ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

jhalb · February 18, 2016, 8:09pm

isti242 · February 18, 2016, 9:56pm

bdpf79:

Since we’re on the subject of sharpening knives, I have a question for you experts out there.
I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker that I got a while ago.
Truth to be told is that I only used it a couple of times on the wife’s kitchen knives when I got it so I am by no mean an expert.
The reason being that I find most of the knives that I have to have a decent enough factory edge. I like a sharp knife but I’m not of those that is looking to split hair with it.
Typically, if it slices through paper smoothly, that’s more than good enough for me.

Now, a few days ago, I received my Spyderco Domino clone from AE.
While the knife is gorgeous and the action very smooth, this is by far the dullest knife I have ever received. it wouldn’t even cut at all through paper
So I dusted off the Sharpmaker, put the rods on the 40 degree slots and started the whole process.
In the end, the results were not much better, to did again and again.
I would say that I have spent about 45min to 1h on it.
Now, at least, it cuts paper fine, buy definitely not as smooth as the Ganzo’s that I receive for example and I’m wondering why.

- Since I’m not that experienced in sharpening knives, maybe my technique didn’t allow for me to create a good edge although visually it seems fine ???

- The blade has no markings on it so I’m not sure what steel is used although the ad was stating 440C. The clone is the premium one with Titanium and carbon handle. I’d like to hope that they’ve used the 440C steel. Can it be that the steel is poor quality and therefore doesn’t give me the cutting that I’m looking for?

I used 40 deg inclusive. Can a knife become hair shaving sharp with such an angle or do need to use the 30 degree setting instead?

To be honest, even in its present state it would probably be fine most of the time, however I really like this knife and would like to get a bit better performance out of it so any suggestion or recommendation would be appreciated.

You should mark the edge with a sharpie / permanent marker to determine whether you sharpen the very edge.
I use my Sharpmaker with the 40 degree settings most of the time and I can achive shaving sharpness without any problem.

xatu · February 19, 2016, 11:51am

There are new ganzos. The g740 seems interesting, more than 23 cm and 9.5 cm of blade is not very usual.

Wrathbringer27 · February 19, 2016, 12:24pm

I’ve been eyeing the TOPS Tibo. It’s at USD 52. Should I go for it?

Manx · February 19, 2016, 1:35pm

Nice blade but…Ganzo please listen to me, make a perfect copy/clone of Spyderco Military. Another SpyderGanzo is all I need :heart_eyes:

NuggetMcNugget · February 19, 2016, 2:42pm

The G740 is a great slicer with its full flat grind, pretty long handle and I like the more original design

bdpf79 · February 19, 2016, 3:07pm

isti242:

bdpf79:

Since we’re on the subject of sharpening knives, I have a question for you experts out there.
I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker that I got a while ago.
Truth to be told is that I only used it a couple of times on the wife’s kitchen knives when I got it so I am by no mean an expert.
The reason being that I find most of the knives that I have to have a decent enough factory edge. I like a sharp knife but I’m not of those that is looking to split hair with it.
Typically, if it slices through paper smoothly, that’s more than good enough for me.

Now, a few days ago, I received my Spyderco Domino clone from AE.
While the knife is gorgeous and the action very smooth, this is by far the dullest knife I have ever received. it wouldn’t even cut at all through paper
So I dusted off the Sharpmaker, put the rods on the 40 degree slots and started the whole process.
In the end, the results were not much better, to did again and again.
I would say that I have spent about 45min to 1h on it.
Now, at least, it cuts paper fine, buy definitely not as smooth as the Ganzo’s that I receive for example and I’m wondering why.

- Since I’m not that experienced in sharpening knives, maybe my technique didn’t allow for me to create a good edge although visually it seems fine ???

- The blade has no markings on it so I’m not sure what steel is used although the ad was stating 440C. The clone is the premium one with Titanium and carbon handle. I’d like to hope that they’ve used the 440C steel. Can it be that the steel is poor quality and therefore doesn’t give me the cutting that I’m looking for?

I used 40 deg inclusive. Can a knife become hair shaving sharp with such an angle or do need to use the 30 degree setting instead?

To be honest, even in its present state it would probably be fine most of the time, however I really like this knife and would like to get a bit better performance out of it so any suggestion or recommendation would be appreciated.

You should mark the edge with a sharpie / permanent marker to determine whether you sharpen the very edge.
I use my Sharpmaker with the 40 degree settings most of the time and I can achive shaving sharpness without any problem.

Thanks Itsi.
Although, I’m not sure of what you mean of what I can be doing wrong ???.
I hold the knife as straight as possible and glide the blade against the rods in a downward pulling motion keeping it straight (basically what I saw in the video)
I’ll see if I can try to take a good picture on the weekend, maybe you’ll see something wrong with the edge.
Thanks again.
BTW, I love your blog

isti242 · February 21, 2016, 7:04pm

bdpf79:

isti242:

bdpf79:

Since we’re on the subject of sharpening knives, I have a question for you experts out there.
I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker that I got a while ago.
Truth to be told is that I only used it a couple of times on the wife’s kitchen knives when I got it so I am by no mean an expert.
The reason being that I find most of the knives that I have to have a decent enough factory edge. I like a sharp knife but I’m not of those that is looking to split hair with it.
Typically, if it slices through paper smoothly, that’s more than good enough for me.

Now, a few days ago, I received my Spyderco Domino clone from AE.
While the knife is gorgeous and the action very smooth, this is by far the dullest knife I have ever received. it wouldn’t even cut at all through paper
So I dusted off the Sharpmaker, put the rods on the 40 degree slots and started the whole process.
In the end, the results were not much better, to did again and again.
I would say that I have spent about 45min to 1h on it.
Now, at least, it cuts paper fine, buy definitely not as smooth as the Ganzo’s that I receive for example and I’m wondering why.

- Since I’m not that experienced in sharpening knives, maybe my technique didn’t allow for me to create a good edge although visually it seems fine ???

- The blade has no markings on it so I’m not sure what steel is used although the ad was stating 440C. The clone is the premium one with Titanium and carbon handle. I’d like to hope that they’ve used the 440C steel. Can it be that the steel is poor quality and therefore doesn’t give me the cutting that I’m looking for?

I used 40 deg inclusive. Can a knife become hair shaving sharp with such an angle or do need to use the 30 degree setting instead?

To be honest, even in its present state it would probably be fine most of the time, however I really like this knife and would like to get a bit better performance out of it so any suggestion or recommendation would be appreciated.

You should mark the edge with a sharpie / permanent marker to determine whether you sharpen the very edge.
I use my Sharpmaker with the 40 degree settings most of the time and I can achive shaving sharpness without any problem.

Thanks Itsi.
Although, I’m not sure of what you mean of what I can be doing wrong ???.
I hold the knife as straight as possible and glide the blade against the rods in a downward pulling motion keeping it straight (basically what I saw in the video)
I’ll see if I can try to take a good picture on the weekend, maybe you’ll see something wrong with the edge.
Thanks again.
BTW, I love your blog

Thanks!
You should have a look at this topic about the sharpie trick.
Basically you can check the progress of the sharpening process by this trick.

bdpf79 · February 21, 2016, 10:49pm

Thanks for the tip, now I got it
I’ll give that a try but in the meantime, here’s a couple of pics.
I know it’s hard to judge from a pic, but does that seem reasonable for a 40 deg angle?

Phatster · February 22, 2016, 5:04pm

This is intresting… Ganzo fixed blade. Aliexpress does not have them…

http://ganzoknife.com/knife-ganzo-g8012-lg/

Im also intrested in the new schrade SCHF 52M but can’t find a seller in Europe for it :-/

xatu · February 22, 2016, 10:03pm

It seems well, but why 7cr13???. Worst steel than tour folder knives ganzo?. I think it would must be at least 8cr13 por the typical 440c of ganzo knives.
De will ser the price and if we can see in gearbest, fasttech and so

The_Miller · February 22, 2016, 10:38pm

and the sharpener on the sheath looks brrr
(as with the firestarter in the handle, I prefer a solid slab of metal there right?

ReManG · February 22, 2016, 10:49pm

I see them HERE on Amazon in the US… But they do not come up on Amazon.de or .fr Is this common for Amazon in
Europe?

I would say the 7cr steel would be more in line for the heavy pounding (like bamboo that The Miller was doing) and being a bit softer would bend instead of chipping. Those built in sharpeners and flints are always just a flashy thing extra to have, would they work, sure if you have time and energy for them… Are they great, no… not at all, but they would work it seems…

Phatster · February 22, 2016, 11:20pm

There are a couple of videos in youtube about the ganzo fixed blade. They indicate that the sharpener on the sheath is really coarse. So that helps you to get your blade in working order in the field in a worst case scenario type of situation. Not that I would personally choose this to be my knife in the wilderness.

The fire starter actually got complimented on throwing a big shower of sparks.

The point I’m trying to make is: I am really excited that Ganzo made a fixed blade knife. I’m hoping others like SRM etc. would follow this and we would get more fixed blade knives from well known chinese manufacturers for a decent price.

You can get an amazing folding knife from china for peanuts these days, so why not fixed blades?! And of course I’m talking about fixed blades with +4 inch (+10cm) blade

I am from Finland and I don’t use Amazon much. Amazon.de had the Schrade schf 52 with the rubberized handle… Only one seller… And the price was insane! 146€! Thats +160 Usd! I would love to have a sturdy blade that you can chop and baton… But not for that price! Luckily we finns have an almost endless supply of Mora knives virtually in every store and they are cheap

NuggetMcNugget · February 23, 2016, 9:01am

The Schrade SCHF52 is listed on the Finnish Lamnia web store www.lamnia.com for €70, the SCHF52M though is not listed there

bdpf79 · February 23, 2016, 2:57pm

I know it’s not a fixed blade but the Ganzo G720 is cheap and as tough as a folder can be.
I certainly wouldn’t hesitate in using it for these type of tasks.

Phatster · February 23, 2016, 5:13pm

Thanks! But as you said, no micarta version there :-/ Have to get the tpu handle if I can’t find the micarta version

xatu · February 23, 2016, 10:44pm

For chopping and batoning a fixed knife is better.
By the way, are there some news about the ganzo g801?. Will it go to chinese shops like gearbest, fasttech, bangood and so?

BrightKen · February 24, 2016, 4:32pm

I have the Kershaw Emerson CQC-4KXL today. Got a good price for it.

MauiSon · February 26, 2016, 4:35am

My little collection:

[It isn’t easy getting good photos, maybe I’ll do better next time.]