whats the deal with enlan knives?

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My only experience with Experience with Enlan is the EL-01 which seems to be very well built. It's quite beefy for a liner lock and it flips like glass after playing with it a lot. It seems well worth the 10 or 12 bucks I paid.

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Here's a short video showing the strength of the detent and the smoothness of the action.

Some pics of mine:

Nice large flipper.


The thumb ramp takes a wave very well.



Very consistent quality. Locks up at virtually the same spot.


With perfect blade centering.


In the picture above, the knife in the middle is the EL-01B (all black), the coating on the spine was stripped from the wave mod. Notice that the scales are coated, as well as the all the hardware and clip, pretty neat detail, and all for an extra 50 cents or so.



Here it is next to a ZT0350. Though it compares better with the 0200 (large manual flipper with liner lock), I don't own one.


While the ZT's liner is slightly thicker, I have full confidence in this $10 knife.


I like to take apart these knives and clean them up before using. I don't like the grease and loctite they use. It does take a tiny bit of tuneup to get the flipper tension just right to be smooth with zero bladeplay; and if you use that as a criticism of Chinese quality, it was nothing compared to the work I had to do to get my Buck Vantage Pro (US made) to be smooth AND centered.

For those worried about that pivot. Its own pocket clip and some push pins works well as a custom wrench.

 
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Some sort of proof is pretty important when making such statements.
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I remember that Sal wrote that SRM makes some knives for Spyderco. Back then he didn't specify which model(s). Perhaps he mentioned Tenacious and Byrd series in another post. In any case, I am far too lazy to be googling for this post. If proof is so important to you, I can only recommend you the search exercise :p

Back to the heart of the matter: Enlan knives: I have an Enlan EL-01 and I had both EL-02 variants. For the price, they are remarkable. You can consider the very sturdy Enlan EL-01 as a ZT0200 for those with very little budget. On one of the EL-02s the axis lock was smoother to operate than on the other. In any case they are remarkable for the price.
Personally, I would recommend a starter on a low budget not to buy the Spyderco Tenacious or Byrd Cara Cara, and rather buy one of these Enlans of similar overal quality. The money saved makes a start for saving up to a more iconic Spyderco.
 
Dagon said:
I remember that Sal wrote that SRM makes some knives for Spyderco. Back then he didn't specify which model(s). Perhaps he mentioned Tenacious and Byrd series in another post. In any case, I am far too lazy to be googling for this post. If proof is so important to you, I can only recommend you the search exercise :p
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Everyone seems to remember someone saying something about some knives being made by SRM. So far no one has posted a link. I'm not saying that it's not true or can't be true, but if you're going to state such things then you should definitely have a link or some other proof to back it up. Personally, I don't even care as I don't waste my money on SRM, Enlan, Bee, or Navy products. I know alot of guys tout them, but they aren't for me. My concern is for the guys who are just getting into knives or just coming onto the forum and reading statements without any backup or proof and they take it as fact. I would love to see a list of knives that are produced by SRM for other companies such as Spyderco, Kershaw, Buck, and Benchmade. It seems that alot of what people "hear" is never backed up by a simple link to a post that states it in black and white from the companies or the men themselves.

It's absolutely possible that SRM produces some of these companies' less expensive knives, but it's not my job to go searching for the proof as I'm not the one stating these things. The guys who are writing this should post a link, plain and simple. Someone stating something as a rumor means nothing to me. Someone stating something as fact needs some sort of proof to back it up. If someone has links to posts that state these rumors as fact then please post them.
 
Everyone seems to remember someone saying something about some knives being made by SRM. So far no one has posted a link.
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To be precise, I recall very well that Sal wrote that SRM made some knives for him. It was in a rather long and typically boring thread about SRM. And as I said, I am too uninterested/lazy to spend an hour going through the archives to find it back for the comfort of someone else. I remember it well, and that is enough for me.
 
Tony8179 said:
Everyone seems to remember someone saying something about some knives being made by SRM. So far no one has posted a link. I'm not saying that it's not true or can't be true, but if you're going to state such things then you should definitely have a link or some other proof to back it up. Personally, I don't even care as I don't waste my money on SRM, Enlan, Bee, or Navy products. I know alot of guys tout them, but they aren't for me. My concern is for the guys who are just getting into knives or just coming onto the forum and reading statements without any backup or proof and they take it as fact. I would love to see a list of knives that are produced by SRM for other companies such as Spyderco, Kershaw, Buck, and Benchmade. It seems that alot of what people "hear" is never backed up by a simple link to a post that states it in black and white from the companies or the men themselves.

It's absolutely possible that SRM produces some of these companies' less expensive knives, but it's not my job to go searching for the proof as I'm not the one stating these things. The guys who are writing this should post a link, plain and simple. Someone stating something as a rumor means nothing to me. Someone stating something as fact needs some sort of proof to back it up. If someone has links to posts that state these rumors as fact then please post them.
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Good point. I found the link myself to tie the info to this thread.......

Www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/772286-your-opinion-of-sanrenmu-knives/page13

The gentleman did remember what Sal said pretty well. I didn't read the entire thread as its long, but on page 13 he does state srm made some spyderco and other for other companies listed earlier in the thread. This should tie that loose end up.
 
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This is exactly the post: www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthre...nion-of-Sanrenmu-Knives?p=8669234#post8669234

However, to put things on context, you'll need to read Sal's subsequent comment. Also he referred to SRM, not Enlan.

Some of us doesn't live in US, and by circumstance not able to afford major brands product. As such, these are good working knives at the price point.

For those that can afford Sebenza, Umnumzaan, Acies, good for you! No point getting lower quality if you can get better. Looking at Ankerson's video with his Elmax Demko is great!

To each his own.
 
Tony8179 said:
Everyone seems to remember someone saying something about some knives being made by SRM. So far no one has posted a link. I'm not saying that it's not true or can't be true, but if you're going to state such things then you should definitely have a link or some other proof to back it up. Personally, I don't even care as I don't waste my money on SRM, Enlan, Bee, or Navy products. I know alot of guys tout them, but they aren't for me. My concern is for the guys who are just getting into knives or just coming onto the forum and reading statements without any backup or proof and they take it as fact. I would love to see a list of knives that are produced by SRM for other companies such as Spyderco, Kershaw, Buck, and Benchmade. It seems that alot of what people "hear" is never backed up by a simple link to a post that states it in black and white from the companies or the men themselves.

It's absolutely possible that SRM produces some of these companies' less expensive knives, but it's not my job to go searching for the proof as I'm not the one stating these things. The guys who are writing this should post a link, plain and simple. Someone stating something as a rumor means nothing to me. Someone stating something as fact needs some sort of proof to back it up. If someone has links to posts that state these rumors as fact then please post them.
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I don't carry them myself, but I posted a link earlier.
 
OhShoot, yes it works now, I received an error previously.
So we can now hopefully leave speculation about SRM as an outsourcing partner behind us.
Anyway, this side discussion didn't refer to Enlan. For me, the deal is that the somewhat shark-like EL-01 and the two EL-02 variations are remarkabl convincing for the little money that they cost. Between the two EL-02 models, I slightly preferred the one with micarta handle over he G10 variant.
 
Yes, he Micarta is much more elegant, as you said yourself Dagon on youtube ;)

I dont have the G10 and not planning to get one either. The EL01 will be takin that hard use role :) wih the G10, solid grip, flat ground blade.
 
Well, after reading this thread, got to fooling around on eBay and got 4 coming, an Enlan, a Navy, and two SRM's.

Dang y'all, I was trying to cut back some.

- OS
 
If ive learned one thing about this addiction its that there are breaks far and few between, until one pops up enjoy the ride
 
I know this is an old thread but I was wondering what is the sharpening angle for an enlan el04. I have searched everywhere and haven't found it.
 
Tony8179 said:
Everyone seems to remember someone saying something about some knives being made by SRM. So far no one has posted a link. I'm not saying that it's not true or can't be true, but if you're going to state such things then you should definitely have a link or some other proof to back it up. Personally, I don't even care as I don't waste my money on SRM, Enlan, Bee, or Navy products. I know alot of guys tout them, but they aren't for me. My concern is for the guys who are just getting into knives or just coming onto the forum and reading statements without any backup or proof and they take it as fact. I would love to see a list of knives that are produced by SRM for other companies such as Spyderco, Kershaw, Buck, and Benchmade. It seems that alot of what people "hear" is never backed up by a simple link to a post that states it in black and white from the companies or the men themselves.

It's absolutely possible that SRM produces some of these companies' less expensive knives, but it's not my job to go searching for the proof as I'm not the one stating these things. The guys who are writing this should post a link, plain and simple.
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A link would be better, but if people remember are they really not supposed to say???

It's pretty clear that you have a prejudice against Chinese made knives: you call buying one "wasting money" but you don't provide any evidence of this. In fact, the EL01 I have is amazingly well made - the only criticism I have of it is that in inherits the fan boi pleasing idiocies of the XM18 it was modelled after (which I expected, I bought the knife as a joke.) But smoothness of action, lock-up, fit - they are exemplary.

The bottom line is that if SRM/Enlan is NOT producing knives for Spyderco and Benchmade, then there are at least TWO production lines capable of this quality of work in China rather than one! And why that other one wouldn't produce knives for sale under its own brand names is pretty mysterious....
 
Dylan07 said:
I know this is an old thread but I was wondering what is the sharpening angle for an enlan el04. I have searched everywhere and haven't found it.
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Whatever you want it to be, inside reason and if you the patience to establish a new apex angle. 15-30 dps suits most people and most uses.
 
Thanks a lot meanwhile. I never thought about just putting a new angle on it. i have a sharpmaker so if its really off it will take me a while as i dont have the diamond stones. Thanks.
 
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