ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

Awesome job on the carbon fiber scale!

My PF818 has arrived. Quality seems good overall. Blade is nice and sharp. I can see why some people say that these PF knifes are most likely made at the same factory as Ganzo FH series. However, the flipper opening on this PF818 doesn’t seem as slick as on my Ganzo FH21. With the FH21, once you get the blade to start unfolding, it will go all the way to the full open position, even with very little effort. With this PF818, if you don’t press the flipper with a lot of force, it will only partially open.

Mine opens the same way whether I light switch or push button the tab.
I can’t fail an opening attempt.

Enjoy!

The action and detent strength on mine are pretty good. As I’ve learned with Ganzo, a little variance can spoil a good thing. A weak detent can be tricky and you’ve got to ask yourself if you want to mess with it. However, sticky action can be as simple as a little dirt, grime, or even a little burr in the works.

If you haven’t already, take your PF818 apart for inspection. Clean it thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol. Then wipe down the clean metal surfaces with a light coat of mineral oil for protection. Lubricate the bearings and their contact surfaces with a quality oil such as Lubriplate FMO 350-AW. Then put it together and get the pivot tuned in. Spend some time working the action. See if things improve.

(Note: Like some other budget knives with nested liners, the internal scale edges on my PF818 were a little rough. This is easy to fix while you have the knife apart. Just be sure to mark the location of the back spacer before disassembly. Then use sand paper or an emery board to smooth out the rest of the edge.)

@Isti242


More info: Adahn's Place: Boker+ Urban Trapper + Green Thorn Mouse 3 (Slysz design)

Good job, congratulations! Which one is the more slicey? :slight_smile:
I saw a guy who used one of those plastic bags with a valve and a vacuum cleaner to make home made micarta.

The Mouse is the better slicer and the better knife overall.
An Urban Trapper with inlays instead of onlays would be much more rigid, such a tiny rim around it adds cost, too, so it won’t happen.
Also I think this slim knife would work better with washers than ball bearings, a bigger surface would add stability.
Anyways, I’m glad I’ve bough the B+UT for €50 instead of €100 and more, I’d mod it anyways :wink:

The GT Mini Persian flipper is also looking very nice, is that a Slysz design, too?

Do you think the GT Mouse3 would look good to have the flat area anodized in one color and the chamfered areas on the sides in (an)other color(s)?
I was also thinking about using a Q-tip to create a camouflage look.

And about the tartan micarta - I could do it on job, we have the vaccuum machine for it and all the epoxy I’d need.
The personel there is not as friendly as my colleage who worked there, too, but now has his own little company.

Yes, it is. I`m tempted by that GT Mini Persian and the Rat too. The new Sanrenmu 9201 & 9202 with axis-lock are also tempting. Too many temptations for a small budget! :slight_smile:

Something like this color scheme would be interesting:

I’m wondering if that’s all green anodized but due to the angle looking blue on top.
I like that TwoSun knife, nearly shot one on ebay.
When I see the prices today I should’ve done so…

Those SRMs are not my cup of tea though, the tan handle/black blade one is looking like a $5 gas station knife.
Anyways, my knife budget is gone for this year :wink:

Bestech Texel

$8 = Gerber Paraframe Mini Knife
Amazon and Walmart

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KSCEH4?ascsubtag=qi5nj7zhavh1grr9lvql1gnZ1WTotoRE&tag=dealnewscom&camp=1789&creative=9325&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gerber-Paraframe-Mini-Stainless-Steel-Folding-Plain-Edge-Knife-Frame-Lock-with-Clip/16523863

Time to prune the dragonfruit…at least the dead ‘wood’! :wink:

Yup, LOL. Good catch on that one. Everyone that has come over to visit has no idea what kind of plant it is. :sunglasses:

You can’t say that! That’s the version I’m curious about! :laughing:
I’m wondering whether that black acid washed finish adds any rust protection to a D2 blade.

My Bestech Lion with D2 blade developed a nasty rust spot while sitting on the shelf which left an ugly pit after removing and refinishing the blade. :rage:
It became a user instantly…

Nice plum color! :+1:
I wish Bestech used 14C28N instead of D2 in their budget line.

@Isti242

Well, my knives are users anyways, I very much reduced my “collection” so I have less than 10 knives atm.

Thos rust spots are looking familiar though, not from D2 but from Kershaws bead blasted “stainless” steels.
When storing a D2 knife it seems to be better to do it like in old times, wipe it with a thin coat of mineral oil and keep it at a dry place.

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Nice plum color! :+1:
I wish Bestech used 14C28N instead of D2 in their budget line.
[/quote]

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:+1: on wanting 14C28 on more budget knives. CJRB uses 12C27 on their Ria model, but D2 on the rest of their budget line.

Regarding the Texel; A friend wanted to buy his girlfriend a knife for self protection. I told him I was going to dye the Texel pink. He wanted a more unique color. A one of a kind color for a knife. He loved how it turned out, and bought it.

I’ve wondered the same thing about “blackwash”. I suppose anything would help? I’ve been a little sad to see D2 take over so much of the budget market due to the low corrosion resistance. I recently got a few spots on my Civivi Exarch, despite taking steps to prevent it.

I have my D2 knives shelved for the summer. I inspect them weekly and wipe with mineral oil as needed. A few weeks ago, I decided to adjust the pivot on my Exarch after wiping it down. I checked for blade play and forget to wipe again. Next week, I took it down and noticed a few hazy rust spots. Looking closely, I see that they were centered around a lone fingerprint on each side. Oops! That’s just ridiculous…

I prefer D2 to 8Cr13Mov at low prices (Kubey, Ganzo, PF, etc.) because you get a big increase in edge retention and only a small decrease in corrosion resistance. Dovetailing with another post, bead-blasting 8Cr13Mov can bring its corrosion resistance down to D2 levels. Like you, I’d much rather have 14C28N. I’m also okay with 12C27. I like 9Cr18Mov when done correctly, such as by Civivi or Real Steel. The Acuto 440 used by Tangram is pretty good too.

I was really happy to see CJRB using 12C27 instead of D2 on that one. Keep an eye out though. Artisan recently announced a new budget steel using powdered metallurgy: AR-RPM9. The Ria is one of the models slated to start using it. I don’t know anything about the properties but this could be a good thing.

That Plum Texel looks cool. I still like the lavender best. What colors have you experimented with for jade G10?

As far as self defense, folding knives are not a very good option. It would urge your friend and his girlfriend to do a little research. Real defensive encounters can be messy, chaotic, and quick. Having to get out a folding knife, successfully open and lock it, get a stable grip, and then use it with enough force to be effective without breaking the lock or hurting yourself can present a surprising level of challenge under common circumstances. Fixed blades or even pepper spray can be a much better option. Firearms tend to be the best choice but obviously, there are legal limitations in a lot of places.

Interesting on that new Artisan Cutlery AR-RPM9 blade steel.

I have only dyed the jade scales I have posted here. No further experimenting.

Ruike P801-SF