SRM, Bee, Enlan, Navy and knives Fan post

[Joben]

My latest purchase, Enlan EL05:

Ooo I"ve got one of those on the way. How do you like it?

 

[vortex]

Ooo I"ve got one of those on the way. How do you like it?

My impressions so far:
It feels very substantial in the hand and the rosewood scales are quite impressive. The pocket clip is well positioned and pocket friendly. The lockup is perfect with zero bladeplay. Thanks to its unique blade shape it's a very good slicer.

Cons: As I mentioned in my blog in closed position the edge can cut in the lanyard string (if you use one). The opening could be smoother and IMO a round opening hole would work better.

 

[Call_to_Arms]

I picked up an Enlan EL-01, OMG, I promise you that this is the best money ive ever spent... on a knife anyway. I work nights as a garbage man, I woke up at around 4pm to find a package in my mailbox, I opened the package with yesterdays new knife, in accordance with the ways of my people. This thing is excellent for a very hard use folder, it is a bit on the heavy side and the blade doesn't make a good slicer due to its width but that was OK with me, I have a Vantage for food prep and the like, this knife was for ugly jobs. Now, I started work at 7pm and proceeded to spend the next 24 hours trying to break it, I was throwing it at fences across a asphalt parking lot, and im a lousy shot. I cut up buckets, battoned it through pallets and some 2x2" hardwood bed frame, finally I played catch with it with my loader, I was skipping it back and forth across a parking lot as hard as I can like you would skip a stone on a lake. At the end of the night my edge was totally shot, small chips in the edge and a generally rough texture across both sides. One scale and the pocket clip were slightly loose but the knife would still snap in and out, my G10 scales were scratched and gouged with the edges worn on all the corners. When I got home I needed to tighten all the bolts, wash it with warm water, spray it down with general purpose oil and then the sharpening began. I started with my coarsest stone, a 2x8" double sided stone around 150-220grit and I worked my way up all the way to my strop and some Veritas green compound, all free-hand. After 45 minutes im left with a mirror finished full convex edge, not bad in my opinion for free-hand from a totally destroyed edge.

So, I love this knife, I ordered another identical one along with a couple other models and some Navy knives, we shall see how they look.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

CtA,

Welcome to the club!

I thinned down the EL01 and it slices very well!

Vortex,

How's the edge retention & hardness from your experience about Enlan, SRM, and Navy (440C)? IMO, Enlan runs their blade a bit harder. Just finished reprofiling the Navy K631, let's see how it performs.

 

[vortex]

Considering edge retention IMO Enlan is the winner with SRM close to it. Navy should improve its heat treatment process and QC because some of their blades are softer than they should be.

 

[TechnoZombie]

I picked up an Enlan EL-01, OMG, I promise you that this is the best money ive ever spent... on a knife anyway. I work nights as a garbage man, I woke up at around 4pm to find a package in my mailbox, I opened the package with yesterdays new knife, in accordance with the ways of my people. This thing is excellent for a very hard use folder, it is a bit on the heavy side and the blade doesn't make a good slicer due to its width but that was OK with me, I have a Vantage for food prep and the like, this knife was for ugly jobs. Now, I started work at 7pm and proceeded to spend the next 24 hours trying to break it, I was throwing it at fences across a asphalt parking lot, and im a lousy shot. I cut up buckets, battoned it through pallets and some 2x2" hardwood bed frame, finally I played catch with it with my loader, I was skipping it back and forth across a parking lot as hard as I can like you would skip a stone on a lake. At the end of the night my edge was totally shot, small chips in the edge and a generally rough texture across both sides. One scale and the pocket clip were slightly loose but the knife would still snap in and out, my G10 scales were scratched and gouged with the edges worn on all the corners. When I got home I needed to tighten all the bolts, wash it with warm water, spray it down with general purpose oil and then the sharpening began. I started with my coarsest stone, a 2x8" double sided stone around 150-220grit and I worked my way up all the way to my strop and some Veritas green compound, all free-hand. After 45 minutes im left with a mirror finished full convex edge, not bad in my opinion for free-hand from a totally destroyed edge.

So, I love this knife, I ordered another identical one along with a couple other models and some Navy knives, we shall see how they look.

Pics of the new edge, please

 

[masa]

Yes please post pics of the abuse please.

I bought the EL02 and b version and find that the g10 is grippier but the sand blasted blade seem to rust easier. Whats the tools you guys use to open these folders? I like them and will buy more. Wanted to get the wooden versions but the probably wont hold up to water very well.

1 question, which is better for washers? the nylon or the bass looking washer?

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

There are several threads on washer .. The general agreement is nylon being smoother but less durable (tearing) than phosporus bronze.

Vortex,

I just finished reprofiling Navy k631. Let's see how it performs.

Your observation is close to my own. Initially srm763 was not holding the edge very long, but after some more use & resharpening, now it seems to hold better.. Perhaps it's the softer steel as result of factory sharpeming that has now gone. The EL02 still hold it longer, but might improve later with more use & resharpening, if all factory grind has 'softened' the edge.

 

[masa]

thanks. i am putting the a navy 507 folder through kitchen use. Will see how it copes with the wet condition. I bought these knives for sea fishing use.

 

[TechnoZombie]

My latest purchase, Enlan EL05:

That is beautiful :O

Any chance of having a size comparison photo? With a SRM 710 or a Victorinox?

 

[vortex]

I bought the EL02 and b version and find that the g10 is grippier but the sand blasted blade seem to rust easier. Whats the tools you guys use to open these folders?

Are you sure about a sand blasted blade? My EL02B has stonewashed finish.
I use round nose pliers for the pivot screw.

Your observation is close to my own. Initially srm763 was not holding the edge very long, but after some more use & resharpening, now it seems to hold better.. Perhaps it's the softer steel as result of factory sharpeming that has now gone. The EL02 still hold it longer, but might improve later with more use & resharpening, if all factory grind has 'softened' the edge.

Good idea! I'll try to reprofile some of my Navys too.

I've just started experimenting with my new Enlan EL06 which has a 9Cr13MoV blade (more pics here). What can I expect from this steel?

That is beautiful :O
Any chance of having a size comparison photo? With a SRM 710 or a Victorinox?

It won't be easy!
Here you are (SRM 710, Victorinox Huntsman):

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

That's a really weird size / shape

9Cr15MoV (13, 14, or 15?) is interesting. I think the Navy uses same steel .. Let's see how it holds up ...

 

[masa]

Are you sure about a sand blasted blade? My EL02B has stonewashed finish.
I use round nose pliers for the pivot screw.

sorry, it should be stonewashed. they seem to rust faster than the smooth finished el02. I am in china now and its surprising El05 and 06 are not common yet.

 

[vortex]

sorry, it should be stonewashed. they seem to rust faster than the smooth finished el02. I am in china now and its surprising El05 and 06 are not common yet.

What's about the Enlan EL04? Have you seen it overthere yet? It's very promising, here is my short review.

 

[masa]

I cannot visit blogs here in china as they block them and youtube unfortunately. Its common to see El 01, 02 and 03a 03b 03c.

No 04 5 or 6. At least I havent seen them on sale.

 

[Badhammer]

Question if I may. For you folks here in the U.S.A., how long to get your orders from China? Mine hit Hong Kong on 8/19. I'm guessing another two, maybe three weeks til delivery?


Update:

Order arrived today, (ordered on 8/14/11). Unfortunately it was shipped "registered mail" so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to go pick it up at the post office.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

If you buy from Exduct, my experience is 10 - 14 days. Someone over britishblades forum (from Sweden IIRC) ordered & received in 4 days.

 

[Badhammer]

If you buy from Exduct, my experience is 10 - 14 days. Someone over britishblades forum (from Sweden IIRC) ordered & received in 4 days.

Thank you Chris.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Thank you Chris.

Sorry, forgot to add, I live in Indonesia, if that factor in the time frame.

 

[masa]

They are nothing more than a beater upper that can be had for cheap! I have enjoyed the 710 by SRM but its really the only one other than the 939 that I have found that I liked. The Enlan EL-01 is impressive for the money. I don't care for the grooves in the handles and don't like how they catch under the clip snagging it on pockets. This is rougher on pants that way but otherwise its not one you'd look at and even suspect that its at the price point they set it at. For us right now in the US its a great deal on a well built knife though.

Most all these have G10 but there is something different looking about the G10. Can't quite put my finger on it but I do see a diff from the G10 used on these vs whats used on Emerson and Spyderco. The latter feels and looks more quality as it should for the money I suppose. Still, for the savings one can't argue with what you get here in the Enlan EL -01

I've done some cutting trials with the 710 I have and repeatedly cut down boxes with it slicing up a good size Priority mail box that will hold a full size magazine stack. When it was done to where I had no more pieces I could cut the knife was getting dull but it kept cutting and still shaveed and sliced thicker paper from my printer when I was finished. It struggled a bit with news print though so it was dinged down some but certainly not bad and on par with anything else in the same steel that I've used.

The Cold Steel AUS8 blades did better but the difference is marginal really but it is there. Ironically the Kabar Phat Bob in AUS8 did about the same as the SRM710 for how it felt when doing the same type cutting for roughly close to the same amount of cuts I guess. Its not like I counted. I just sliced up the same size boxes with both over time. I have this habit of cutting down the bigger boxes that come in the mail particularly if I have some already and don't need extras. This aids me to throw them out. It makes them less bulky and fills my trash can slower that way so I've cut enough with enough knives and various steels to get a feel for each and of course for me most of the cutting is being done with 3" plus or minus blades. These knives including my newest Enlan EL-01 all cut within that expected performance range for the steels used in my opinion. the Enlan is actually big compared to most of the others I've bought. I'd say for me personally its a fun knife, particularly when Waved but its bigger than I normally carry for very long and usually not outside my own property.

Simply put what I've seen and handled are fine average steels giving fine average performance for a good price that is certainly not average for what you would expect to have to pay for the same level of performance elsewhere. If some of you Chinese residents don't mind share with us what you consider to be some of the 'good' ones with better steels that you know of and help us find some new toys to examine. Thanks

STR

Hi thanks for your review. I wanted to get a SRM 710 but got a 704 instead. The SRM 401 seems to be of a different steel but I like it due to the small size. I agree with you that the enlan EL 01 02 are too big to be brought out. The EL02 and 02b that I bought will be in my tackle box. Theres another brand BEE that seems to share the packaging of enlan.

I got small cuts and a sore thumb from the opening and closing after buying 6 knives.

THe next on my list is SRM 710, 2 more 401 and 603, plus the navy 607