short angle leg is at the butt/back, this one is at the pivot/front.
Very comfortable in hand (763).
Very comfortable in hand (763).
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- May 21, 2011
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- 3,132
Just wanted to say that I added some of those O-rings on my Enlan EL-02 and it really is a vast improvement. I liked everything about the knife, except for the fact that the thumbstudes dig into your nails. This is now no longer the case! Thanks for the tip guys.
What's about the Enlan EL04? Have you seen it overthere yet? It's very promising, here is my short review.
Thanks for the review!
You conviced me to get one in the G10 variety and being a sucker for bargains I gotta say I couldn't be happier. This will be a gift knife so got two more coming in. A few quick impressions:Fit n finish - is nothing short of remarkable for the $17 including shipping I paid for it. It's much nicer than some other China knives I've got from the big boys - like the Tenacious, Tremor, Aegis etc. Not that those knives are sub-par by any means (also great values), it's just that this one is really good and could be confused for a Taiwan folder after you've prepped it. The liners and scales are perfectly aligned, the bevel is 50/50, the blade centered etc. The one knock is some small marks on the pivot: presumably from the tool they assembled it with.
Materials - the steel is the usual 8cr13mov and the grind looks quite good. The G10 is surprisingly good as well and not only feels acceptably grippy but also has a really pleasant look to it. The pivot, the clip, the liners all look top notch and the screws doesn't look like the usual super small strip-friendly you normally would expect (will have to reserve my judgement until I've disassembled it though).
Machining - is "ok". It's not bad by any standards but the lock face's lip is very sharp and the bar has some marks on it making the axis lock sticky. Everything else is 100%.
Axis lock - as mentioned above there's a sharp lip on the lock face and some marks on the bar and also pretty stiff springs. Rubbing the lock face with a pencil will help the stickyness and once your blisters has healed the springs and the lip/marks will have smoothened out some. The upside is it feels very secure and probably wont suffer as much from a broken spring. A questionmark on disassembly: haven't tried it yet but it looks like the axis bar is press fitted?
Opening action - gritty at first but some WD40 washed it out. Couldn't be better now. If it lacks the closing ease of the regular axis the opening action does not share this problem.
Overall impression - it's a great looking, elegant knife even in the G10 variety (images doesn't do it justice) and if not for the funky pivot, the questionable disassembly and sticky lock it'd easily better many $50-70 knives. As a first "real" folder/gift knife or a disposable user it's damn near perfect. I mean... $17... use it, abuse it and throw it away after a year or so... Given my experience with Endura, Stretch etc this tends to be the case anyways, so if you actually use your knives... then by all means opt for this one. In terms of usability it's right up there with the Victorinoxes, FRN Sydercos etc. Sort of like a Mora folder in some ways.
Excellent value. :thumbup:
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2001
- Messages
- 454
Thanks for the review!
You're welcome!
The EL04 is among my top five budget folders because of its ergonomics and excellent slicing ability. I even took it for a hiking trip to the Julian Alps in Slovenia last summer. It brings back nice memories. 
Hello guys
I'm here to tell you a bit more about the Enlan M025!
(First impressions on page 25)
After EDCing it for a while now i'm able to make somewhat of a review of it.
Sorry, no pics but you have to take my word for it
This knife has, surprisingly, taken a well deserved spot in my EDC rotation kicking out the SRM 710!
The thicker handle is a big plus in my book making it very comfortable when doing some light to medium tasks.
Since i bought i used it quite a bit on cardboard, opening plastic packages, food prep, you know, the usual
The blade shape is amazing for these kind of tasks and i still haven't sharpen it!
I would have to say that the only con i can point out until now is that it takes a bit more of strength to unlock it, making the thumb a bit sore if you start playing with it
It's not a big deal, at all, but i feel i should point it out.
I love the fact that it is a little and compact knife with great fit and finish!
That's right, it's GREAT! It's better than knives i had that cost 5/6 times more like the Buck Vantage Pro i had!
The scales are perfectly flush with the liners with rounded shoulders wich prevents it from having hot spots. I'm amazed by that!
In short, this is a cheap but very well built knife that achieved the status of favourite chinese folder i ever had!
It doesn't feel cheap at all and that's, probably, one of the things i like best about it.
Rightfully so, it has taken it's place along my other EDC choices.
I love this knife!
P.s: I wish Enlan could produce a full size version of this knife so we could have the matching pair
I'm here to tell you a bit more about the Enlan M025!
(First impressions on page 25)
After EDCing it for a while now i'm able to make somewhat of a review of it.
Sorry, no pics but you have to take my word for it
This knife has, surprisingly, taken a well deserved spot in my EDC rotation kicking out the SRM 710!
The thicker handle is a big plus in my book making it very comfortable when doing some light to medium tasks.
Since i bought i used it quite a bit on cardboard, opening plastic packages, food prep, you know, the usual
The blade shape is amazing for these kind of tasks and i still haven't sharpen it!
I would have to say that the only con i can point out until now is that it takes a bit more of strength to unlock it, making the thumb a bit sore if you start playing with it
It's not a big deal, at all, but i feel i should point it out.
I love the fact that it is a little and compact knife with great fit and finish!
That's right, it's GREAT! It's better than knives i had that cost 5/6 times more like the Buck Vantage Pro i had!
The scales are perfectly flush with the liners with rounded shoulders wich prevents it from having hot spots. I'm amazed by that!
In short, this is a cheap but very well built knife that achieved the status of favourite chinese folder i ever had!
It doesn't feel cheap at all and that's, probably, one of the things i like best about it.
Rightfully so, it has taken it's place along my other EDC choices.
I love this knife!
P.s: I wish Enlan could produce a full size version of this knife so we could have the matching pair
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Hello guys
I'm here to tell you a bit more about the Enlan M025!
(First impressions on page 25)
After EDCing it for a while now i'm able to make somewhat of a review of it.
Sorry, no pics but you have to take my word for it
This knife has, surprisingly, taken a well deserved spot in my EDC rotation kicking out the SRM 710!
The thicker handle is a big plus in my book making it very comfortable when doing some light to medium tasks.
Since i bought i used it quite a bit on cardboard, opening plastic packages, food prep, you know, the usual
The blade shape is amazing for these kind of tasks and i still haven't sharpen it!
I would have to say that the only con i can point out until now is that it takes a bit more of strength to unlock it, making the thumb a bit sore if you start playing with it
It's not a big deal, at all, but i feel i should point it out.
I love the fact that it is a little and compact knife with great fit and finish!
That's right, it's GREAT! It's better than knives i had that cost 5/6 times more like the Buck Vantage Pro i had!
The scales are perfectly flush with the liners with rounded shoulders wich prevents it from having hot spots. I'm amazed by that!
In short, this is a cheap but very well built knife that achieved the status of favourite chinese folder i ever had!
It doesn't feel cheap at all and that's, probably, one of the things i like best about it.
Rightfully so, it has taken it's place along my other EDC choices.
I love this knife!
P.s: I wish Enlan could produce a full size version of this knife so we could have the matching pair
Mantzao,
Thanks for the review and photos. I'm a big fan of the M025, as I've noted in earlier posts.
I bought four of these -- I try to always buy multiple copies because about half of these brands have issues, in my experience. I've tried two so far and one opens and closes more smoothly than the other. Both needed multiple cleanings under the faucet followed by lubes before they got smooth to open and close.
What I like most about these folders is their size and the shape. You are right on the mark suggesting that those who like the small Insingo may fall in love with this little Enlan.
What I like least is the clip, which is nothing special; the lack of double thumb studs; and the weight, which is just a tad heavier than I want for pocket EDCing. The Enlan feels like a substantial folder.
I'm also a big fan of the small Buck Vantage Pro. Except that the M025 is just a bit larger than the small Vantage, I don't see much in common. The Buck is in a different league altogether, especially the Pro model Vantage.
The Enlan is also just plain fun to play with. Highly recommended. I don't know about making a larger version, but I'd be eager to see if Enlan could reduce the weight a little.
Hello mate
The lack of dual thumstuds is also a con in my opinion but after using my sebbies i kinda got used to it
Regarding the Vantage, I'm not saying that this one's a better knife!
What i'm saying is that this one has better fit and finish than the Buck, hands down!
The Buck is a nice knife if you can disregard the issues it has:
- blade centering
- the speed the linerlock travels forward
- sharp corners on the G-10
- bad f&f (measures)of the G-10
Understood!
Dual thumb studs is a pet peeve -- I don't understand why all knives don't come that way.
As to the Buck Vantages, there have been QC issues. I saw some issues with the cheaper versions at a show as recently as April. That said, I have five of them with no issues -- and I'm pretty picky.
As to the Enlan, thanks for bringing that to the attention of more BFers. It deserves to be better known.
Dual thumb studs is a pet peeve -- I don't understand why all knives don't come that way.
As to the Buck Vantages, there have been QC issues. I saw some issues with the cheaper versions at a show as recently as April. That said, I have five of them with no issues -- and I'm pretty picky.
As to the Enlan, thanks for bringing that to the attention of more BFers. It deserves to be better known.
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- Nov 9, 2001
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- 454
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2001
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- 4,608
Update:
Slightly off topic, but still related to SRM/Enlan/Navy
Finally decided to get Spyderco Resilience for the need of a larger blade. It arrived yesterday.
Initial impression: fit and finish is 95%. The 5% are because blade being slightly off centered when closed, and some wavy lines in the edge.
If centered = 50%, this blade is slightly to the left, at 25%. No rubbing of liner.
Edge grind: I can see some light wavy lines along the edge grind. However, being meant as work knife, no issue. The regular sharpening will correct it.
Having said that, SRM/Enlan/Navy are usually also 95-99% in perfection scale.
Deployment is smooth enough, although the drag due to factory heavy oil (as usually it is when SRM/Enlan/Navy arrived out of box) is there. Flip open nicely with thumb flick. After washing it several times with water and soap, the drag is gone, it smoothed out more, and the centering moves to about 35% (more centered now).
Excluding shipping, it's 40$. If people ask does it worth the extra $ against SRM/Enlan/Navy, I'd say yes. Looking at the whole knife as a design, there're lots of thoughts being put into. Here are why:
Liners are skeletonized, and the lockbar is not. Compare this with EL01 where the skeletonizing also includes the lockbar.
Ergonomics is excellent. I have small to medium hand, and it still feel comfortable albeit massive. No sharp corners. The similar designed Navy has sharp edges along the liner.
Edge is sharp, sharpest among all the knives I get out of the box (SRM/Navy/Enlan).
The G10 is smoother than Navy k631 and EL01 and even smoother than SRM 763 (763 has different texturing).
Lockup is solid and early, a hair of the trailing lock bar not yet flush with the leading blade tang, which means more room to wear. Zero blade play in any direction.
Very even blade grind (referring to the FFG), by visual inspection only. I noticed Navy has some uneven grind only when trying to polish it, there are areas where the stones/sand paper (if put on flat surface) won't reach the 'FFG'.
So, even if one of these companies make the knife for Spyderco, the conclusion is that Spyderco design, thought process and quality control goes into the whole manufacturing process, resulting in better product as a result. Something that when SRM/Enlan/Navy make their own design, is missing.
I am not saying they are bad. They are good, but Spyderco worth the additional $ spent.
If anyone want to try the Navy copy of Tenacious, I'd say go for the real Tenacious. Especially if you live in US, shipping is practically free from many shops. I paid about 25$ in total for shipping for the Resilience.
Did I say that it's lighter than my Navy k631?
In fact, the Navy is what inspired me to finally decide on Resilience. The design (handle shape, FFG blade, opening hole) are taken from various Spyderco as said before, and the ergo is really good. So I decided to check out the 'real thing'.
Sorry, no pics yet, will post sometime later, if anyone interested. There are so many already posted, I guess it's nothing new.
Having one and handled one is a totally different animal than SRM/Enlan/Navy.
I am satisfied:thumbup:
Edit to add
Screws: there were complaints that the screws were easily stripped, being hex but sized in metric. Mine comes with T6 torx for all the smaller + clip, and T8 for pivot. Spyderco does listen to feedback.
Slightly off topic, but still related to SRM/Enlan/Navy
Finally decided to get Spyderco Resilience for the need of a larger blade. It arrived yesterday.
Initial impression: fit and finish is 95%. The 5% are because blade being slightly off centered when closed, and some wavy lines in the edge.
If centered = 50%, this blade is slightly to the left, at 25%. No rubbing of liner.
Edge grind: I can see some light wavy lines along the edge grind. However, being meant as work knife, no issue. The regular sharpening will correct it.
Having said that, SRM/Enlan/Navy are usually also 95-99% in perfection scale.
Deployment is smooth enough, although the drag due to factory heavy oil (as usually it is when SRM/Enlan/Navy arrived out of box) is there. Flip open nicely with thumb flick. After washing it several times with water and soap, the drag is gone, it smoothed out more, and the centering moves to about 35% (more centered now).
Excluding shipping, it's 40$. If people ask does it worth the extra $ against SRM/Enlan/Navy, I'd say yes. Looking at the whole knife as a design, there're lots of thoughts being put into. Here are why:
Liners are skeletonized, and the lockbar is not. Compare this with EL01 where the skeletonizing also includes the lockbar.
Ergonomics is excellent. I have small to medium hand, and it still feel comfortable albeit massive. No sharp corners. The similar designed Navy has sharp edges along the liner.
Edge is sharp, sharpest among all the knives I get out of the box (SRM/Navy/Enlan).
The G10 is smoother than Navy k631 and EL01 and even smoother than SRM 763 (763 has different texturing).
Lockup is solid and early, a hair of the trailing lock bar not yet flush with the leading blade tang, which means more room to wear. Zero blade play in any direction.
Very even blade grind (referring to the FFG), by visual inspection only. I noticed Navy has some uneven grind only when trying to polish it, there are areas where the stones/sand paper (if put on flat surface) won't reach the 'FFG'.
So, even if one of these companies make the knife for Spyderco, the conclusion is that Spyderco design, thought process and quality control goes into the whole manufacturing process, resulting in better product as a result. Something that when SRM/Enlan/Navy make their own design, is missing.
I am not saying they are bad. They are good, but Spyderco worth the additional $ spent.
If anyone want to try the Navy copy of Tenacious, I'd say go for the real Tenacious. Especially if you live in US, shipping is practically free from many shops. I paid about 25$ in total for shipping for the Resilience.
Did I say that it's lighter than my Navy k631?
In fact, the Navy is what inspired me to finally decide on Resilience. The design (handle shape, FFG blade, opening hole) are taken from various Spyderco as said before, and the ergo is really good. So I decided to check out the 'real thing'.
Sorry, no pics yet, will post sometime later, if anyone interested. There are so many already posted, I guess it's nothing new.
Having one and handled one is a totally different animal than SRM/Enlan/Navy.
I am satisfied:thumbup:
Edit to add
Screws: there were complaints that the screws were easily stripped, being hex but sized in metric. Mine comes with T6 torx for all the smaller + clip, and T8 for pivot. Spyderco does listen to feedback
.
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- Joined
- Mar 25, 2012
- Messages
- 9,286
hey guys I recieved my inron my803's today.I ordered 3, one in each color.I am really liking the orange color. one thing I noticed is the black g-10 is more coarce than the tan or orange g 10 .One of the 3 has up and down plade play out of the box.The other 2 are solid in every way.the frame lock on these 803's does not instill confidence but I don't use my knives to stab very often so not really an issue.Something I found strange was all 3 knives came out of the box with greasy finger prints on them, no big deal I just washed them but it is the first time that has happened to me . 2 of the 3 came out of the box razor sharp the other still cut phone book paper but not like the other 2 (same one that has blade play).just my first impressions and time will be the test.Would I buy another 803? NO. would I recommend one to a friend? no. Do I like the looks of the knife? yes.Would I trade it for a enlan el-02? yes,any day!I think if inron made the frame lock thicker and tightened up their QC it could be a awesome knife.
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- Joined
- Mar 25, 2012
- Messages
- 9,286
I did some tweeking on my inron my803 today . flamed the lock side ,pocket clip and all the hardware. fixed the blade play .I also stone washed the blade .
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