I received my knife in the mail today and am less than thrilled by it. The size is compact (which is fine), it’s a comfortable knife that fills the hand well, but the button is very firm to actuate and it doesn’t always open completely and lock. The spine section that locks onto the stud and notch in the back of the blade is very rough and gritty and the blade gets hung up. I’d pass if you are thinking of ordering one. I’ll see what I can do to slip some high grit (1000, 1500, 2000) under this area in an attempt to smooth it out. I did lubricate it but that didn’t change the action. Oh well. You take your chances… I don’t know what I’ll do about alerting Aliexpress. I don’t expect any real satisfaction from halfway around the world.
That doesn’t sound good… You should apply for a partial refund and taking pictures before trying to fix it.
Good idea. I could take a short video of it not firing correctly.
What Isti said. Don’t fiddle with it, take picture, open dispute, usually you get a full refund or a second item (rarely).
They want 5 stars, they actually need them, a full refund is the way they usually go cos the whole batch will be same.
Good luck and keep us informed.
Not really. Sandvik developed 14C28N at the request of Kershaw for use in pocket knives. It’s an improvement on their older 13C26. The main goal was to make it more resistant to corrosion. They succeeded. 
I prefer 14C28N to Chinese D2 any day of the week and for any task. The D2 can have better edge retention depending on the individual heat treatment. The problem is that it can be a gamble. The average edge retention for Chinese D2 is a slam dunk over 8Cr13Mov and lower-numbered steels in that series. However, that average isn’t enough better than 14C28N that I care. Given the big and reliable difference in corrosion resistance, 14C28N has the advantage for both EDC and outdoor activities.
I’m also a big fan of 14C28N and prefer it to D2.
Well said!
Here is a quote from the description of a Beretta knife with a $109 price tag:
“Upgraded the steel from AUS 6 to AUS 8”
Did I time-travel back to the year 2000? Good grief. :confounded:
Well you just had to go and show me that didn’t ya. I have been really good. Haven’t ordered a new knife in a while. Then you show up with that beautiful thing and now I got the itch again. It also didn’t help that I found this while looking for a TS164. Hadn’t seen that one before. I’m gonna get in a lot of trouble.
Eafengrow EF04. My first Eafengrow, and not a good first impression.
The blade is way off to one side. The gold stripe pattern is poorly done at the base of the blade. In order to get the blade centered, the pivot screw has to be tightened to the point the pivot action is too stiff. Opening the knife is not good, and it won’t close unless you force it closed. I’m going to return it.
If you like that design, the Ontario Rat might satisfy ya. Aus-8 or D2 in all kinds of handle/blade options. Aus-8 for about $25 or so, $40 for the D2. They are all over Amazon and Ebay. Might get them cheaper from overseas but then you get the long wait on shipping.
I do have a RAT 1 with AUS8 and I am impressed with how well made, and how wonderful it feels in hand. I didn’t get the good steel (D2), and it has FRN scales, but it is a great knife none-the-less. When I seen the Eafengrow EF04 I wanted to see how it would compare, but I have no love for the EF04. It is almost as bad as the junk Canku C06 knife I bought not to long ago, and immediately returned it.
I don’t have any Eafengrow or Canku knives but, I can certainly understand being disappointed in a knife I looked forward to getting. The Ruike P831 I got was horrible. Blade way off center, the frame locked pushed so hard against the blade it was impossible to close or open one handed. Worked on that knife forever trying to get it to work properly. I gave up and gave it away. He is a friend too. I should have never done that to a friend. 
Just received my first Stedemon knife. The price on Amazon showed it was $22.29 for the orange one, but it came out to $19.39 with tax included at checkout. That was a nice surprise! Would make a good budget gift.
I like the knife. It is good for the price. A 3.3” 440C very sharp blade, and good quality plastic (FRN ?) scales. Feels good in hand, like a quality budget knife. Has a good strong lockup. The blade can be deployed by a quick shake of the knife. The detent is on the weaker side, that’s my only con on it.
You can adjust the detent strength by slightly bending the lock-bar towards the blade after disassembling the knife.
Just be careful. There is elastic deformation, inelastic deformation, and straight up snapping. Some liner steels are more forgiving than others. You also want to apply pressure evenly so the lock bar continues to mate up properly with the blade.
I’ll only try this on inexpensive knives. If it’s an expensive knife, I’ll either return it or send it in for warranty work.
When I have to bend a liner/framelock a bit for mor tension I use a wooden spatula.
The spatula lays flat on the inside of liner, the push it towards the cutout.
This way you can mark till where you had to push and see if needs a little more.
Always worked for me.
I am hesitant to do any bending. I am not confident enough to do that.
I opened her up, instead, and adjusted the pivot screw. This knife is unique to me, in that the pivot screw in under the scale. I really enjoy fidgeting with the Stedemon, now.
This is the pivot screw. It lays hidden under the show side scale.
Nice ball bearings for the price point. Wiped it down, and used mineral oil for the re-lube.
Hey guys, are there any budget knives with a compression lock like the Spyderco’s use?
Or button (compression) lock…
Thanks
The Boker Kalashnikov comes to mind. Trying to think of any others…………………