ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

[Moar]

@jhalb

@Moar

I paid about 14-15 for a para2 clone on dhgate. Was a bit disappointed out of the box, because I really love my ganzo g730 and the clone did not have the same finish and was stiff with thin looking components, especially the lock bar. But the reason I bought it was because I wanted black on black for EDC, which is not available in any of the ganzo variations. After lubing the pivot and playing with it, I don’t hate it as much. It’s light and pretty sharp, actually, And now it opens fairly well, although still not on a par with my g730 which has a nice stout blade and butter smooth opening. I still carry the clone edc, hides well in Levis, but unless ganzo makes a b/b, I may have to wear different pants … or spring for the real deal

I’m glad you found a way to deal with yours. How is your side to side play and lockup? And then check were your detent ball is riding. Mine has already fallen outside of the flat surface and is binding on the edge. Unusable. Both of them are, and they are from two different sellers. Horrible batch. Actually though the blades themselves are really really nice. Thick, beautiful grind and sharp as hell. The liners are where they really screwed up. The handles are decent too. I just do not trust the locking because it is not tight. Then the left and right blade play is just a joke, each side has a plastic and brass washer. I guess I just am not a clone person.

Lockup is fine, no play. And I flick it multiple times per day. But I can get a slight bit of lateral flex that seems to be from the blade itself. It’s on the thin side.

I don’t have a lot of experience yet with clones, but there seems to be a lot of quality control variation, on top of different versions and possibly different factories.
It’s all a gamble, as far as I can tell. Gives us plenty to talk about, eh?

[jhalb]

I guess I'm spoiled by cheap Chinese Ganzo quality. Which is a sad state of affairs in itself. What I'm trying to say is if this Para 2 was made as well as every single Ganzo I own, this knife would be good to go.

I think you've helped me look at this in another way which didn't occur to me. Everything I own is flawless, flashlights are all brand new shelf queens. I could actually have less respect for these knives and use them and not be worried to death about putting a scratch on them. But then if someone see's it, I don't want to tell them I am using a clone knife and I'm not going to lie and say it's real.

I don't know what to do......

[Lobster]

@jhalb

I guess I’m spoiled by cheap Chinese Ganzo quality. Which is a sad state of affairs in itself. What I’m trying to say is if this Para 2 was made as well as every single Ganzo I own, this knife would be good to go.

I think you’ve helped me look at this in another way which didn’t occur to me. Everything I own is flawless, flashlights are all brand new shelf queens. I could actually have less respect for these knives and use them and not be worried to death about putting a scratch on them. But then if someone see’s it, I don’t want to tell them I am using a clone knife and I’m not going to lie and say it’s real.

I don’t know what to do……

Why would you say it’s a sad state of affairs to be spoiled by the Ganzo quality? Ganzo makes a wide range of really good knives for an amazing price, that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
I tell people that my knives are fake if they ask (which is very, very rare) and I have no problems with that but I’would be embarrassed to tell someone that I paid 300 dollars for a knife.

[jhalb]

Your right, I need to change my thinking.

[akhyar]

@jhalb

I guess I’m spoiled by cheap Chinese Ganzo quality. Which is a sad state of affairs in itself. What I’m trying to say is if this Para 2 was made as well as every single Ganzo I own, this knife would be good to go.

I think that is the main reason why I stick to $10-20 knives from Ganzo, Enlan, SanRenMu, etc than any similarly priced clone even if the clone looks nicer.

I have no qualm telling my buddies that I’m carrying a 10 bucks Chinese knife rather than them looking at me like I’m a weirdo if I tell them my Hinderer XM-18 cost me almost 400 bucks

[scrumpypaul]

I’ve got a black blade/wavy black G10 handled PM2 clone. Maybe £18/$27 or so I think it cost?

It is superb and, although I’ve never seen one, I doubt a genuine PM2 would be orders of magnitude better.

I don’t use it loads but I can say it flicks open super-smooth and the lock is rock-solid and has remained so in the 18 months I’ve had it. The blade is very sharp (no idea what blade material but I haven’t had to sharpen it yet). The handle is comfortable and the knife has a really unique, very “badass” look I think you say over the pond?

My only gripe is that the “crown” of the compression lock could do with the slightest bit of file work to soften a couple of sharp edges.

SP

[Moar]

A possible explanation is that there is more than one pm2 clone out there, some more impressive or reliable than others.

I don’t feel love for mine, but that means I have no qualms about beating it, which has worked out well. It’s tougher than it looks.

I saw what looked very much like my $15 version later on a flash sale for $9.99 which IMHO is more appropriate, relative to other Chinese knives, mainly due to the thinness and stiff action of the components. I don’t doubt there are stouter versions available, but how to know? Weight might be one parameter to keep in mind.

Once I get image transfer set up, I can show pictures with comparisons, although I don’t have any authentic spydercos.

[pieman7]

@Martini

As much as I would love to own a knife named Bastard Halibut, the finish on the knife in the pictures looks awful.

At $22 (or so) I’d be really surprised if it’s a D2 steel. But how is anyone going to know? Unless maybe you already have an actual D2 blade to compare with.

[BrightKen]

Just wondering if anyone have purchased a Two Sun TC4? How are they?

[isti242]

@Moar

A possible explanation is that there is more than one pm2 clone out there, some more impressive or reliable than others.

I don’t feel love for mine, but that means I have no qualms about beating it, which has worked out well. It’s tougher than it looks.

I saw what looked very much like my $15 version later on a flash sale for $9.99 which IMHO is more appropriate, relative to other Chinese knives, mainly due to the thinness and stiff action of the components. I don’t doubt there are stouter versions available, but how to know? Weight might be one parameter to keep in mind.

Once I get image transfer set up, I can show pictures with comparisons, although I don’t have any authentic spydercos.

I didn’t go cheap and I paid ~ $23 a piece for my PM2 copies last year. Both of them are pretty good (all black Anso style G10 and satin - CF version).
One of the sellers on Ali published these pics:

[Omega_17]

I’m also waiting for Ganzo to finally release the black blade version of the G729 digital camo (paramilitary 2). I might get a clone but the steel is average and I prefer the axis lock. A wood version with stonewash finish would also be awesome.
The Ganzo blade is even better than the original thanks to the sharpening choil.

[Shur]

I bought a F1 and A1 clone a couple years ago.

The F1 clone has a close-ish sheath but is cheaply made. The handle and blade are good but the edge was ok but not convex. This knife hasnt seen any use, I’m sticking with my genuine F1.

The A1 clone is nearly perfect, the only way I can tell it was not an original is by the beveled edge. I’ve had this knife out camping a few times and have beat on it without trouble. I prefer it for splitting kindling.

Neither store is still active. I think I paid $30 and $50 (or $50 and $70)

[jhalb]

Comparitively, I just got a few more knives in today and the Ganzo G7291 is just flawless, I love it. So well made!!

[jhalb]

This Byrd Raven 2, oh man!! .15 inch thick blade, just gorgeous. Another total winner!!

You guys really need to check out the Byrd line if you haven't. Especially this one. WOW!

[jhalb]

I just bought some camo paracord at the counter while I was buying my Spyderco Resilience yesterday. We have an army surplus store here in Santa Clara. I'm looking for Lanyard ideas for knives, tons on the net.

[MACS0647]

@akhyar

@jhalb

I guess I’m spoiled by cheap Chinese Ganzo quality. Which is a sad state of affairs in itself. What I’m trying to say is if this Para 2 was made as well as every single Ganzo I own, this knife would be good to go.

I think that is the main reason why I stick to $10-20 knives from Ganzo, Enlan, SanRenMu, etc than any similarly priced clone even if the clone looks nicer.

+1

IMO there is a quite significant difference between “cloning” and “faking”.
As “cloning” , respectively to copy (and paste) recommanded sensible and reasonable successfully products, techniques, designs, trends and whatever sort of innovations, etc., is one of the latest things since primates left the trees, I don’t have any problem with every honest so called clone at all.

But I have problems with fakes or false clones, marked with faked manufacturer and designer logos, faked brandings for the blade steel, comming in faked “original manufacturer” boxings and, on top of the shame, sometimes even with a nearly ridiculous horrible fake of “original manufacturers” package inserts for product informations and warranty…. :disappointed:

- Practically, because you never really know what you will receive for the money or at least it is not easy to check and requieres a sort of dependence to a supposed trustworthy seller.

• Philosophically, because in this context we’ve here, the fake is nothing but the poor mind of the faker. :confounded:

Up to the questions about the Spyderco fakes, it seems to me that in the range sold around of 13 up to 30 $ there are mainly two different series on chinese roads. One of them has quite low quality and uses 5Cr13Mov for blade steel, the other one is on Ganzo level and uses 8Cr13Mov/9Cr18Mov for blade steel. Althoug even the bad XY fakes are mostly offered more expensive than the better Ganzo clones.

[jealous57]

@jhalb

This Byrd Raven 2, oh man!! .15 inch thick blade, just gorgeous. Another total winner!!

You guys really need to check out the Byrd line if you haven’t. Especially this one. WOW!

I have quite a few Byrd knives, my two “camping knives” are a Cara Cara and a Meadowlark.

[xatu]

@Moar

Any scuttlebutt on why the Inron MY803 has been unavailable for the past few months?
Running out of one’s most popular product for extended period wouldn’t seem like an effective business strategy. Anyone know if they still in operation? I was meaning to get one and then they dried up.

I don’t know if it’s out of stock but… at least here is the review!.

http://chinese-knives.blogspot.com.es/2016/06/review-inron-my803.html#more

[narin000]

Metal chemistry confuses me. What are low end, middle and high end blade materials to look out for?

[akhyar]

@narin000

Metal chemistry confuses me. What are low end, middle and high end blade materials to look out for?

Take this with a pinch of salt, as I’m a knife noob.
For low end, I would consider 3crMov, 8 crMov from China, 440A
Mid-end: D2, VG10, N690
High-end: at least S35VN, M390, S90/110V, CTS-204P