cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/22263624
It’s been a while since I’ve actually made a post here. @[email protected] has the lock on entertaining content here, so I figure I should come in with boring and bland (both the knife and the post!) ;)
Earlier this year, in addition to my normal (aka way too many) knife buying, I went down the rabbit hole a bit on inexpensive knives on Amazon.
Now, you can’t throw a dust mote and not hit a dozen cheap knives sporting blades made of pot metal (or worse) on that hellscape of a site.
But I was after bigger game: a usable, decent knife for about $10.
That lead me, first to the Duratech liner-lock which I discussed here: https://lemmy.world/post/12442733
That knife is still in use and has done reasonably well, despite the terrible detent. (I never did take it apart). I have not been kind to it, including batoning wood to make some kindling.
Shortly thereafter, Duratech came out with their own cross-bar locking knife (aka Axis lock) which ended up being just under $12.
The quality was greatly improved for sure, but it’s also a bunch heavier than the liner-lock which itself was already too heavy for my normal EDC.
One of the knives I also purchased around this time was the Watchman W001 (or as the box says: Watchman W001 Pocket Knife Folding Knives Traditional folder Wood Handle Material Collection). Strangely, you might also see it as the Watchman WM001.
Watchman as a brand offers a number of knives on Amazon. I have no idea the quality of any of them but they are sufficiently inexpensive.
The W001 is, according to Amazon, a non-locking knife despite the fact that all the photos show a rear-mounted lockback. Rest assured that this is indeed a locking knife.
For $10 you wouldn’t expect much in terms of steel, but honestly 7CR17MOV, which is the same as 440A, is way better than a lot of other knives for even more money. (Assuming Watchman have a decent heat treatment on it).
Fit and finish is predictably not great but certainly not terrible. Some gaps between scales and liners and one of the pins is just slightly proud of the scales. But the lockback provides plenty of snap. There’s side-to-side blade wiggle but nothing worrisome. The wooden scales are nice and smooth and appear sealed but I wouldn’t want to test it.
The grind (of which I do not have a good closeup) tapers in thickness from back to front on the blade and for sure more aggressive on one side than the other. Sharpness out of the box was ok but nothing to be excited about. I stropped it but haven’t sharpened it yet.
Curiously, there’s another knife out there that looks strikingly similar. The Rough Rider RR1708. Someone posted a video on it a couple years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKv36gDGx4I The Rough Rider is marketed as having 440A steel. (The video says it’s 420A but that’s incorrect).
This knife has sat on the desk since it arrived. My youngest kid gut-punched me the other day when he looked at all the knives and said “you sure have a lot of knives you never use”
Brutal takedown.
So the W001 is being put to use. I’m going to 5th-pocket carry it and it will be my only knife for the next two weeks or so. We’ll see how the 7CR steel holds up and if I can stand not having a pocket clip.
I’m sure, at the very least, it’ll be great at opening more packages containing new knives.
You might like the CJRB Pyrite Lite. It’s really inexpensive (~$30 US) and has a nice wharncliffe blade so it’s not a big hit to the wallet to see if it’s something you like. They have a version with a 3 inch blade and a version with a 3.7 inch blade.
I actually do like that shape. I’m not a huge fan on knives with large bellies. I’m currently up between manix 2 and the XL manix 2. I’ve never felt the XL but loved the regular version. I prefer larger sized folders and smaller fixed. Tough choice. Think I might check out this one as a cheap beater just for testing the style and shape out. That’s what’s cool about the knife world so many options.
Yeah, for the price it’s a no-brainer to buy the Pyrite just to see what it’s like. I have a Manix 2 Salt and it’s not my style. Too big in the hand and the pocket for me but I know it’s a big seller for them. Sucks not having a local knife shop anymore to test these things out.
For Spyderco either the Sage 5 or the Pacific Salt 2 are my most often carried.
Thinking of buying a bodacious. Held one in a store. It is pretty nice overall. Nothing seems to hold up to the Adamas in strength and sturdiness or even smoothness for opening and closing. I was looking for something around 4 inches or so that is a real tool, Hardy, solid lockup like a fixed blade that ages well. Daily usage in every hard use environment. Around cars and fluids. Still hunting. I am new to steels and such so I focus on finish and grind for now.
Have you looked at Cold Steel at all? Overbuilt and rugged is their default. :)
I have not! I am new to brands and knifes in general. I’ve tried Kershaw. I have had gas station knives and hand me downs or cheap ones. I have been shopping around. Just nothing I feel has been sturdy and quality like I’d expect. There’s great knives but I don’t think the high prices match up with the way the products will age and wear out. I did get a precision adust sharpener. I have never been able to have or keep a sharp knife especially so with stones. Originally I wanted a small around 7 inch or so overall length fixed blade for reliability and general aging good. I’ve tried whetstones and can’t get a good edge. This sharpener does good for me. I don’t like drop point styles. I prefer partially serrated. More flat edged. I love LT wrights Canadian belt knife. Leaf shaped, dagger double edge, adamas serrated full size manual opener, Bodacious by spyderco was ok. Though I’m more into cross bar locks than back locks and liner locks. I’ve had liner locks fail during use and it scared me bad. I am open to any and all suggestions. I’ve been searching for months as a side project.
In terms of lock strength, Cold Steel is known to have some of the most sturdy locks in the business. For filtering/searching look for the Atlas Lock, the Tri-Ad lock (or Triad lock) and the Scorpion Lock. In terms of blade shapes, they’ve got anything and everything, Some crazy ones as well LOL.
Do you have any reference or any real usage with the Karve or the Ti-lite from cold steel? I looked through their catalog online and found those two striking some fancy. I’m a big fan of ambi controls as I have been know to carry left or right side. I love double edge blades. Assuming their made of thick stock. Anyhow. I’m very interested in the Karve specifically then the Ti lite.
Edit: I see the Hold out and counterpoint being an option albeit larger at 6 inch blade length. I prefer around 4 but given the right size handle so long as it’s pocketable I don’t see an issue for edc. Laws permitted.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any experience with either knife. I would think the Karve would be the best all-around choice though of those two. AUS-10 is a decent steel.