Here are a few recommendations. First up, some others from the KAI lineup (ZT and Kershaw)...
Left to right: 0780, 0566, 0770, 0750, Skyline, OD-1, Zing, Blur, Shallot, Leek, Scallion (for reference)
The 0780, 0750, OD-1, and Zing are discontinued, but they can still be found on the secondary market. The 0780, Skyline, OD-1, and Zing are all manual flippers. The Blur is assisted, but it is thumb studs only (no flipper).
Next up, some Benchmades...
Left to right: 710, 940, Barrage, Griptilian, Mini-Barrage, Mini-Griptilian, Scallion (for reference)
The Barrage and Mini-Barrage are the only assisted ones of the lot.
Of the ZT's here, the 0770 and 0566 both see their fair share of time in my EDC rotation. They are mid-sized knives, but they ride as comfortably as more compact knives. The Skyline and Leek are among my most carried EDC knives overall. They are very compact and just disappear in pocket, and they excel at the quick and discrete utility cutting tasks, which make up the majority of my EDC cutting tasks. The Blur is one of my favorite knives to handle - very comfortable in hand, and my absolute favorite feel for any assisted-opening knife. I'm surprised I haven't worn through more torsion bars (actually, I've only broken one), given how much I incessantly flip it when I have it with me.
The only Benchmades that I carry regularly are a Mini-Grip (w/ custom Wilkins scales, not the standard scales pictured here) and the 940. The stock Mini-Grip scales are fine and functional, but the Wilkins scales transform it into something entirely different. Both the Barrages and the large Griptilian are rather bulky in pocket (you can see how thick they are in the pic with them closed). Whereas the 0770 and 0566 carry like more compact knives, these three seem to be the opposite. The fatter handles do, however, make the knife more comfortable to use if you're doing a lot of repeated and heavier cutting.
My top recommendations of these would be the Skyline, Leek, Mini-Grip, and 0770. If you're leaning towards the 0770, I'd suggest waiting for the CF version, which is close to release. Or, if you're like me and can't wait, get the aluminum handled one now, and then add the CF one when it's out.
Left to right: 0780, 0566, 0770, 0750, Skyline, OD-1, Zing, Blur, Shallot, Leek, Scallion (for reference)
The 0780, 0750, OD-1, and Zing are discontinued, but they can still be found on the secondary market. The 0780, Skyline, OD-1, and Zing are all manual flippers. The Blur is assisted, but it is thumb studs only (no flipper).
Next up, some Benchmades...
Left to right: 710, 940, Barrage, Griptilian, Mini-Barrage, Mini-Griptilian, Scallion (for reference)
The Barrage and Mini-Barrage are the only assisted ones of the lot.
Of the ZT's here, the 0770 and 0566 both see their fair share of time in my EDC rotation. They are mid-sized knives, but they ride as comfortably as more compact knives. The Skyline and Leek are among my most carried EDC knives overall. They are very compact and just disappear in pocket, and they excel at the quick and discrete utility cutting tasks, which make up the majority of my EDC cutting tasks. The Blur is one of my favorite knives to handle - very comfortable in hand, and my absolute favorite feel for any assisted-opening knife. I'm surprised I haven't worn through more torsion bars (actually, I've only broken one), given how much I incessantly flip it when I have it with me.
The only Benchmades that I carry regularly are a Mini-Grip (w/ custom Wilkins scales, not the standard scales pictured here) and the 940. The stock Mini-Grip scales are fine and functional, but the Wilkins scales transform it into something entirely different. Both the Barrages and the large Griptilian are rather bulky in pocket (you can see how thick they are in the pic with them closed). Whereas the 0770 and 0566 carry like more compact knives, these three seem to be the opposite. The fatter handles do, however, make the knife more comfortable to use if you're doing a lot of repeated and heavier cutting.
My top recommendations of these would be the Skyline, Leek, Mini-Grip, and 0770. If you're leaning towards the 0770, I'd suggest waiting for the CF version, which is close to release. Or, if you're like me and can't wait, get the aluminum handled one now, and then add the CF one when it's out.
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