What is a good ZDP 189 knife?

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Tiny86

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Mar 21, 2007
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I have been wanting to try a knife with a ZDP 189 blade. What knives come with ZDP? I don’t really know of very many. I am VERY tempted by the Stretch 2, the CF looks and feels great, but I don’t like the hole. What makes and models are out there with ZDP blades and a stud/disk?
I don’t have any preferences on size or cost yet because I don’t really know what is out there. But I would prefer a plain satin edge.


How dose ZDP hold up? From everything I have read it is Awesome. Is that pretty much true? How is sharpening it?
 
The Endura and Delicia are the cheapest Spydies. I would prefer a plain edge as well especially because ZDP is known for keeping a good fine edge.

The Caly 3 Carbon Fibre ZDP is one sexy beast with better geometry than the Endura/delicia. More cash though.

I saw this rather neat ZDP kitchen knife and it is only 163$










To bad it is out of stock.
 
William Henry uses ZDP189 but they're pricey. Kershaw has a couple of ZDP189 blades, IIRC (Leek & maybe another one?). They'll use a flipper or a thumb lug and may also be A/O. I'm sure there are others, but Kershaw has a really good rep and they'll be reasonably priced.
 
My Kershaw titanium handled Leek with its ZDP-189 blade is one of my favorite little knives, and is one of the knives I always carry, tucked away in the watch pocket of my jeans.

Don't know how hard it is to sharpen, because despite fairly constant use, it's still razor sharp :)
 
Tiny86 said:
I am VERY tempted by the Stretch 2, the CF looks and feels great, but I don’t like the hole.
Click to expand...

I've got the stretch2 and I love it. If you don't like the hole, that's too bad cause all spydies are like that. But the S2 is one of the smoothest actions I've felt.

But.... check out the Kershaw Mini cyclone in TI/ 189. It's very nice too. I love it. My Leek in 189 is awesome too.

And if you don't see zdp189 in the description, try S90V. It's the American equivilant to the Japanese version (189).

I haven't had any problems with the steel. No chips or anything yet. Yes, it takes a while to sharpen, but it'll take you a while to need to. ANd it takes a nice edge.
 
My everyday knife which has become a "beater" in the looks department is the original Spyderco Calypso Jr. in ZDP 189. Just an incredible cutting machine and an edge that holds extremely well.
 
For me, it's the Kershaw Mini Cyclone. Done up with a titanium frame lock handle, and clip placement allows for right-handed tip up carry. AO with a flipper or thumb stud is wickedly fast on the open. $ 150 at www.newgraham.com and in stock.

I like em so much, I've got 2! :D

SPX
 
Spydie Delica , or Cally III , in plain edge , dont hardly get better than that .

Chris
 
There are still ZDP Caly Jr.'s out there. They are around 60 and are great knives!
 
Wow some of you guys need ro re-read the mans post? He said that he DID NOT LIKE THE HOLE so that means no spydercos. I know thats hard to believe for you spyderco junkies that someone doesnt like the spyderhole but its true so deal with it. J/K

That leaves you with few options. Including Kershaw mini cyclone titanium framelock and the kershaw leek also titanium framelock. Most newer model william henrys are using zdp-189 or a 45 layers damascus layer zdp. Also a custom maker "yuna knives" is using zdp-189 laminated with ats-34.

The only folding knives that i know of that cost less then $200, use zdp-189, and dont have a opening hole are the kershaws.
 
There will be some repitition here, but IMO:

You're basically going to be stuck with a Spyderco, Kershaw or a William Henry. I don't think that any other companies are using the ZDP189.

Any of the Spydercos would do you well. But they all have the thumb hole, so if that is a turn off then you're out of luck here. I would highly recommend the Carbon Fiber Caly 3 though. Wonderful ergonomics and a great size (for me). It might make you change your mind on the hole. The Delica would be my other choice from Spyderco unless you want to spend the $$ on the Stretch.

William Henry knives are pretty expensive and I wouldn't expect them to hold up to much abuse. They are great knives and if you only need something for light office chores I think they would be just fine. I like the carbon fiber handled friction lock model that they make (name is escaping me at the moment).

Kershaw has the Leek and Mini Cyclone with the ZDP189. There have been complaints on the tip of the Leek being too easy to break on this model.

This leads me to the knife I'd recommend. The Mini Cyclone (Ti/ZDP). Nice sized knife, Ti frame lock, the ao feature can be turned on or off, flipper and thumb studs.

For the money, my faves are the Kershaw Mini Cyclone and the Spyderco Caly 3.


edit: Delkhouri beat me to the punch. I realize that the OP said he doesn't like holes, but I did too at one point. The CF/ZDP189 Caly 3 was THE knife that changed my mind. In the end I still recommend the Kershaw Mini Cyclone.
 
If you get a "base model" WH I think they'll hold up to light abuse/regular use just fine, just don't expect the ones with natural handle materials and damascus laminates to stay pristine looking. I'm not 100 percent sure since I haven't handled one in 5 years but I think they went to a new button lock, given their attention to quality I'd expect that to hold up better than the old linerlocks.
 
If you want to try the steel I would recommend the ZDP-189 Delica or Caly Jr. just because they are the most economical ways to get your hands on the steel.
Beyond that you probably want the Kershaw Mini-Cyclone in ZDP-189.
 
I have a ZDP mini cyclone...it's a great knife, I highly recommend it.:thumbup:

ZDP blade
Ti handle
on/off assisted opening
 
Just because of all the recommendations for the Caly Jr in ZDP 189

DSC00923.jpg
 
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