Which endura class

K

knife_nut73

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Jun 25, 2006
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Well after my recent military loss and my donation to a few soldiers in the military, I'm down to a....gerber paraframe. So I definatly need a new edc, especally since I don't trust the gerber and it seems ill tempered. I really like the endura 4 but not sure which one too order. Its going to be carried and used everyday, and definatly plain edge. I was trying to decide between the ZDP version, the waved, or the regular e4. I'm not gonna get another military cause everything it took to almost get it back, i don't think I'm suppose to get another. Are their any advantages to either of those 3 models or any different in construction? I like VG-10 but never tried that ZDP-189. Just looking for advice as anything is better then gerber right.
 
ZDP-189 is a supurb slicer. I don't know how well it handles harder use (Have to wait till Yab gets a ZDP Mule :D ).

VG-10 is a great mainstay of Spyderco's lineup. Above average stainless properties with excellent edge retention. It also produces an exceptionally fine edge.

If I had to pick between the two, I'd go with the ZDP. I've got a millie for the harder stuff. What happened to yours?
 
knife_nut73 - I have the same Gerber, somewhere. I can't remember where I put it and I don't miss it. If you like the slicing ability of the military, but want an Endura I would recomend the foliage green FFG E4. It's VG-10, full flat grind so it slices well and it doesn't have the splinter picker tip of the millie.

Regarding the differences of ZDP189 to VG-10. I think Deacon said it best ZDP takes three times longer to sharpen, but you only have to sharpen a third as often as VG-10. I have three knives in ZDP189 and I love it, I have had my CF CalyIII for more than a year and have not had to do more than a touch-up so far, and I carry it at least 80% of the time.

If you want ZDP in and Endura you could always get the FRN ZDP E4 and depending on how you like the stock grind you can send it to Tom Krein for a FFG and have a really tough knife that performs somehwat similar to a millie.

Let us now what you choose, there is no wrong choice:)
 
knife_nut73 said:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=650622

Theirs the whole saga. A hell of a journey.


Can the ZDP handle minor abuse? Not that I intend to abuse a folder but wondering cutting stuff like zip ties or other stuff.
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I've never been afraid to cut anything with ZDP. This includes zip ties, heavy irigation tubing, etc.. I don't have heavy EDC use (I'm just a RE Appraiser) but I'm pretty sure Yab has cut lots of heavy stuff and used his ZDP knives hard.

Hopefully he'll chime in here. He can give you a better understanding of hard use ZDP performance.
 
zdp can handle a lot of abuse,
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ive posted this before, anyway, this delica has gone through a lot of punishment, for about 1 year and a half, used in constructions, on all kinds of knife and non knife jobs, kinds of jobs and ways of using it i would never do, like prying, sharpening on cement scraping dirt, that why i gave it to this worker, who used it like an ordinary 2 bucks screwdriver, with no care whatsoever.
hope this helps
 
An endura is a well made knife, but the G10 endura is a step above. If you are going to carry and use it daily, carry the finest.
 
mrappraisit said:
Regarding the differences of ZDP189 to VG-10. I think Deacon said it best ZDP takes three times longer to sharpen, but you only have to sharpen a third as often as VG-10.
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I would say it takes about twice as long to reprofile. If you just maintain the edge, the whole thing isn't nearly as bad as it sounds.

I have a ZDP E4, and I love it. It did take a while to profile it. I used the DMT Aligner with the 6x2 XC stone to set the edge.

I use my DMT Fine to maintain and keep a shaving-sharp edge. I cut boxes, and it gets dull to the point where it won't catch my nail worth crap anymore. I guess it's not super dull; it will still cut paper, although it won't push-cut at all. Anyway, I take it back to my F stone, and I can have it shaving-sharp again in about 10 minutes.

Really, the whole sharpening of ZDP isn't that scary. I do sharpen my knives after every use, though.

mrappraisit said:
I have three knives in ZDP189 and I love it, I have had my CF CalyIII for more than a year and have not had to do more than a touch-up so far, and I carry it at least 80% of the time.
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It depends how much you use it, and on what, though. I carry my ZDP E4 every single day, but I use it maybe once a week to tear down boxes. That, to me, requires a sharpening after every use. Some people don't mind their knives going dull for longer, so they will say that "I haven't needed to sharpen for 6 months."
 
THG said:
It depends how much you use it, and on what, though. I carry my ZDP E4 every single day, but I use it maybe once a week to tear down boxes. That, to me, requires a sharpening after every use. Some people don't mind their knives going dull for longer, so they will say that "I haven't needed to sharpen for 6 months."
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Or what I call a touch up you call a sharpening? I actually touch it up about once every 10 days+/-. Either way, if you properly set the edge with ZDP it stays sharp for a LONG time, enjoy.
 
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I recommend the ZDP model, and preferably reground to a FFG by Tom Krein if you can swing it. I believe Yab has used his Krein reground ZDP 189 Endura to great effect on his hard duty job of cutting he crap out of drywall, and that is with a .010" edge. With the factory grind you ill have no problems at all.

Sharpening is not a big deal if you have the right stones. On my ZDP 189 Endura it only took a couple minutes to thin the angle from 16 per side to 10 per side with a DMT XX Coarse. After you get a backbevel like that set in you can just microbevel at say 15 degrees and it only takes a couple minutes to get full sharpness out of ZDP 189 or any other steel once you get proficient. Micro bevel sharpening pretty much makes all premium steels about equal in sharpening time since you are only working a tiny strip of steel rather than the full bevel. Yes, it takes a bit longer to reprofile it, or a lot longer to reprofile it if you use too fine of an abrasive, but with proper sharpening stones reprofiling ZDP-189 or any other steel is not hard to do. That little bit of extra effort is worth it to me to get the great edge quality (sharpness, retention, ability to hold thin angles) that ZDP-189 offers you that VG-10 just can't offer. Don't get me wrong, I really like VG-10 and use it extensively, but I will take ZDP-189 every time if you give me the choice between VG-10 and ZDP-189.

Mike
 
shunsui said:
Tough call. There's also the Pacific Salt in H1.
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That is another great knife with a better cutting grind than the Endura 4 and is completely rustproof. It is even lighter than the Endura 4, but has a very blunt tip. I ended up getting mine reground by Tom Krein to a FFG with a very pointy tip and I love it. In SE H1 will have about equal edge retention to VG-10, in PE it will be behind VG-10 until it work hardens as you use it and sharpen it. The Salt series make tremendous users without ever worrying about them corroding.

Mike
 
I'd prefer the flat grind on the G-10 versions, but nothing's wrong with a ZDP Endura, IMHO. I currently only have a PE Delica in ZDP, but absolutely love it (Can't wait for my CF Stretch 2 ZDP to come in!).

If it's going to be your only folder, I'd get the ZDP Endura & send it to Tom Krien for his flat grind magic. You'll have a heck of a slicer & I've found ZDP to be tough enough. I had a Lum Chinese (Flat grind ZDP) & only got rid of it because it doesn't have a finger guard of any kind (It was a user, though).

However, if you want a quick opening Endura, then I'd highly recommend the waved Endura. Put the clip on so that the wave's forward & you'll have your own "Poor man's" P'Kal. Plus, waves work better going forward because of most pants pockets slanting upward towards the front.

Of course, if rust resistance is the most important thing, then get one of H1 Salts.

Good luck with whatever you get.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I'm leaning more towards the ZDP version I think as I could always zip tie it for quick opening(ghetto wave) and I was always amazed at the D2 military slicing abilty. Never ever had a knife that could slice like that. I'm hopeing to be able to order one soon assuming I have all my fingers after carrying this paraframe. The clip is loose, the thumb stud, and blade play so I have to treat it like a slip joint somewhat. Plus side, is those guys got their good knives and its probably a lot easier for me to get a new one then it is for them to.
 
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