Time to upgrade but can't decide

4

41milesout

Joined
Aug 12, 2012
Messages
137
Hey everyone,
I have been creeping on this forum for quite awhile but this is my first post. I have finally decided to upgrade from my Kershaw brawler. The knife has served me well but i want something a little more quality. Im really looking for a knife that can stay with me for many years and i just don't think my 25 dollar brawler is up to that. I have whittled the list down to two options. The emerson a100 full sized and the zt0350. I want a sharp that is an all around knife up to most tasks. I like these knives because they are hard use and they both seem to have great customer service. But I'm stuck. I can't decide between these two. I would love to get feedback from everyone here. I am by no means an expert. But any advice would be much appreciated. Please help me spend my money!!!
 
They are very different knives, has to be based on what you do most with knives. Want some straight edge and ability to choke up on the blade? Fall in love with the flipper and looks of the ZT?
 
the problem is I can see the positives of both knives. Are their any glaring negatives of them? Thanks for the insight.
 
Only you can truly determine any positive and negatives abut any knife. If you like a design, read about it, search for reviews on youtube, read reviews made here, search the forums. One mans "not so good" might be another mans "more than enough".
 
That Emerson A100 and the A100 mini are classics. It's a great all arounder that should serve you well. The ZT0350 seems heavy and chunky by comparison. It's pretty wide for EDC pocket carry IMO. The slight re-curve in blade shape makes it an agressive cutter but you have to consider your sharpening system as well.
All this is a matter of personal opinion. Suggest you try to determine what the most important 4-5 criteria in an EDC are to YOU and come back asking for suggestions that meet those requirements. It might introduce you to knives you never would have seen otherwise.
Or, look at the EDC knives with the biggest followings here and you'll quickly see there's good reason for that. When buddies are looking for a good first knife I always recommend either a Spyderco Endura/Delica or a Benchmade Griptillain. Either will serve most users very well in a variety of tasks for a long time, and if they really get into knives, will still make a great car console extra.
 
im looking for hard use and some self defense capabilities. I also want solid steel. The knife has to be all around good at most tasks.
 
You'll get that out of many knives...

More detail on your preferences would be good.

Budget?
What length blade?
Blade shape?
Lock type?
Opening type?
Steel type?
Handle style and materials?
 
41milesout said:
im looking for hard use and some self defense capabilities. I also want solid steel. The knife has to be all around good at most tasks.
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Para 2. I was skeptical even as I was buying it, but it is an awesome blade. Honestly a great size, amazing edge retention, ease of sharpening, s30v steel, and the blade follows the line of your hand. Has multiple grips, is well designed for both work and defense, deploys AND closes fast. Plus you can change out the scales whenever ya want, and the compression lock is stronger than a liner lock.

The thing is, you don't want to fall into the mindset that you need a TANK. You might be dismissing some knives that are pretty rugged and thick like the Para 2(3.5mm thickness) because you want something overbuilt. However when you buy something that big, you're buying durability over slicing capability, which means you're going to have trouble with fine tasks. I would suggest a 3mm-4mm thick knife, with a flat grind if possible. That will leave you with some great cutting ability but will also be a very strong tool. Remember, these aren't old school barlows, schrades, cases. They won't snap, break, be sharpened down to nubs within a few years. I don't think I've ever seen a knife with a newer type of steel sharpened much past the original grind point unless that's specifically what they wanted.
 
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I have a 0350 and its an aggressive cutter, and so far like the steel quite a lot.

If you don't mind the recurve, that would be my choice.
 
I have heard a lot about the para 2 but spyderco has never appealed to me. Im not a big fan of the leaf shaped blades. Im looking for a blade between 3.25 and 3.75 inches. And less than 200 dollars.

co556guy: how do you like your 350 all around? does the handle fit your hand well? how is it, in your opinion as an edc?

Thanks for the help everyone.
 
41milesout said:
I have heard a lot about the para 2 but spyderco has never appealed to me. Im not a big fan of the leaf shaped blades. Im looking for a blade between 3.25 and 3.75 inches. And less than 200 dollars.

co556guy: how do you like your 350 all around? does the handle fit your hand well? how is it, in your opinion as an edc?

Thanks for the help everyone.
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I'm a big guy, with big hands. I also wear jeans daily, so take that into consideration.

It's wider (going with the pocket material, not perpendicular, if that makes sense), than my other blades, and it's a bit heaver. However, I don't find that to be a deal breaker for me. It's about as thick, or marginally thinner than my griptillian, but the G10 is much grippier. The clip is very authoritative, and I doubt it would fly out unless deliberately pulled out of the pocket.

As for the grip, it is the beefiest grip on a folder that I own. However, I like a big grip as I have big hands, which is where I accept the trade of size/weight for more positive grip. Might be too much if you have your hands in and out of your pockets a lot though.......

The only downside, if you can call it that, for EDC, is the blade has a rather profound recurve. Therefore it could be difficult to sharpen unless you have the proper tools.

The steel is good, came sharp, and I like the flipper. It's my favorite folder, and I am afraid that it might have sparked a ZT/kershaw interest that I have been trying to avoid.
 
41milesout said:
... Im not a big fan of the leaf shaped blades. Im looking for a blade between 3.25 and 3.75 inches. And less than 200 dollars.
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There's so many good ones out there that fit that broad of category, I suggest you add a few categories to narrow it down. That might be looking at knives with a specific lock (axis, liner, frame, compression), or made out of a certain frame material (titanium, aluminum, g10, etc.)
Honestly, anything that's been mentioned here will be a big step up and you'll likely be happy with it for a while. If you get something that purpose specific, you'll likely be adding another more all around EDC sooner rather than later (not necessarily a bad thing.) But, I'd encourage you to get something that you'll comfortably carry and use every day.
If you think you'd like the 350, I'd look at the ZT0550 as well. It's on my own short list and can be found in your price range. Plus, you can swap scales anytime you want. Should make a great tough EDC.
 
thanks for all the input. the zt 350 may be winning out right now. I have heard some bad things about emerson fit and finish.
 
41milesout said:
I have heard a lot about the para 2 but spyderco has never appealed to me. Im not a big fan of the leaf shaped blades. Im looking for a blade between 3.25 and 3.75 inches. And less than 200 dollars.
Click to expand...
The 0350 gets my vote if you're choosing strictly between that and the A100. For about $160 ($20 more than the 0350), you can get the ZT 0200, which is a bit bigger than the 0350 and it has a manual flipper deployment. I love mine and carry it with me everywhere I can. People say it's too big and heavy, but it practically disappears in my pocket.
 
I'd choose the 550 over the 350, personally. Something about the 350 just left me wanting more. But my favorite in your price range is the HTM Gun Hammer. You can find that for under 200, and it's a mid-tech knife, not a production knife. I just put up a review of the slightly more expensive M390 version in the HTM subforum. It's my all-around favorite knife.
 
does anyone have any insight on the A100? the simplicity is extremely appealing and i like that its a no frills edc.
 
I've never owned the A100 but I've handled one when choosing between it and a Benchmade 940. Liked it but went with the 940 and it's still one of my favorite near perfect EDCs. Thought about your question today reading through post: this forum post. There's lots of great ideas from CRK owners on their favorite EDCs under $200.
 
I think a CQC7 is a good knife. Also the 0350 ZT. Either one will last you and serve you well for many years. Of course, all of us thought the same thing...many knives ago.
Welcome to the struggle...for the Grail knife.
Sonny
 
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