ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

I don’t like so much the “real” Endura, but I like this Ganzo! So strange…! :bigsmile:

I would like a Tenacious too!
But for me Ganzo will never do it, they do replica only for expensive models.
A Ganzo/tenacious will be a deal only for people like me in EU…(in Italy you can buy a Spyderco Tenacious for 60/70$!! very expensive for a budget knife :frowning: )

Those RealSteel fixed blade knives look nice . I wonder if any of the Chinese shops have them or AliBaba for cheaper.

Has anyone had experience with this knife before?

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-95-Tactical-Folding-Knife-Ball-Bearings-Flipper-95-D2-Blade-Steel-Handle-Camp-Outdoor-Survival/32518109865.html

It must be awesome because even its handle is made of S35VN!!! :wink:

Yea saw that, and that’s why I thought to ask

Looks like those are the cheaper version with liner lock that are all over ali right now, the higher quality C81 (Paramilitary 2) with compression lock are very hard to find on ali anymore. I even read feedback from buyers that got the bait & switch, seller showed photos of the compression lock but sent out this cheap liner lock version instead.

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The good version has the jumping on the thumb ramps, cheaper liner lock version has no jimping, smooth thumb ramp.

A few months back you could find the good ones but for some reason they’ve disappeared and now its flooded with that cheaper liner lock version. I did see one with the jimping but they don’t show the spot where top lock is located in any of the photos, looks like they’re hiding that area of the handle, so its a crap shoot as to what you’d get.

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I bought several of the good ones a few months ago before they all disappeared. I paid around $18.00 each and they’re really excellent quality.
Here’s one of the ones I got, an all black one with scalloped G10 scales (listing still up but shows “no longer available”):

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/hunting-knife-Spyderco-knife-C81GPBKTSWS2-Paramilitary-2-Wave-Pattern-MARKED-S30V-3-44-Titanium-Black-Stonewash/32295605017.html

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I did find some of the good ones on flea bay recently and ordered one, so we’ll see when it arrives.

EDIT: I found a few of the good ones on Ali, (they’re hiding the Compression lock in the photos) But I verify they have it from Buyers posted photos in the feedback. Also ordered.

+1, The Bondhus are excellent, most of the allen/torx sets in the stores nowdays are really crap, poor fit, soft metal, there’s some real junk out there. The Bondhus are high quality, Made in USA. I use them for work. I’m getting this set of shorty size for my knives with torx (star):

http://www.amazon.com/Bondhus-31732-L-wrenches-Length-T6-T25/dp/B000E80FYY/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1447237420&sr=8-8&keywords=Bondhus+torx

You can buy the combined metric and standard Eklind ball hex wrench sets from Enco for about $10-15 for both. Eklind Allen wrenches have been very good for me, rarely rounding off unless they’ve been used a LOT.

For torx wrenches I highly recommend the Wiha precision torx drivers. I bought my set from Amazon.

The three sets should be enough to take apart just about any knife.

Edited to add that I have used Bondhaus hex keys, they’re very comparable to the Eklind, but not enough better to justify the higher price.

Amazing Amazon
thanks guys :slight_smile:

I ended up buying
table(table#posts).
| | |
|Bondhus 31732 Set of 8 Star L-wrenches
Short Length
sizes T6-T25 |Bondhus 20199 Balldriver L-Wrench Double Pack
10999 (1.5-10mm)
10937 (0.050-3/8-Inch) |

Thanks for the info beam0. I wonder if Spyderco put some pressure on, and that’s why the compression lock models are hard to find. Unlikely, but just a thought.

I’m sorry, what is a compression lock??

The “liner lock” is placed on the spine of the blade as seen on the knives here

ignore the green axis lock knife
close up

Thanks KKW, I checked them out, the Eklind hex wrenches look good too, but the Whia torx set at nearly $70 on amazon is way over my budget, the Bondhaus torx set I linked is only about $11.

I thought that too. Because they are a true “counterfeit” I compared it to a real one and its pretty much spot on. Either that or the cheaper version sells a lot better.

Nice photo comparing the SpyderGanz to the Para2. Are your Paramilitary2’s clones from Ali Express?

I like Spyderco’s top lock/compression lock, but I’m undecided if its better than a liner lock. It seems like the compression lock on these was designed for lefty’s. To unlock I have to bring my thumb up over the top, for right hander’s like me I think it would be better with the cutout on the left side of the knife?

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My new preferred opening method on these; the “Spyder Drop” 8) :

I like the the Axis lock on the SpyderGanz, I wish they would have did the Para2 clones with the nice thumb ramp & choil jimping .

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I also like the “Arc Lock” on some of the the SOG knives, its real smooth and the stud is only on one side.

My SOG Trident Tanto with Arc-Lock:

Manx, Google compression lock. Sal Glesser, owner of Spyderco, can explain it much better than any of us. It is a proprietary, Spyderco designed lock, and it is much stronger than a liner lock.

From top to bottom:

  1. Spyderco
  2. CN clone
  3. Ganzo version

The clone is as good as the real deal and have taken a lot of use

The compression lock is easy to manage right-handed using index finger
I flip the blade in-out using the lock only

Thanks, I see what you mean, with the index finger its like “pinching” between finger and thumb, I’m going to try it that way for a bit and see if its better for me, a little awkward right now since im so used to using my thumb. On my clones the C-Lock is pretty stiff.

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I agree, these C81 clones are my best CN knives and I have many. At this price it couldn’t be real S30v as marked, however it must be a decent steel because mine is holding an edge VERY well, I’d say its at least 8cr13MoV.

Just ordered one of these on the 11.11 sale

$14.79 :wink:

Endura 4 FFG (ZDP-189 Blade Steel)

At nearly 9” and only 95g I think it will fit my needs well for a large, thin and lightweight knife for SD carry when wearing shorts and lightweight pants.

It’s actually about the same weight as my Large SOG Trident, which is EXTREMELY light, but I think this Endura4 is a lot thinner. If I really like it a lot I’ll eventually get the real one (probably the less expensive VG10 version)