Should I buy a ZT?

[TimboKhan]

If you want one of Spydercos cheaper folders, go with a Tenacious. Made in China, but the quality is high, the materials are good and I think it will only set you back 40 bucks or so. It is a very nice daily use knife

As for prying, I do use fixed blades for that when I have one, but typically I don't. My main hunting knife is a Harvey King custom in D2, and while I feel it would take that abuse, I just don't want to do that. That knife was made for blood and bone not industrial use, lol. I bought on me of the smaller Becker knives and it seems to handle anything I throw at it.

 

[ugaarguy]

Timbo, D2 is pretty chippy so I wouldn't do anything abusive with a blade made from it. There are far better alloys if toughness is the goal.

 

[leadcounsel]

Comes in under budget by $111.

$7.

Or you could buy 7 of them, get free shipping, and get a probable lifetime of disposable knives for $50 (assuming you can keep them at least 5 years each and you're in your 40s or so). Keep a variety around the house in bags, glove boxes, coat pockets, etc. so you always have an immediate spare. You could abuse them and break 1 every 12 months (unlikely) and have 7 years worth of knives... The awesome thing about disposable great tools like this is that if you lose it, break it, or whatever you're not heartbroken...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coast-DX340-Double-Lock-Folding-Knife-19929/204170614

3.3 inch non-serrated blade and the smaller design and same stainless 7Cr17 steel (a mild rust resistant steel, similar to 440A, 440c or AUS6 as I understand - but I'm no expert) as the two Coast knives raved about in this thread. I was so impressed with the larger versions I bought 14 of them. I will likely buy 10 of these smaller ones. Perhaps the best new retail deal on any product I've ever seen.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=767607&highlight=412

 

[JShirley]

440a equivalent steel*, and a liner lock.

Bluntly, I wouldn't use the thing if it was given to me.


*the steel that gives "440 stainless" a bad rep.

 

[hso]

To quote myself in the thread on the Cost folders.

Entry level blade steel (7Cr13MoV)

The Coast folders were a killer budget deal, but it is silly to consider them comparable to the knife the OP wants at this point. He's not looking for a disposable knife any more than most folks here would recommend a Hi-Point over a Glock.

 

[leadcounsel]

Just giving him very affordable options.

This knife certainly fills his needs. According to the OP, he's frugal, saves pocket change for purchases like this (e.g. not a lot of disposable income) for his hobbies, and he's looking for options. He's readily said he'll order some cheaper knives from other companies to inspect them. He wants one that opens easily and is rust resistant - which these Coast knives are. He wants an EDC, which can easily be lost. Many folks here, including myself, have lost or misplaced our EDCs. Hence there is value in an easily replaceable item. He wants one between 2.5-4 inches. The knife I recommended fits that bill at 3.3 inches.

What's his intended purpose?

To be honest, I don't tend to abuse my folding knives too much. (I have beaten up some of my fixed blades, though.) I just like having a folding knife on me when I find that a box needs slicing or a fish needs gutting or a rabbit needs cleaning.

These simple chores are childs play for any good knife, including the Coast I suggested. Fillet knives are make from comparable carbon steel, around 440C. Years and years of service with a little TLC that one would do for any blade - sharpen and oil. The benefit of these knives is that he can have a separate one stowed away in his tackle box, hunting gear, coat pocket, glove box, pant pocket, and back back for $50. Add a small sharpening stone to each, and bingo. Still comes in under 1/2 his budget.

@JShirley - if you read that other thread, there's 5 pages of people raving about this deal including a lot of highly respected members here. I'm no idiot, and can determine if a knife is of passable quality. I'm quite impressed by the quality of these knives after doing light work. You might buy one for $7 and see for yourself.

Sometimes what someone wants is misguided, and people are simply separated needlessly from their obviously hard earned (or in this case, saved) money. For the average Joe, there's zero that a $120+ pocket folder EDC knife will do that he can't accomplish with one of the Coast knives for $7.

 

[ugaarguy]

Lead counsel, the OP specified early in the thread that he has been frugal in order to afford a luxury purchase without affecting his normal finances. He's decided that a knife will be that luxury purchase.

The OP's interest in lower price point knives is only in those from brands which also offer higher end knives, so that he can experience styles representative of each brand before committing to his higher end knife purchase. Since Coast does not offer higher end knives they fall outside this limited purpose.

Please do not drag this thread any further off topic with discussion of purely economy knives. Thank you.

 

[JShirley]

Again, in case what I said wasn't clear, 7Cr13MoV is closer to 440A than anything else.

 

[22-rimfire]

Well, I took a trip to the shop today. I handled about a dozen knives, mostly Spydercos and ZTs. It turns out that the 0562 is larger than I anticipated, and I really liked the 0566, which is slightly smaller.

To be honest, I don't tend to abuse my folding knives too much. (I have beaten up some of my fixed blades, though.) I just like having a folding knife on me when I find that a box needs slicing or a fish needs gutting or a rabbit needs cleaning.

I did look at the Spydercos. I liked the Native considerably of the four or five that I handled.

It's eventually going to be either a 0566 (at $144) or the Native (at $131). I am going to order some of the cheaper versions (Kershaw and Byrd) that people have mentioned here first and see what I think.

I really like the Native 5 (in S35VN) a lot. It is my second Native and the 5 is just a better knife. The Native is a great regular carry knife.

If you decide on a ZT, you will likely be very happy with it. I really like my 0770CF which is one of the less expensive ZT's. It is the size that attracted me to it.

 

[hso]

Just giving him very affordable options.

This knife certainly fills his needs.

If you "listened" to his posts you'd get that he's saved his money for a luxury item not an economy item. Same as anyone that saves up to purchase a nice firearm or car they can both reliably use and have some pride of ownership in. No real difference. That "better than just good enough" is the part ignoring.

As pointed out, the steel in the Coasts is an entry level steel. John, Ugaarguy, and I have all pointed this out. Having cited the thread I started on the Coasts it should be clear to you what I said in that thread. For the money they're an outstanding deal, but that's for that low price. There is much better out there at higher prices and several folks have made suggestions below the original ZT model price for darn good knives, but they're all well above the bargain basement price of the Coasts. They're all much better knives as well.

You've stated you don't know much about knives. 3 of us who do have assured you that there's no comparison between the suggestions and the Coasts. We're all 3 avid knife enthusiasts with years of real experience with knives, steel, and the industry. If it means anything I'm probably the biggest knife geek here. I spent a few years in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Metals and Ceramics Division befor spending a few more years at another government materials R&D testing lab and have 20+ years consulting within the knife industry as well as being an ABS Apprentice bladesmith. While "take my word for it" is never a very satisfying answer, the Coast knives are a great bargain at the price they were offered, but the steel is just mediocre at best and they're not close to the same league as the other knives suggested as the final point the OP wants to end up. Since you can't know what you don't know on the topic, you'll just have to take our word for it.

 

[leadcounsel]

Well pardon me for daring to enter the conversation with a much more pragmatic viewpoint. If anything the OP was vague and is best suited to make a decision for himself, having given vastly contradictory messages. Given those quite contradictory needs expressed, my input was indeed quite valid. He's not going to battle with the knife, he's not fighting zombies, nor going to live on the land. He said he's gentle with knives, and opens the occasional box or guts the occasional fish and has had to save pennies to afford it, and is frugal. All of this, as mentioned, led to my very pragmatic recommendation.

Apparently some folks believe it requires a $150 blade to act as a box cutter and gut fish.

I'm not going to bother going point-by-point to address the several people (not the OP by the way) who were compelled to all pile on against me for my ghastly suggestion - given the OPs contradictory requirements. I said my piece, and have no dog in this fight and care not which the OP chooses. Sorry to offend any knife fanatics here.

Everyone has their price points. If the OP wants to spend 20 times the what he needs to on a useful tool, that's his prerogative.

 

[JShirley]

There can be a great deal of pleasure derived from using a tool well suited to the job. Personally, I would get limited enjoyment from a knife I needed to sharpen every week after very limited usage, in addition to believing any cheap liner lock is inherently unsafe.

 

[dayhiker]

in addition to believing any cheap liner lock is inherently unsafe.

I have to agree with this. And I like the Walker Liner Lock, one is in my pocket right now.

I have had lower quality liner locks disengage and wear enough for the knife to develope up and down blade play.

After 7 months of daily work use my Military's lock is still tight as a drum. With years of life still left in the lock. After a breakin period the lock hasn't moved at all.

 

[22-rimfire]

Well pardon me for daring to enter the conversation with a much more pragmatic viewpoint. <snip>

Apparently some folks believe it requires a $150 blade to act as a box cutter and gut fish. <snip>

Everyone has their price points. If the OP wants to spend 20 times the what he needs to on a useful tool, that's his prerogative.

It isn't really any different from firearms when you get down to it. Why would you buy a S&W revolver over a Ruger or Taurus in a particular caliber offered by all three? The OP had a particular price point in mind and a general focus on a couple knives. Both the ZT and Spyderco knives are consistently good.

I do get pleasure from owning and using a fairly good knife just like a firearm. But unlike HSO, I still have not jumped onto the Sebenza bandwagon although I did look at them again at Blade. There are almost always less expensive options. The OP went to the knife store (probably the big one in MO), handled knives, but didn't buy, but came out with a more focused objective. Sounds like he is doing things right.

I like nicer knives, but I carry a pretty well used Vic SAK every single day. Why? Because I find it very useful in my world.

 

[JShirley]

Locking for the moment per OP's request.