Knife Thread: All about Knives and other edged tools

[myinfernalbmw]

Also as a personal note from a guy thats carried around a 400 dollar Spartan Blades for the last 4+ years almost daily. When you pay for a very high quality knife, you dont lose them nearly as often, for 2 reasons. 1: The shear cost of replacement since they cost a lot so there is some additional incentive to keep track of it. 2: You dont loan it out EVER

This is very true. I stopped losing knives as soon as I started walking around with what equated to a car payment clipped to my pocket.

One note about the Emersons- the licensed Emerson designs built by Kershaw/ZT are really the way to go now. I have a handful of Emersons because I like his simple designs, but I don't have a false sense of what they really are. Emerson is like one of the OG grandpappys of tactical knives but he's been banking on his name recognition/SEAL relation for way too long. Basically all of the lame ass excuses he's had for not updating designs/steel/features/price have been addressed by Kershaw/ZT.

[LowR3V'in]

cryo 2 is nice for the price but don't get the metal handled one it is so heaavvyyy.

btw still have my grip mini it opens up like a switchblade u don't need a flipper.

[mrsleeve]

Have a couple ideas.

The Cryo II from kershaw is not bad for a sub 50 dollar knife and I think there are some special runs that have a decent tool steel in them Vs the standard 440stainless that I am not a fan of at all.. CRKT has some new interesting stuff out here recently but they are more of thinner profile Vs the heavy thick profiles of the most of the ZT flipper variants. Emerson has some good options out there around the 100 dollar price point. But I would tend to agree with infernal up there that putting a bit more in the budget for a ZT would get you closer to what you are after and serve you a bit better.

Also as a personal note from a guy thats carried around a 400 dollar Spartan Blades for the last 4+ years almost daily. When you pay for a very high quality knife, you dont lose them nearly as often, for 2 reasons. 1: The shear cost of replacement since they cost a lot so there is some additional incentive to keep track of it. 2: You dont loan it out EVER

[myinfernalbmw]

If you're OK increasing that to around $150-160 you can get into some really nice knives like a ZT. The 0566 specifically or 0450 for a something a bit fancier. That would be my recommendation for a strong flipper. ZTs are built solid with great steel and is going to be a little more fun to flip than one of the 0300 series as shown above. I used to carry a 0302 and it was built like a brick shithouse. The authoritative THWACK when you opened it was very satisfying, but the action was like a barn door opening and it was huge in the pocket.

[Rob]

What's a good, beefy flipper in the sub-$100 range? I lose knives way to often to carry/use anything more spendy than that

[LowR3V'in]

here's a zero tolerence flipper it actually feels good.
allot of cutting power the clip is very tight blade tight.
great knife. alittle too heavy for me though to be edc.

Ztknifvez by jet jones, on Flickr

[Nader393]

Then I made this Minecraft chisel/knife. Needs more work.

[Rob]

damn, awesome work on those!

[Nader393]

Finished product. Not perfect, not pretty, so it's more likely to be used as intended. It's a Seattle knife, so I coffee-etched the blade for patina. Used fancy espresso, because I don't mess around.

[Nader393]

Made another. This time a Wharncliffe shop knife. Usual 3/16" O-1 tool steel, G-10 scales in natural green, hollow titanium fasteners. I like to be able to disassemble my knives for cleaning and replacing scales. I don't like the idea of glue and permanent pins or rivets on a working knife. Pictures are otherwise self-explanatory:

[myinfernalbmw]

Good work and thanks for sharing those. I dig you choice in scale material. I too hope to make the leap into making in the near future. I'm working on building a 2x72 grinder right now. Just need to source a few more parts and I should be making sparks soon hopefully.

These two are in my pockets every day-

[Exodus_2pt0]

This is awesome.

[Nader393]

Made most of another knife. Still needs more sanding of the scales, beveling of the blade, forge and heat-treat, then final edge. Then a sheath. Made this knife smaller to follow our state's 3.5" carry rule. Same deal with 3/16" 0-1 tool steel, G-10 scales, and hollow Ti fasteners. I like the translucence of the scales in the last picture.

[Nader393]

Then I decided to make a Kydex sheath. It requires the flat Kydex sheets, heat-proof foam, the good ole toaster oven, and a home-made press. I could have done better incorporating the belt loop, but I'm satisfied that the blade snaps in to the sheath with a nice click. Okay for a first attempt.

[Nader393]

Came out nicely! Custom grip for my hand. Heavy, but balanced. Still needs heat treating and tempering, which I'm saving for later when I have a batch of blades done to do all at the same time.