My new collection of 50+ Chinese knives

Freman

What exactly do you use?

I only have one ZDP knife, a ladybug I haven’t had to sharpen yet. If I did though I’d use the credit card diamond plates made by DMT I think.

You can find them on eBay in pairs of coarse and fine, and medium and extra fine.

No matter how hard the steel, diamonds are harder.

I think the problem is not whether the sharpening stone cuts the steel. I can do that. It seems to be something else. I have a feeling that the steel at the edge is ‘sticky’ on a micro level and will not come away from the blade. I can get a very good looking edge on the blade - but it is not sharp compared to other steels.
So when you do get to sharpen the ZDP a few times - let me know how you go.

ZDP story from the Spyderco forum.

The diamond rods on the Sharpmaker, then just follow the normal stone progression finishing with light strokes seems to be what they recommend.

Yep I’ve seen all that - wait till you try it. It does not work. Most people are quoting from others who have never done it. It is an interesting aspect of web information. No one knows until they physically actually do it.

Well obviously it can be sharpened, because they come from the factory very sharp.

What do Spyderco use?

My instinct is that they use a belt grinder, followed by a polish on a leather belt (also on a grinder), as that seems to be the most production oriented form of knife sharpening for a small volume manufacturer.

From the sounds of things ZDP doesn’t let go of the burr easily.

Fasttech has my favorite EDC back in stock at a great delivered price. The Enlan/Bee EL-01A Stainless Steel Folding Knife. Click the pull-down window for all the different versions and prices.



+1 I have a pair of these. G10 & Wooden models. ROBUST knives for sure. A Best Buy if there ever was one.

The wooden scaled model is my favorite.

I’ve had my Sanrenmu folders for about six months now and they seem to still be good. The 710 has got a bit loose.
I am interested to see how these Chinese knives fare after using them for a couple of years. I don’t think they sharpen as well as the SAK or 12C27 knives I have.

There’s several SanRenMu’s using 12C27 steel, they keep adding them Some also have the twin ball détente lock.

Elk and Smith & Wesson CH0016

Cheers! :beer:

Some of the collection…

I’m considering the big Inron flipper. Is it on the same level of the awesome Enlan EL-01 ?

You mean the crocodile one?
Edit: Just realized my mistake- I’ve read “iron” sry :smiley:

If so, got one, love it. It’s great to play around with. Takes a sharp edge so that is good. And opens good with a little swing from your hand/fingers.

Just to clarify I am talking about the SRM 733.

Well, i say you some things about the inron:
I love the blade design, one of my favorites, and its steel are in theory better than most of enlans and sanrenmus but it has a weaker blade too, it is concave (in english maybe hollow ground?) and not flat ground like all my enlans and ganzos. The tip is thin and it is not for heavy use but it cuts very well, i sharpen it and it shaves. The handle do not like me, it is too thin for me and the framelock is very thin for being a framelock. I read that this inron had faults of fit and finish but mine has one of the better fit and finish of all time including srm, enlan, ganzo… Centered blade, without scratches, good lock up… But anothers can be worst.
I think for cutting things is a good knife but not for heavy use and the el01 is stronger with a fat tip and even a fatter liner lock, better handle too but with worst steel (in theory again). For the price it is the biggest knife in size you can get, for me it is a plus that. I get it in a deal for half price but for its full price if you see its steel and size is not a bad knife.

I think Inron basically spend all the money making the blade, and then spend just enough on the handle to give you something to hold onto. Harnds Blazer is, I think, the best big folder from a Chinese manufacturer (it may well be the biggest folder currently available).

Yes, i agree with the inron. And i haven’t got the blazer but i have the viper, i saw photos of the blazer and i saw that the liner lock was a little thin, even thinner that the liner’s viper. I’m sure it must be a very good knife the blazer but it’s one of the most expensive budget knife too, like the enlan el08 that i have too and it’s one of the best in my opnion but it isn’t very popular for some reasons that i don’t know.

Can anyone share their impressions of the Vallotton clone? Ive been eying the ones on Ali and not sure if they are worth the change. The pics look like the real deal, which has me suspicious, and I couldnt find a review anywhere. My favorite EDC has been the trusty EL-01. Is the Vallotton clone as factory sharp and well made as a good SRM or Bee/Enlan?

IMO, the real Spyderco Vallotton is a classy looker.

Unfortunately many clone manufacturers are getting exceedingly good at replicating models by Western manufacturers. I have no doubt that the clone you’re looking at will be almost the same as an original with two provisios. The steel will not match (of course) and the heat treatment may or may not be any good. The finish might not be as good as an original. If you expect it to be roughly equivalent to a Enlan or Sanrenmu, but in the shape of a known knife, then you’ll get about what you expect.

Nicely made clone, the store where I bought mine - DIY Knives - has stopped selling them but there are plenty of them about. Worth the money but easy to spot the fakes - at least on mine - the pivot screw isn’t as well recessed as on the genuine and the same goes for the scale screws, just very slightly proud of the surface, not enough to cause any discomfort and I’ve not tried to tighten them down.
A heavy knife and up to Enlan standards of fit/finish with just a couple of minor faults, the screws aren’t a big deal. The liners are a bit sharp edged, easily fixed. The blade is perfectly centred and sharp, plunge lines equal but the tip grind is minutely off, not much and you have to be looking for it. G10 “contour lines” less pronounced and the scales less glossy than the genuine one but micromesh might solve this.
I’d buy another one any time.
The DIY Knives has some very interesting thumbstuds, pivots, stand offs etc. not easily available, I will be buying a few to see what the quality is like when I recover financially from Yule excesses. :open_mouth: