tip strength

A

audiopile

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Nov 2, 2007
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From the get go -I will freely acknoledge (spl much) that every quality knife from any maker I have ever purchased new came with the warning "Cut -don't pry" somewhere in the instructions. I pry -I routinly pry. Maybe not every day -but at least once or twice a week and some days -5 or 6 times in a day.I'm gentle when i pry -but I pry. Over the last 50 years - I have averaged a brocken tip about every 6 or 7 years.Feel dumb every time.
I carried a 1580 BOA as a EDU for 5 or 6 straight years - pryed -didn't break the tip off.if you look at the tip on this design from the top -you'll see it's pretty beefy.
Now to the question: I've got a couple of Mini-cy TiZDP's sitting here and a SG-2 blur - both are equipped with wonder steel blades (ZDP-189 and SG-2 ) - both have relativly tapered to slim points when viewed from above.Would I be a complete fool to consider using one of these designs as a EDC/EDU given anticipated abuse (prying). Particularly with the SG-2 - is it tough enough to be the equivalent of a roughly 2 to 3 times thicker piece of material in a early edition of a BOA (440? steel?)
 
Excuse me for prying, but why do you want to pry with a cutting tool? :D

All kidding aside, I think either would withstand a little light prying activities. A friend once borrowed my MC Ti/ZDP, and when I handed it to him, he proceeded to jimmy open a lock on a boiler room door :eek: That's the last time I've offered my knife to someone that wanted a small crowbar...

If you pry on a fairly regular basis, Steve (STR) makes an excellent Ti mini pry bar...check out his thread, you'll like what you see.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529076
 
Love the honesty. Complete fool...not entirely.

SG2 tough, personally, I've never found it to be.
 
Audiophile,
If prying is something you do on a regular basis, for the love of God, man, get yourself a prybaby!!!:D That little sucker will fit easily in your pocket or on a keychain, and you can spare those beautiful Kershaw sprint run blades, and in the process save them for their true calling.........SLICING!!;)

Seriously, the prybaby is a great little tool.

Cheers,
Jon
 
Don't forget wonder/super steel generally refers (at least in this case) to the ability to take a very fine edge and hold it a very long time with minimal wear. It does not refer to resistance to being bent or snapped.

I'll agree with everyone else, pick up a prybaby or one of STR's prySTR's for prying things and save the blades for cutting things.
 
What jonnymac44 said, I have the termite which is really similar to the prybaby - (same maker), pocket carry it and use it regularly, will break the tip prying habit and save your knife. I have seen the prySTR in other threads and hear nothin but good as well.
 
I pry sometimes too, but I do it with the nail file tip of my sac(wouldn't miss it much if it would break off), or with the bottle opener on my keychain.

I only use the tip of my knives in more emergency like situations where I haven't got other tools to use. (Happened only once that I can remember)
 
Particularly with the SG-2 - is it tough enough to be the equivalent of a roughly 2 to 3 times thicker piece of material in a early edition of a BOA (440? steel?)
Click to expand...

No, it is many times weaker. Thinner is always weaker.
 
:cool:...I mentioned in another thread how happy I am with the SG2 Blur and what a terrific edge it came to me with. It so far has shown to be a fantastic slicer of virtually anything I've placed under it. There is also no possible way anyone could convince me to use that blade as a pry bar. It doesn't look like a pry bar and will not hold up if used as a pry bar. It's made to cut and good Lord does it ever...:thumbup:
 
honestly if you're confident in your boa's tip, stick with that. If you're not confident that your blade will hold up to the task, don't ask your blade to do it. If you only want to go the one-knife route, you may be able to get someone (I'd ask STR, but not guarantees) to fab a prybar clip for your knife. ta-da! I'm sure its doable.
 
SPXTrader said:
Excuse me for prying, but why do you want to pry with a cutting tool? :D

If you pry on a fairly regular basis, Steve (STR) makes an excellent Ti mini pry bar...check out his thread, you'll like what you see.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot! :p All I was doing was innocently browsing the Kershaw forum, and now I just sent Steve $90 for 4 of his prySTRs. :D Keep up the good work. :)
 
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