TEST YOUR MIGHT: Expert level recommendations requested!

How about an Al Mar sere, shrike or payara. Great knives. Also Spyderco Vallotin sub hilt is one of my top five. Lastly I'd say have a look at a Fallkniven PXL. Over your $ but it's a custom quality knife in a production model. So are the models I named above IMHO. Good luck with the search.
 
i don't know much about knives, but seeing your list, the 808 also comes to mind as it's going to be my next (or 2nd next after a zt770) purchase. really close to your $ limit though.
 
About the leek...had that one; too fragile for my kind of work. But it was a beaut and an EDC winner for sure!
 
fishface5 said:
I would have said Southard but you have tried it. So I'd be really interested in why the ones you have had so far didn't satisfy - and it might help refine the search. But what about:
Kershaw Skyline
Brous Bionic
Kizer Ki3401
Kizer Ki4450Ti1 Tigon
Kizer 4443TI2
ZT 0808
CRKT Outrage
Maxace Balance
Kershaw Strobe
CRKT Carajas
Boker Plus Griploc
Surefire Jekyll
Surefire Charlie
Viper 10
Buck Marksman (paint the handles whatever color you like)
Quartermaster QSE8 is above your price range but that slim slicer in Texas Tea finish sure looks nice. The owner is a weasel but they are good chinese knives in my experience.


And don't forget the joy of modding something that's close so that it's just how you want it

Like you could mod the blade length/shape of this sniper for a fun cheap project - it's already very close to what you want
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Boker-Plus-Orange-Sniper-Blade-Works-Flipper

If you can live without a flipper check out the Boker Mini Vanquish - just make some colored scales for it
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It's gonna take me most of a day to go through all these options...big bonus points to you sir! Some I've heard of: I'm all over the Outrage when it comes out, I owned the big Ki4450 and I'll talk more about the 0808 in another reply, but the rest will be fun to research. Thanks fishface!
 
Insipid Moniker said:
ZT 0808 springs to mind, though given typical ZT grinds you might want a regrind to get closer to slicer geometry.
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The 0808 is probably my next purchase, truthfully. My 0450 is the jewel of my collection, having been anodized blue, reprofiled to 15dps and mirror edge finished by Josh at REK. So why not get its brother, since I like it so much? I will indeed likely send it to Josh for a tune-up, so you read my mind sir!
 
dkb45 said:
Well there is the Kizer Ki4450Ti1, but that is at your price cap, checks most every box though. If you prefer the same knife but with G10 (colored too!) there is the Ki4450A2. That one comes in a couple of color options, and is well under $200. There is also the Hogue EX02 flipper. The Viper Keeper checks many boxes, and comes in multiple handle finishes, not a Wharncliffe, but the edge is pretty straight. Two things I cannot believe weren't mentioned yet were the CRKT Ripple and Eros.

Funny thing is I am looking for the same knife, but black handles are ok with me, so I was able to remember a lot of knives I had looked at.
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I'm definitely a Viper fan thanks to my sexy Dan2 CF, and will look the keeper up. Ripple and Eros would absolutely be contenders if not for their tip down only carry options. :(
 
Redhills said:
The Spyderco Delica 4 in Ti/Damascus is pretty close. The leaf blade has only a little belly. Mine is too stiff to flick open but I think I can fix that if I want to.
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I've elected to stay away from lock backs due to the difficulty in quickly and efficiently closing it with one hand. Liners and frame locks and even Axis locks are easier from my experience. But more power to those who love them!
 
flarp said:
ZT 0808... And if you want something other than plain Ti, USA Made Blade has some that they've anodized different colors for no additional charge. He's got a bronze one with blue backspacer right now. I think that it hits all the points you listed, and it comes in right at your $200 budget.

3.25" S35VN Wharncliffe-shaped blade. Length-wise, it is comparable to your 0770CF. Handle thickness is a hair thinner than your 0801, so it is reasonably hand-filling. The tip does have a good taper to it and has a strikes a good balance between fine and robust. The blade has a high flat grind. Blade thickness measures 3.9mm by my calipers (same as the 0801), so it is thicker and won't slice some materials as smoothly as the 0770CF (3mm blade thickness). It is a manual flipper with bearings, so action is incredibly smooth. It has a reversible clip for tip-up right and left side carry.

Here's some side by shots with the 0801 and 0770.

ZT0801_0808_0770CF_open_800x416.jpg


ZT0801_0808_0770CF_closed_800x493.jpg


ZT0801_0808_0770CF_length_800x460.jpg


ZT0801_0808_0770CF_thickness_800x485.jpg
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Wow flarp, thanks for the comparisons! Since I'm familiar with the other two it really gives me a good idea of the size. Like I mentioned above, it seems as though the 0808 is the winner of this particular race (largely thanks to you and the other contributors), but there's plenty more to come!
 
jfk1110 said:
How about an Al Mar sere, shrike or payara. Great knives. Also Spyderco Vallotin sub hilt is one of my top five. Lastly I'd say have a look at a Fallkniven PXL. Over your $ but it's a custom quality knife in a production model. So are the models I named above IMHO. Good luck with the search.
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Man, that Vallotton...there's so much that doesn't fall into the criteria I've mentioned, but every single time one comes up on the exchange my finger starts to creep towards the reply button to say I'll take it! I think I'm drawn to the bolsters and overall "classy switchblade" aesthetic. Pretty sure one day I'll just be unable to resist anymore!
 
CraigMang said:
Man, that Vallotton...there's so much that doesn't fall into the criteria I've mentioned, but every single time one comes up on the exchange my finger starts to creep towards the reply button to say I'll take it! I think I'm drawn to the bolsters and overall "classy switchblade" aesthetic. Pretty sure one day I'll just be unable to resist anymore!
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It's definitely a sexy beast of a knife. To me it looks like a traditional as well feeling solid as hell. It's unbelievably smooth as well . It just plain feels good in the hand. If you haven't held one you should try. The same for the Al Mar' s as well. Fit n finish is impeccable for production models. Also being in Florida, you can go for the ones modded to double action. Both.my sere and sub hilt were done by Mr. Vallotin and you would never know to look at them but man the scale release is wicked
 
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