Review: Ganzo G712

I like my EL-01, but it did not arrive shaving sharp, and I think mine has poor heat treat as it seems impossible to get it scary sharp. But as a beater knife it is great, although the cutaways in the G10 give me blisters. Not worth the cost to get it reprofiled and rehandled. It has already developed a little blade play. I may just get a Mora Robust.

That Ganzo G712 looks exotic. Luv it!
:heart_eyes:

very unique looking knife thanks for the review.

Will it flip open without pulling the axis bar?
can you measure how thick the handle is.
do you pocket carry it? if you do, does it carry well? is it noticeably thicker then the 704? should someone carrying be worried about the exposed hooked part catching stuff or looking like they have a banana in their front pocket :slight_smile:

It will flick open without pulling the axis lock if you do it right so that will be a problem in some countries, for sure. Is it easy? Not really, but I am able to do it with the G712 where I can’t with the G704 (almost but not quite).

I do pocket carry and it goes unnoticed in my back pocket. It's very comfortable actually due to the more contoured scales compared to other knives with flat scales and harder corners. I added some pics of it in front and rear pockets as well as next to the G704 for scale.

It is noticeably thicker than the G704 but only about 1/8" thicker. Looks thicker than it really is (that's what she said).

Photos in hand have been added, Mizjif. :wink:

Awesome review, thanks!

Semi off-topic question: are there any axis lock knives where you have to push the lock up instead of down with your thumb? I find that slightly more logical. :slight_smile:

Not to my knowledge and if you think about just how they work it wouldn’t make sense for the lock to push forward. It needs to be pulled back in order to work. To do it any other way would be to add unneeded complexity to a simple, reliable design.

Plus, if you were leaning in to something while cutting you would risk your hand actually push the lock forward. That wouldn’t be a good situation.

awesome knife, just wish they made a uk friendly wooden scaled model. I may still hqve to get one though.

Thanks for the review johnny. 8)

Thanks for your replies. On second thought, the pulling down action does seem safer and simpler.

Maybe I’ll do some acid etching on my incoming EL-04. :wink:

I’ve had this knife for 2 weeks now, and i can say it is my new fav! Didnt really plan on edc’ing this knife, but once you hold it and feel how it carries, I did and you just might too. Now i dont own any BM or other axis lock knives, but the G712 is the smoothest knife i own now. The quality overall is outstanding, and my example came razor sharp as well. Curiously enough, my knife liner was drilled and tapped for left hand tip up carry but the g10 was not. Also something ive never seen on a chinese folder, nicely stonewashed liners with the whole axis lock and pivot area being polished on both sides. I would say thats why this knife feels sooo damn nice. I recently disasembled the knife and didnt encounter any problems (stripped heads/threads) and did a little more polish on pivot and lock area and now she really flys!

So, yes, run to FT and pick this badboy up!

I think they just use universal liners, so the holes are drilled and then they just grab two and build the knife around them.

I really like this knife too.

Man i am in love with this knife I will pay $100 4 this knife but our pathetic customs laws have deemed these knives as illegal to import because we can open them with one hand man i am spewing |( have fun guy’s yous are still very lucky. ???

All this talk is making the wait even harder! I’ll post an update once I get it.

That is just so lame I can hardly believe it. I really feel for those of you in countries that have to put up with these bs laws. Freedom is hard to comeby these days.

Jamaya, do you have any Benchmade stockists in Australia? I don’t know your laws around knife carry, but maybe you can buy the 860 Bedlam (which the Ganzo G712 is a copy of) without importing it.

Are you sure? Officially it’s prohibited to import folding knives with a length greater than 10cm into New Zealand, but by making application to the Police you can import them, and there are local dealers who do that, then sell the knives locally. You can even get the Cold Steel Espada XL if you want to pay $360NZ.

Very detailed review thank you. I’ve been looking at local stores or a replacement for my Gerber folding knife. Have found nothing i like, at least not for a somewhat reasonable price. I shall order one and hopefully it will replace my everyday knife. Hope its not toooo nice don’t wanna be scared to use it lol. :slight_smile:

a mate of mine copped a $10,000 fine for each knife he imported & he had 15 knives so 15 x $10,000= yes it is pathetic the judge must of been in a bad mood??
you see they keep changing the laws now this knife can be opened by one hand is now ‘’ILLEGAL’’ but what even pisses uss off more is the fact that if you took off the thumb stud & now you need two hands to open the knife up ’“”wELL MY FRIENDS THEN THAT IS LEGAL TO IMPORT”“” NOw HOw DUMB IS THAT & either way we are not allowed to carry a knife?

You could always have someone in the States order it for you and disassemble it before reshipping it to you as a kit, or the body in one package and blade in a second. I think it cost $7 and change to ship a light to Australia once.