Looks like the Domino has a little brother - say hello to the Dice:
I'm definitely drooling over the ZT 0620CF. The 0562 CF looks cool, but it's a bit too similar to the 0561 that I already have. My priority is on diversifying my collection right now so I can try new features and designs. I had recently been looking at Emerson. The ZT collab is nice because it offers premium steel and build quality at a decent price. Let me know if you hear of an availability ETA. I have en email into KershawGuy to see if he gets any details soon.
My Manix 2 XL S90V with CF scales arrived at work today. Perfect size for me. Runs close to 4" with a comfortable and thin grip. I really can't wait for the ZT0620 CF and I don't even typically like tanto blades.
EZB, I finally quit lurking on BladeForums. I'm BoomerSooner over there. Probably won't post much, but it's nice to be able to search for details on newly released models and sprints etc.
BTW, BladeHQ has a nice SHOT Show blog going here: http://www.knifeblog.com/shot-show-updates/#.UtXMfRsbjgs.twitter
Also, KnifeArt has some nice pics on their FB page of some of the new knives.
My Manix 2 XL S90V with CF scales arrived at work today. Perfect size for me. Runs close to 4" with a comfortable and thin grip. I really can't wait for the ZT0620 CF and I don't even typically like tanto blades.
EZB, I finally quit lurking on BladeForums. I'm BoomerSooner over there. Probably won't post much, but it's nice to be able to search for details on newly released models and sprints etc.
BTW, BladeHQ has a nice SHOT Show blog going here: http://www.knifeblog.com/shot-show-updates/#.UtXMfRsbjgs.twitter
Also, KnifeArt has some nice pics on their FB page of some of the new knives.
Yeah, since Kershaw/KAI and ESEE left Blade Forums, it's slowly been changing (and I don't know if it's for the better). Knife collectors/hoarders are some of the biggest crybabies I've ever seen and can really ruin a good thing with some of the manufacturers (that's part of why KAI left). I still read up on stuff, but I post a lot less lately. I was a paid member of Usual Suspects Network for a bit, I may end up going back over there and re-upping my membership sometime soon. Ernest Emerson actually participates on that forum and I hear it's one of the only ways to get in touch with Mick Strider if you need service on one of his knives. Jerzee Devil is another blade-centric forum, but I haven't been on there in years.
I'll say this - I've owned a CQC-7V and while mine was pretty good quality overall - I did feel like it was over-priced for what you get (and I would wager ZT will improve on the QC issues many have complained about with EKI). The blade-to-handle ration in most of the pics of the ZT already look better than the CQC-7 series.
Glad to make another convert to the Barrage! It's the finest knife I've ever owned - and I've gone through a few.
Holy crap, Kershaw just released their entire new line of Emerson collabs and there are over a half-dozen import-manufactured Emerson collaborations at sub-$50 prices. That's freaking awesome.
http://www.knifeblog.com/shot-show-part-ii/#.Utcc4HDvww8.facebook
http://www.knifeblog.com/shot-show-part-ii/#.Utcc4HDvww8.facebook
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I found one of my old EDC Benchmades !! I thought I lost this one. 814 Mini AFCK
http://imageshack.com/a/img62/9030/ozma.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img62/9030/ozma.jpg
ZT0620CF, 0562CF, and possibly others available for preorder on BladeHQ. Might be available on other sites as well, but BHQ was the only site that allowed me to set an email notification. Now, go!
BTW, I'm going for the 0620CF since I've been wanting to try an Emerson for a while as well as check out M390 steel. Looks promising and I'm not even a fan of tanto blades.
BTW, I'm going for the 0620CF since I've been wanting to try an Emerson for a while as well as check out M390 steel. Looks promising and I'm not even a fan of tanto blades.
My Benchmade 943 just came in and I pre-ordered the 940-1. These are great smaller/lightweight knives and I'm honestly seriously impressed with this 943 so far (though, it's probably one of the hardest folders to put back together after cleaning/lubing I've ever owned).
I need to post up some pictures again some time soon.
I need to post up some pictures again some time soon.
So along this journey of collecting a small batch of the perfect EDC folding knives, I've figured some things out about myself.
1. I'm truly in the majority of knife-owners in that I'm a 3.5" blade kind of guy (or rather 3.25" - 3.75" for the most part).
I didn't want to admit this for a long time as I had several 3" and smaller blade folders as well as some ~4" folders. I know some guys like the big folding pocket-swords and some like the micro-minis, but I've sold nearly all of mine (the Southern Grind Bad-Monkey remains a mystery as to how I love it despite it's huge blade packed into the thinnest, smallest handle you could possibly fold a blade that size into). So the result is that I end up with a bunch of folders that all end up sharing similarities (size, ergos, blade-length/thickness/shape/cutting-edge, etc.).
2. I'm down to about 2 or 3 different styles I like due to the ever-increasing need for function-over-form.
This is another thing I really didn't want to admit to myself. I find that everything from how folders fit into the pocket, to how they feel in-hand, and how usable they are in various grips for real cutting tasks means more and more that I end up not using some of my fancier knives or knives that got high recommendations from online reviews, but rather - knives I like.
I still go pick up a sprint run here and there in fancy high-end materials/steel, but I end up only getting sprints in styles that are proven to work for me and then I end up using my sprint/limited/exclusive run knives (which I guess pisses a lot of collectors off) because that's why I bought the knife - to use.
I've gone through all the phases of "knife enthusiast" (which are the same for pretty much any hobby), where I had my hands on as many cheaper knives as I could get, and then sold some of them to get a more expensive knife, and then bought high-end stuff to show off, and then moved on to "that latest knife everyone has to have", so pretty much trying them all out just to see what I liked and didn't like, to actually slimming the collection down to just what I use.
I didn't know much about knives at the beginning of this hobby - I couldn't sharpen, didn't disassemble any of my knives, didn't know too much about steels or maintenance/lubrication regarding folding-knife materials/mechanics. I started out not wanting to use any of them for real tasks as they were too pretty or too expensive (I had not shelled out much cash for a knife before I really started getting into the hobby). I've been suckered into spending far too much on a knife, and I've gotten great deals on knives whose value was well higher than their price was.
And at this time, I think I'm getting to the point with knives that I got to with guns back at the beginning of this hobby - I'm running out of knives to try and my collection is large enough that I really don't "need" any more folders in the rotation.
I've got a few left on the list to buy/try and a few left to sell, but for the most part I'm just waiting on BLADE and SHOT every year to see the new stuff coming out and wonder if it will interest me (and increasingly, I'm less motivated to go buy all/nearly-all of what I see). There are a ton of budget folders out there that I haven't tried yet, but I just don't have the desire to buy any more just to play with them, test them out, snap some pics, and post a review online.
I think I'm nearing the end of my obsessive part of this hobby, and settling into just the knives I have for the most part. Come spring time I do plan on purchasing a few tools to do more tinkering, but I've been trying to get outdoors more lately and am starting to get stir-crazy for some hiking/backpacking/bushcrafting.
1. I'm truly in the majority of knife-owners in that I'm a 3.5" blade kind of guy (or rather 3.25" - 3.75" for the most part).
I didn't want to admit this for a long time as I had several 3" and smaller blade folders as well as some ~4" folders. I know some guys like the big folding pocket-swords and some like the micro-minis, but I've sold nearly all of mine (the Southern Grind Bad-Monkey remains a mystery as to how I love it despite it's huge blade packed into the thinnest, smallest handle you could possibly fold a blade that size into). So the result is that I end up with a bunch of folders that all end up sharing similarities (size, ergos, blade-length/thickness/shape/cutting-edge, etc.).
2. I'm down to about 2 or 3 different styles I like due to the ever-increasing need for function-over-form.
This is another thing I really didn't want to admit to myself. I find that everything from how folders fit into the pocket, to how they feel in-hand, and how usable they are in various grips for real cutting tasks means more and more that I end up not using some of my fancier knives or knives that got high recommendations from online reviews, but rather - knives I like.
I still go pick up a sprint run here and there in fancy high-end materials/steel, but I end up only getting sprints in styles that are proven to work for me and then I end up using my sprint/limited/exclusive run knives (which I guess pisses a lot of collectors off) because that's why I bought the knife - to use.
I've gone through all the phases of "knife enthusiast" (which are the same for pretty much any hobby), where I had my hands on as many cheaper knives as I could get, and then sold some of them to get a more expensive knife, and then bought high-end stuff to show off, and then moved on to "that latest knife everyone has to have", so pretty much trying them all out just to see what I liked and didn't like, to actually slimming the collection down to just what I use.
I didn't know much about knives at the beginning of this hobby - I couldn't sharpen, didn't disassemble any of my knives, didn't know too much about steels or maintenance/lubrication regarding folding-knife materials/mechanics. I started out not wanting to use any of them for real tasks as they were too pretty or too expensive (I had not shelled out much cash for a knife before I really started getting into the hobby). I've been suckered into spending far too much on a knife, and I've gotten great deals on knives whose value was well higher than their price was.
And at this time, I think I'm getting to the point with knives that I got to with guns back at the beginning of this hobby - I'm running out of knives to try and my collection is large enough that I really don't "need" any more folders in the rotation.
I've got a few left on the list to buy/try and a few left to sell, but for the most part I'm just waiting on BLADE and SHOT every year to see the new stuff coming out and wonder if it will interest me (and increasingly, I'm less motivated to go buy all/nearly-all of what I see). There are a ton of budget folders out there that I haven't tried yet, but I just don't have the desire to buy any more just to play with them, test them out, snap some pics, and post a review online.
I think I'm nearing the end of my obsessive part of this hobby, and settling into just the knives I have for the most part. Come spring time I do plan on purchasing a few tools to do more tinkering, but I've been trying to get outdoors more lately and am starting to get stir-crazy for some hiking/backpacking/bushcrafting.
My EDC is a Spyderco Delica 4 and I love it. It's the sharpest knife I've ever had from factory. Lightweight and sturdy.
