Zaan as a hard use edc?

Wow....johnnytoxin.....that was really helpful and productive.

You should go help others with your wise and sage advice.

There's always gotta be that one guy...that one pompous ass who just needs to over simplify a legit question.

Perhaps my question wasn't explicit enough for you?

While I don't plan to remove "manhole covers" I do want a blade that can handle more then a basic blade can handle in terms of torque. I also was wondering what other blades/brands/models the zaan would be comparable too.

It's not something I do all the time but I can be a little harder in my knives then some.

I hope that helps to clarify things.
 
Ugh...

These types of questions will always devolve to the point where someone says something they shouldn't.
The main issue as I see it is that you are oversimplifying a complex subject.

1) define the "basic blade" that you are referring to. Throw out a brand and model or at least give some idea of the dimensions of it.
2) What kind of torque are you talking about? How much force and where at on the blade.
3) What knives do you typically use "hard" and what is considered hard? Varying degrees of hard depending on the user..

I know one user who does use his knives harder than me and for alot more than I would..IIRC, The Aflac Duck The Aflac Duck tends to be that great example.
If we are nice, he may post a pic of some of his users along with some insight.

From my own perspective, applying torsional stress to any blade is a common sense thing.. If you are going to whittle some wood, it would be fine. Going back to the statement I made earlier in this thread about using the right tool is still going to apply when common sense fails. When in doubt, get the right tool out.

One last thing.
We are not good with sarcasm and borderline attacks on one another. You are discussing your desire for knowledge..that's great..we can help with that if there is enough information to do so..but discuss the knives or subject matter and not each other.
 
I've used my 25 to break down thorn bushes about 3 inches thick while stuck in a dence section of woods, lightly battened firewood, and most notably used the pivot end (while closed) to punch out an already cracked windshield to escape an overturned car. All of these however were unplanned situations, but the knife remains perfect through a combination of build strength and luck. Each of those tasks has specific tools but the 25 was all I had. She's strong but I won't push more than I need to.
 
Razamataz1976 said:
Wow....johnnytoxin.....that was really helpful and productive.

You should go help others with your wise and sage advice.

There's always gotta be that one guy...that one pompous ass who just needs to over simplify a legit question.

Perhaps my question wasn't explicit enough for you?

While I don't plan to remove "manhole covers" I do want a blade that can handle more then a basic blade can handle in terms of torque. I also was wondering what other blades/brands/models the zaan would be comparable too.

It's not something I do all the time but I can be a little harder in my knives then some.

I hope that helps to clarify things.
Click to expand...

Ok I will put the sarcasm aside. If you care to carry on the conversation, please give me an example of what you expect your folding knife to be able to pry. What situation will you be in (excluding life or death) that you would willingly subject your cutting tool to forces it was not designed for?
 
Simply put- I wouldn't. That was never the question I asked. I simply wanted to know where the zaan ranks as compared to other "hard use" knives like the hinderer xm-18 or strider or (insert usual suspects here) I just want the closest thing to a fixed blade in a folder that I can edc. Does such a thing exist? No. But I want as close to it with the limitations I just gave as possible.

The zaan is a amazing and well constructed piece of kit. I almost feel like it's simplistic design works against it in some aspects as it looks like it wouldn't take the beating some of the afore mentioned knives would.
 
As for usage, the biggest amount of prying would be from separating small strips of wood from a log for camp fire....busting open those God for saken children's toy plastic ties that they weld to the box, cutting just doesn't work...ya gotta get in under the plastic and twist/cut to bust em open.

I hope that helps
 
I pry with both my folders and my fixed blade I just don't bring it up because someone will have a smart comment. I don't carry a pry bar because that would likely need to reside on my key chain (odd shape) which in the situations where I'm prying I won't have my car keys. I generally only pry staples and small wood tacks and my knife is fine just like all the others before them. I've also used my folder to dig which people here don't much are for either and I'll continue to use them both in that manner when needed.
 
Razamataz1976 said:
As for usage, the biggest amount of prying would be from separating small strips of wood from a log for camp fire....busting open those God for saken children's toy plastic ties that they weld to the box, cutting just doesn't work...ya gotta get in under the plastic and twist/cut to bust em open.

I hope that helps
Click to expand...

I would consider these light duty prying tasks. When you use the terms "hard use" and "prying" in the same post, the above mentioned tasks don't exactly come to mind, at least not to me. I jumped the gun with the sarcasm and I apologize for it. I've been around here for a number of years and in most posts like this the user is wanting to pry open a car door with his folder. The umnumzaan shouldn't be affected at all by the tasks you mentioned.
 
All good johnny...I maybe should have been more clear from the get go. A lot of my questions stem from me using both a griptillion and a pm2 and having both bust on me doing what I felt were pretty simple tasks. In both cases I was twisting/prying into wood to split it apart...(not splitting a log just to be clear) more like a 3" thick or less piece of wood being split for kindling....

Hope that makes sense. At this point I think this question has been more or less answered and I don't want to waste anyone's time. But I thank everyone for there feedback!!
 
Almost any quality folder will hold up to constant use. If the knife fails, you bought junk.

The best thing about any CRK is that you have a great company that will stand behind their product. You can easily get any part of the knife replaced and they disassemble/reassemble so easily.

My Zaan has seen a lot of use. I don't know what constitutes "hard use", but mine was capable of digging out a bunch of spray foam from a masonry gap (please don't ask). A lot of prying, poking, twisting, and scraping was involved here. I just took the knife apart and scraped off the foam with a razor blade, sharpened it, and it was good as new.

If your "hard use" breaks a quality folder, you need different tools.

E0107690-BCA3-4AA4-8A13-4DB04FB41A79_zps0us5ptzd.jpg
 
A hard use knife must be able to:

1) Be thrown at trees to make it stick in the tree
2) cutting cans
3) prying lids and all sorts of stuff..

Otherwise it is just like any other cheap folding knife. which they are! Only thing it is hard on is the pocket book.
 
colubrid said:
A hard use knife must be able to:

1) Be thrown at trees to make it stick in the tree
2) cutting cans
3) prying lids and all sorts of stuff..

Otherwise it is just like any other cheap folding knife. which they are! Only thing it is hard on is the pocket book.
Click to expand...

Where's that "dislike" button?
 
Because of this thread, and others, and not wanting to wait for the lead time for an inkosi insingo ordered from the mother ship, I ordered a tanto 'zaan this week from KA. It is my second 'zaan, and now the 3rd CRK in my collection. I sold off the first 'zaan after I just couldn't get the hang of opening it.

I'm loving this knife! After about 20 minutes on the sharpmaker, it's ready to run.

Hopefully the OP has decided on a 'zaan... they are worth it.
 
Dig mud out of ur tire treads or boots, baton with it, use the back swedge to scrape...USE THAT BEAST!! NEVER pry with it or use it as a screwdriver, but whatever knifey needs you have, rest assured that ur zaan is up for it!
I love how easy it is to disassemble, clean, maintain- just a pivot & back spacer screws!

Weird how many posts are about prying with a KNIFE(?)!
Grab a friggin $5 Gerber shard if u want something handy, small, and PURPOSE BUILT for prying!
 
BoilerUp17 said:
I've used my 25 to break down thorn bushes about 3 inches thick while stuck in a dence section of woods, lightly battened firewood, and most notably used the pivot end (while closed) to punch out an already cracked windshield to escape an overturned car. All of these however were unplanned situations, but the knife remains perfect through a combination of build strength and luck. Each of those tasks has specific tools but the 25 was all I had. She's strong but I won't push more than I need to.
Click to expand...

You sir, live a more exciting life than I.
 
Razamataz, from the initial post I understand you have an Umnumzaan. I challenge you to use it hard this week. What better way to find out if it will stand up your "hard use". My guess is it will exceed your expectations. Put it in your pocket, use it, and update us all next week.
 
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