I was looking at the various Ganzo knives on my short list (G717, G719, G720, G704) and came across this Enlan EL03C and I’m really liking the sculptured G10 on it.
Can’t find much about it or a review, wondered if anyone had one and could comment on it. I don’t think it’s a newer model?
Here’s a great close up photo I found of the G10 scales, Click the photo (it’s a link) then click the photo again for a close up:
I also like the jimping on the thumb rest but I wish it had the blade flipper like the EL-01. I’m a big fan of Axis locks and assisted opening, in fact I’m so used to my assisted opening Kershaws and axis lock SRM it’s hard to go back to EDC anything else.
I don’t have any Enlan/Bee knives but have long considered the renowned EL-01 and also the EL-04MCT.
I do have a Ganzo G708 and it’s high quality. Also my treasured EDC GB-763’s (have 3 in the G10 version) Love the bottle opener!
DoingOutdoor on amazon has the best price I could find on the EL03C (if you’re ordering something else to meet the $35 for free shipping) otherwise exduct store or ebay (RunOnRock store) were the next best price:
I have that enlan el03 and the el01 (and more), and i can tell you that the el03 is beautiful, it isn’t a new model, it is an old one, i bought after i bought the el01. It hasn’t flipper and the lock system is a liner lock thick as the enlan el01 has. I like a lot the blade, it remembers me a bit to the ganzo g704 (i have too) but more beautiful. The handle is beautiful too but it isn’t very comfortable.
The el03 isn’t very popular buy i love it!.
Run On Rock has his own store as well as his Amazon shop. I’ve bought from him away from Amazon, no shipping knives to the U.K. for Amazon sucks. Good vendor, always willing to answer email questions etc. His prices are about the same as on Amazon and he does free shipping.
I like the look of the EL-03B or D myself, the hooked blade with the forward serrated section is unusual, good for cutting cordage or gardening I would think.
There are four models of the EL-03, theA,B,C, and D -
An EL-01 of some variety is a must have. The EL-04MCT is a great version of the Axis lock but mine needed the Ω springs bending a bit to ease the tension on them to make the lock less stiff and more comfortable to use.
Of your list of Ganzos I have the G720 and the G717 - both in orange - they are both really well made, the tolerances on the G720 are as close to perfect on blade centring, and gap between the blade and liners is incredibly small, it stayed that way after easing back on the pivot screws a bit to free the blade a bit.
The G717 was a real surprise, I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it is, a well sorted Ganzo straight out of the box.
Edit………If you like Assisted Openers then try one of the Ganzo G620s I bought one of each, even the cheesy photo-etched “Damascus” bladed ones. Under $9 at FastTech
Out of the six that I bought there was only one that was not flipping open freely, stripping and cleaning then re-greasing the A/O spring and cavity cured that and made it a nice action, easy to strip and re-assemble unlike a lot of A/O knives, as easy as a Kershaw.
The materials and construction aren’t as heavy duty as the 7 series, ABS for scales instead of G10 but it actually doesn’t feel that bad, not G10 though.
For the money it’s amazing value, $9, for a usable, well made and good looking A/O - I actually didn’t know they were A/O until I got hands on the first one, surprised me a bit as there was nothing in the descriptions on FastTech or Exduct, the prices are way different, $8.56 as FT, $11.50 at Exduct. More business from me for FT.
Thanks Steve, good to know RunOnRock is reputable. I appreciate you taking the time to post all the very detailed and useful information as usual. I was kind of hoping you’d post!
The G720 and G717 are at the top of my list, just ahead of this Enlan. Also going to pick up a few Enlan xx710 and I’ve been looking at the SRM 7056 LUC-SA, it appears to be built like a tank. So about 10 models altogether of Ganzo/Enlan/SRM on my list.
No problem, I enjoy the hobby of collecting and learning about all knives but I find I’ve collected way more Chinese and probably more SanRenMu than any other.
I’ve not got one but the SRM 7056LUC-SA should be a good strong knife, I like the LiangGang designs and I’ve never had a bad one of his.
The Enlan F710B I don’t like as much as the SRM 710/7010 range, I did a quick comparison here. There’s nothing bad about it. it just doesn’t feel as good in hand as the SRMs.
I generally like Enlans but I have most of them that I want, although I suspect there is an EL-01 variant that I don’t have yet.
My “go to” working knife around the house is an Enlan EL-01D and I really like that but the F710B didn’t impress me, if they were going to compete with the SRM710 then they should have tried harder.
Someone on the British Blades Forum has an EL-03D and he said it was built like a tank, he uses it in the garden and it takes all he can throw at it.
Guess I wasn’t paying attention when I wrote that I was going to buy a few Enlan xx710, actually only one is an Enlan. I like the aluminum handles with Musical Staff engraving: Enlan Bee F710 I really like it’s aluminum handles better than the Stainless handle one F710B that fasttech sells.
The other 710 I want is a SRM: B4-710 Stonewash ( cheaper at fastech but been sold out 4ever)
Anyway thanks again for all of your informative replies on all the Enlan/Ganzo/SRM inquiries I’ve been posting lately. I have 4 Ganzo, 4 Enlan and 3 SRM on my buying list.
I try to learn something new every day, and today it’s about an Enlan/Bee. I didn’t know that the Enlan/Bee F710 existed, the aluminium scales do look better and I bet it feels a better knife in the hand as well. Another one on the list.
I’ve been waiting for the B4-710 Stonewash as well, got sick of waiting and went for a different badge on the same knife, the Eden Web Shop EQK106-BW Eden on the blade and no panther leaping on the scale. - Different but a SRM, it has the SRM logo on one side of the blade.
The SRM 7089LUI-SDW1 I have, black with flames, my paint-job of choice for Harleys and Hot Rods, couldn’t resist that one. Not a bad knife at all, flips well after some breaking in, adjusting the pivot to find the sweet spot between blade play and ease of operation then a couple of drops of oil and good to go.
One of my favourite Enlans has been sold out for ages at FastTech, they’ve started stocking the Enlan M08-2 I have the M08 a great little knife that fits my hand and I like the blade shape.
The lanyard helps with the gripping, just because there’s no lanyard hole doesn’t mean you can’t attach a lanyard.
I’m sure that Enlan F710 doesn’t have aluminium handles.
Have you ever heard about an aluminium frame lock?!
Not mentioning the rest of the nonsense details in the description:
Brand: ENLAN
Model:F-710
total lenght:16.5cm
blade lenght:9cm ??
handle lenght:7cm ??
blade thickness:2.8mm
blade width:2.7cm
blade material:8cr13
hardness:57HRC
net weight:125g ?? When the original SRM 710 weights 89g ?!
Handle material: aluminum alloy
surface:handwork sanding
lock:line lock
Thanks for the reply and pointing that out.
I agree the weight and lengths appears a misprint, it appears the handle and blade lengths were just reversed?
(handle should be 9cm/3.5in. and blade should be 7cm/2.75 in.) Sounds about right according to the 710 specs on fasttech.
Maybe weight could be “total weight” including the packaging? I’ve seen that on some other listings, the last photo shows the knife in its Clam Shell package. (if that package could weigh 35g?)
Here are some pictures of the Enlan's I got (the surface of the handles wasn't 100% perfect - small scratches). The handle F710 was nicer as the F710A - I like not polished surface much more. The handle material wasn't aluminum - I sold these and couldn't check the weight.
Dimension comparison: Enlan F710, Navy K507, Enlan EL02B
You’re right, apparently they don’t …they just look like aluminum because of the “matte” finish
Run On Rock store shows Stainless Steel in the description: Enlan/Bee F710 Run On Rock
Yes the “old” Camillus went bankrupt in 07, however the “new” Camillus is alive and well: The brand name and intellectual property rights were purchased by Acme United Corporation, which re-launched the Camillus brand in May 2009.
www.camillusknives.com
I’ve been considering a few models, they always have several on display in the knife case at most walmart stores.
It cost me £13.50 ($20) and I thought that was bad enough.
Then there’s the ridiculous Handy Niknaks has a SRM 710 with a “mirror polished handle” for a mere £29.99 ($45) but includes free U.K. delivery. You can see why I spend so much at FastTech and Exduct, Run on Rock etc. If customs get a few here and there it’s still cheaper than buying locally.
