Please help me pick my first mid grade/high end knife

lovenhim · **Reply #30 on:** October 03, 2011, 05:46:55 PM

You are right, I do want a taste of high end knives to see what makes them better than what I have. I mean I have a Leatherman E series with 154CM, but it feels cheap because of its handles.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #31 on:** October 03, 2011, 11:08:28 PM

Quote from: GraysonK on October 03, 2011, 01:30:31 PM

I don't have one (yet) but I've done a lot of reading and asking. The Sage is definitely one that I'm going to get at some point and I have been jonesing for the Spyderco Caly 3 for a LONG time. I LOVE the look of that knife and as much as it pains me to say this, Nutnfancy gives a fantastic reveiw of the Caly 3. It is a beautiful, functional knife and I cannot wait to get my hands on one. Good luck with the search. And just to throw another idea in the mix, the Buck 110 has been around as long as it has for a reason. It's not one hand opening, but really it's a SOLID knife. Happy hunting!

Be careful of the carbon fiber Caly 3... I watched a review about it on YouTube and the poster indicated it was constructed with rivets, rather than screws, so it can't be disassembled... that's a big turn off for me. If I'm going to spend that much on a knife, I want it to be completely serviceable.

I agree with Super, I have yet to find a SOG that appeals to me. As above, if I'm going to spend that kind of cash on a knife, I want more than FRN for the scales.

jzmtl · **Reply #32 on:** October 04, 2011, 12:29:21 AM

There's no user serviceable parts inside a folding knife, able to disassemble is quite overrated. On caly 3 the pivot is screw but handles are riveted together, so you can still clean the pivot if you get crap in there.

asupernothing · **Reply #33 on:** October 04, 2011, 04:38:01 AM

I'm also not sure what kind of service one would perform on a caly3 that would require taking it apart?
But in any case, yes it is riveted. Still its a very nice knife and I do carry it quite a bit.
The Caly3 competes with my 940 for pocket time. Though lately I have been carrying a 741 more and more.
Oh and I carry the 915 to work.

Occasionally my 890 sneaks back into the rotation...

In all honesty I think I am just jonesing for the new 806 to get to the door. After I get a few of those I am going to try to go the rest of the year without any more folders. I gotta get some nice kitchen knives.

jekostas · **Reply #34 on:** October 04, 2011, 05:01:02 AM

Quote from: asupernothing on October 04, 2011, 04:38:01 AM

I'm also not sure what kind of service one would perform on a caly3 that would require taking it apart?

Cleaning. Especially if it gets wet. Especially especially if gets wet in salt water.

Styerman · **Reply #35 on:** October 04, 2011, 05:16:29 AM

ZT is about as good as Production cutlery gets , the higher end Spyderco's are great . Benchmade has some nice offerings , they just don't turn my crank .

Chris

asupernothing · **Reply #36 on:** October 04, 2011, 05:32:14 AM

Quote from: jekostas on October 04, 2011, 05:01:02 AM

Quote from: asupernothing on October 04, 2011, 04:38:01 AM
I'm also not sure what kind of service one would perform on a caly3 that would require taking it apart?

Cleaning. Especially if it gets wet. Especially especially if gets wet in salt water.

Valid point. I am usually far away from salt water, so I tend to forget that its around...

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #37 on:** October 04, 2011, 06:39:57 AM

Quote from: Styerman on October 04, 2011, 05:16:29 AM

ZT is about as good as Production cutlery gets , the higher end Spyderco's are great . Benchmade has some nice offerings , they just don't turn my crank .

Chris

I've looked at several of the Benchmades, and they certainly seem like very nice knives, but the just don't speak to me the way most Spydercos do...

jekostas · **Reply #38 on:** October 04, 2011, 06:52:16 AM

Quote from: Styerman on October 04, 2011, 05:16:29 AM

ZT is about as good as Production cutlery gets , the higher end Spyderco's are great . Benchmade has some nice offerings , they just don't turn my crank .

Chris

ZT makes awesome knives, but only if you like really, really big knives. I work in an office. I'd be getting weird looks if I carried one clipped to my suit pants. Something like a Benchmade Nagara? Maybe not. Different strokes for different folks.

Jmora · **Reply #39 on:** October 04, 2011, 07:42:30 AM

the Fällkniven knives are pretty nice, many but not all of the nicer ones are out of your suggested price range, but you might like the style. Some are OHO and they use a powder steel, so it would give you a chance to see what the big deal is about high end steels. the ivory micarta pxl is the prettiest I think.

jzmtl · **Reply #40 on:** October 04, 2011, 11:10:44 AM

Also to consider is something not so mainstream, I've been drooling over a Mcusta for a while now but never pulled the trigger.

Jmora · **Reply #41 on:** October 04, 2011, 11:44:53 AM

Mcusta also came to mind for me, the damasteel ones look really cool.
Böker make some nice looking higher end knives, like the supreme, I don't know anthing about it, but it looks cool and is reassuringly expensive

jzmtl · **Reply #42 on:** October 04, 2011, 02:05:55 PM

Yeah, while there are a few Boker tree I like, can't afford those German labor rates!

Styerman · **Reply #43 on:** October 04, 2011, 03:18:12 PM

Al Mar and Moki are also superb . Al Mar makes very slim designs , great slicers , and are better made than some customs .

Chris

lovenhim · **Reply #44 on:** October 05, 2011, 01:08:39 AM

Tell me somethin', are Kershaw Zero Tolerance knives overkill, overpriced, or are they worth it for a high end knife? They seem to me to be overkill and not a good value for money....am I wrong?

MeadMaker · **Reply #45 on:** October 05, 2011, 03:06:29 AM

I'm in the same boat as the OP. The blade on my MT takes care of my daily needs, but I've decided to get a dedicated blade and want to get a decent one, but not one with an extravagant price. After spending a lot of time reading a looking at knives I've decided on a Kershaw Blur, possibly with the S30V blade.

It has gotten very good reviews and comes with a solid warranty. The look is modern without being too tactical. The price point makes the Blur a good value too.

jekostas · **Reply #46 on:** October 05, 2011, 03:18:32 AM

Quote from: lovenhim on October 05, 2011, 01:08:39 AM

Tell me somethin', are Kershaw Zero Tolerance knives overkill, overpriced, or are they worth it for a high end knife? They seem to me to be overkill and not a good value for money....am I wrong?

The ZT lines of knives are awesome, fantastic quality knives and they won't do you wrong. But they are freaking huge knives, every single piece.

Styerman · **Reply #47 on:** October 05, 2011, 04:18:10 AM

Quote from: lovenhim on October 05, 2011, 01:08:39 AM

Tell me somethin', are Kershaw Zero Tolerance knives overkill, overpriced, or are they worth it for a high end knife? They seem to me to be overkill and not a good value for money....am I wrong?

If you have those type of requirements , they are reasonably priced in relation to quality . The 200 is a sleeper . The 350 is probably the best for EDC .

As to them being overkill , depends on your needs . If you have to play ruff , they won't let you down .

Chris

lovenhim · **Reply #48 on:** October 05, 2011, 09:32:51 PM

Thank you all for the help. I am simply trying to learn as I do not know....and I know that folks here will lead me right.

I do know this that legally I can not have a knife with a blade larger than 3.5inches if I want to carry it.

2xTap · **Reply #49 on:** October 05, 2011, 11:10:48 PM

Quote from: lovenhim on October 05, 2011, 01:08:39 AM

Tell me somethin', are Kershaw Zero Tolerance knives overkill, overpriced, or are they worth it for a high end knife? They seem to me to be overkill and not a good value for money....am I wrong?

Well, for what you get they ain't overpriced in most respects. Not overkill but could be classified as slightly overbuilt for most of their intended purpose. But all in all extremely well made with great materials. I've been carrying a knife in one form or another for going on over 30 years now. I own hundreds of knives of all kinds and makes......of more modern designs I have Spydies, Benchies, Bucks, Ontarios, Cold Steel, Kershaw, TiKnives, CRKT, Mcusta, and a number of other brands all ranging in price and quality from high and low.

If I had to grab only one locking folder out of my collection to have with me for the rest of my life it would be this........

........Zero Tolerance 0200!

2xTap

lovenhim · **Reply #50 on:** October 06, 2011, 12:10:22 AM

That syas a lot and speaks volumes to me that you can pick that one knife out of so many....as if your life depended on it or you were force to only own one. I am looking at the ZT knives and I like what I see about them being all business and no real frills or hype. I am seriously considering a ZT knife. If I am going to buy myself one high end knife....this might be a good place to look.

jzmtl · **Reply #51 on:** October 06, 2011, 11:24:49 AM

Quote from: lovenhim on October 05, 2011, 01:08:39 AM

Tell me somethin', are Kershaw Zero Tolerance knives overkill, overpriced, or are they worth it for a high end knife? They seem to me to be overkill and not a good value for money....am I wrong?

Depends on if you like half pound sharpened prybars.

lovenhim · **Reply #52 on:** October 06, 2011, 06:55:37 PM

Half pound sharp prybars? Nice, that would make it rather a heavy duty knife, I like that idea. My favorite knife that I own and that I keep going back to is my Kershaw Ken Onion Storm. I like the heft and feel of it.

jekostas · **Reply #53 on:** October 06, 2011, 08:18:55 PM

Quote from: lovenhim on October 06, 2011, 06:55:37 PM

Half pound sharp prybars? Nice, that would make it rather a heavy duty knife, I like that idea. My favorite knife that I own and that I keep going back to is my Kershaw Ken Onion Storm. I like the heft and feel of it.

Um, the ZTs will make your Storm look and feel like a toy. They're all pretty huge knives outside of the 0780, which is merely large

lovenhim · **Reply #54 on:** October 06, 2011, 09:58:05 PM

how much larger are we talking here? Are ZT knives that "chunky"....or just large because they are overbuilt?

2xTap · **Reply #55 on:** October 06, 2011, 10:25:02 PM

Quote from: lovenhim on October 06, 2011, 09:58:05 PM

how much larger are we talking here? Are ZT knives that "chunky"....or just large because they are overbuilt?

My ZT 0200 is approximately 5.25" closed with a 4.25" blade and weighs in at about 8 ounces. It is noticeably larger than the fullsize Kershaw Storm. It is a decent sized piece, but not overly large unless you have smallish hands. And disregard the naysayers, I own a few sharpened prybars.....this isn't one of them.

The 0200 is one of the largest folders they make, they have a few that are smaller.

2xTap

lovenhim · **Reply #56 on:** October 06, 2011, 11:55:12 PM

What ZT knives are smaller? The 0200 seems to be one of their best values for the money with other getting over $200 a knife for what to me seems to be diminishing return on value for money. Is the 0200 the "sweet spot"?

MeadMaker · **Reply #57 on:** October 07, 2011, 12:11:48 AM

That ZT 0200 looks like a very useful knife. Which blade would you get?

lovenhim · **Reply #58 on:** October 07, 2011, 01:05:26 AM

If I buy me my first high end knife I would get a straight blade as I am not sure I have the use for a serrated blade.

I like the ZT knives that I am seeing but not sure I can make myself fork out that kind of money when there is the Buck Vantage Pro in S30V for half the price.

CQC-7 · **Reply #59 on:** October 07, 2011, 01:25:44 AM

I just ordered a Benchmade 755 MPR. It is chunky, blocky, and heavy. However, that is kind of my "thing."

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Please help me pick my first mid grade/high end knife

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