The only way to find out is to test a small area to see if the finish holds up. Id probably treat the spine of the blade first. That way if the finishes was removed, you could treat the entire spine to make it appear that it was a deliberate factory 2-tone enhancement. Please let us know what you find out.
I got my Tekut LK5050 ’Dapper’ today from DealeXtreme. ( manufacturer’s page )
It’s better quality than I expected, though not as good as a Sanrenmu.
The good:
- mirror-polished titanium nitride rainbow finish (pretty colors!)
- 7Cr17MoV HRC 58 steel (comparable to type 440A, better rust resistance than 8Cr13MoV)
- is light and thin and small (55mm blade, 137mm overall)
- the blade locks open tight, at least in the forward/backward rotation direction
- a detent keeps the blade securely closed; no matter how hard I shake it, it doesn’t budge
- came sharp, though not as sharp as my Sanrenmu blades… passed the paper and cardboard tests, but not with a totally smooth cut. I haven’t attempted to sharpen it yet.
- the colors are darker than they look in DX’s pictures
- low price
The bad:
- has a minor color blemish on the carabiner clip
- the blade can wiggle a bit side to side
- the frame lock only engages about 40%
- the blade is slightly off-center when closed — at about the one-third mark between the frame pieces, instead of at exactly half
- with mirror finish and no grippy elements, it’s a bit slippery
The ugly:
- Mirror finish is very difficult to keep clean; it shows finger oils very easily, and even shipped with someone else’s finger oil on it. Just a cosmetic thing, but it’s a bit “ugly” in a cosmetic sense.
Other notes:
- It’s smaller than I expected… but then, I didn’t look as closely at the specs as I thought. It’s now my smallest knife. The size and color help make it look non-threatening though.
- DX took forever to get it to me, and they tried to cancel my order at one point.
- I’m not yet sure if the rainbow finish can withstand life on a keychain… I’m kind of scared to try it because I don’t want to ruin the pretty colors.
Now I just have to decide whether to keep carrying my black SRM 733 or switch to this LK5050.
Edit 2013-03-05: I finally removed the thumb studs and I’m much happier with this knife now. I had to hold a soldering iron on the studs for a while to melt the glue, and then was able to just barely turn the studs with needle-nosed pliers. The studs got pretty scratched up in the process, but that’s okay. The finish on the knife itself is still perfect. I’ve been carrying this on my keychain since I got it and it doesn’t have any noticeable scratches (though the mirror finish does pick up fingerprints easily). It’s small, it’s pretty, and it’s non-threatening, so it’s a nice keychain knife.
Edit 2013-05-02: After about three months of carrying this on my keychain, it’s starting to show some wear on the finish. Mostly, the corners and edges are starting to wear off, and there are a few shallow scratches visible when shining a light at it (like what can be seen in the finish of most cars). However, I also keep a diamond-coated file on my keychain… so YMMV.
I think I’m going to order a few more, as gifts and possibly as replacements in case this one ever wears too far.
Edit 2014-01-28: I’ve been carrying this on my key chain for nearly a year now (wow, has it been that long?), and it’s still sharp and pretty and nearly everyone who sees it wants one. Fortunately, I bought a bunch to give as gifts, so when they express an interest I can usually give them one. Color varies from unit to unit though. The off-center blade is now more off-center, all the way to the side as far as it can go, but that doesn’t seem to affect anything. The blade lock actually works better now than it did when it was new. Most of the corners and edges have lost enough coating to show the bare metal, but the large smooth areas are still quite colorful and the wear isn’t obvious. The knife has microscopic scratches all over, but again, it’s hard to see unless looking for it with a bright light. Fingerprints are still more noticeable than any of the permanent wear. It’s holding up pretty well, overall, especially considering the amount of wear it gets from being on a heavy and scratchy keychain. I got a second one to use when this one gets too old, but it looks like that won’t happen for at least a few years. I haven’t even needed to sharpen it yet (though, to be fair, I normally use my Enlan EL-01 for heavy-duty tasks and use this item for relatively easy stuff).
Also, FastTech now sells this item and some other Tekut knives. Some of the others are rainbow-finished too.
Thanks for the detailed review. Considering what you paid, Id say that you made out fairly well. If you dont like the knife, you can always gift it to someone else. Just point out that the the frame lock only engages by less than half and to exercise some caution while handling.
Like many others that collect cheap knives, I still havent found a decent replacement/clone for DX sku19366. Now, I wish I had bought more and not gifted the others.
I just had to laugh when I received the latest knifecenter email advertisement. For a measily $325 +shipping, you can own a… (get ready for a ridiculously long name) Darrel Ralph DDR Limited Edition Gunhammer Torpedo Assisted 3-1/2” Stonewashed M390 Plain Blade, Aluminum Handles. I’ll just refer to this as “the EL-01-like-knock-off” to simplify things. 
Sure, its probably a better knife in every way… but by how much? Under typical cutting conditions, will the blade maintain an edge 10% longer? Perhaps 15% longer? I seriously doubt it, and 20% would be wishful thinking. True, that its a beautiful work of art, but so is the $18 Enlan EL-01… which still happens to be my EDC of choice. One of mine has been beaten to hell and back, is easy to sharpen to a razors edge and holds that edge for a very long time. I wouldnt think about subjecting a $100 blade to such abuse, much less one that costs +$300… but thats just me.
The $18 (includes shipping) Enlan EL-01. IMO, still the best of the cheapies in a large robust do-all clip-on folder:
THANK YOU ENLAN!! :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
Got a question for the knife experts : )
I think I…need* an Enlan EL-01. What´s the place to get it from quickly and for a good price?
Maybe you guys can compare it to the Ganzo G704- size, weight and overal feeling in the hand?
(* I don´t need it, but I want it )
I would recommend Aliexpress, Hello Gift Shop. (He posts here occasionally)
It’s bigger than the Ganzo and in my opinion feels better in the hand.
The rosewood scaled knife looks very nice, and feels better.
I squirted some CRC through the pivot and it freed up to the point that I can flip it open without any wrist movement.
Never heard of that Hello Gift Shop and Aliexpress wants ~17 USDs from me : /
Haw about this one:
Forgot to say, it needs to be shipped to Germany, I have no ebay account but Paypal.
Well an eBay account is easy to get.
I think Ali should have free postage to Germany, they do it free to New Zealand.
Just checked, they do say free postage, which would save a couple of dollars on the one you linked to. Just remember to add a message to the seller specifying accurate details on the customs label. They do tend to put “outdoor tools” and undervalue if you don’t specify.
Am I missing something or is Ali more expensive thn DO from my link?
edit:
Has anyone experience with http://www.greatwalloutdoor.com ?
Ali build the postage in, so you’re not paying separately for postage.
DO says
In that case, go for it. That’s a pretty good price.
An El-01 in the $15-17 range with free shipping is a descent price. There are several variations, so it will be worth a few extra dollars (if necessary) to get the version you most desire.
Enjoy!
Ordered it!
That`s the 5th knife reachable from my desk…
Links don´t work.
posts deleted to help prevent the innocent from being scammed by the discoverybuying bastards and their band of crooked thieves. :Sp
Now they work!
Though they come too late ; )