Great video, I liked the comparisons you chose. The gb2 has been on my to get list for a lot of years. As market trends stray away from my personal interests, I have been slowly catching up on older knives I have always wanted to try. This one and a ZT 0640 have always been very good looking knives to me, the latter being discontinued and second hand prices just way too high.
The classic is one of my favorites. I've removed the scales from one to make it thinner so that I can keep it in my wallet. I could've bought an alox one but I already had 3 regular ones and I didn't want to spend the money.
DISCLAIMER: Actions shown in this video are performed by a trained youtube knife tester/reviewer. Don't try this at home! I made this video not because I wanted others to start using and abusing their keychain tools, but rather because I have seen way too many people complaining that the SD is not build very sturdy or that the tiny blade is not enough. Some also complain about Victorinox's steel and the fact that it does not hold an edge. I wanted to show, that if you learn a few things about cutting geometry, even a small, narrow and thin blade like this can be very capable. And it does hold an edge, because of the new cutting geometry. More videos like this: on my patreon. Link in description!
Hello there! I just got this axe in a sale for 20€ and i agree with you. For the money its great. Its a Perfect beater, camping, car hatchet. I recently also purchased the Fiskars X13 as i liked the concept in theory. It was pretty disappointing and i sold it again. It came rather dull, the edge angle makes it more or less useless for anything but splitting. But Even for Splitting its not very functional because of the dull Factory edge, angle and light head. On hard wood it Even bounces back and smashing it into tree stump when you dont need it is almost impossible. The Ganzo is better in all aspects but weight. And i somehow even like that saw in the handle. Its Not a silky for sure but it works and is better than nothing. Great to see you are still making videos. Choice of knives and tools and reviews are still no nonsense and well thought out! Greetings
glad you are liking it. i played around with the fiskars axes. i like them. but i can definitely understand why you feel the way you feel about the x13. a friend of mine has one and uses it. but he sharpened it and convexed it. my favorite axe so far price/performace/quality has been the husqvarna carpenter's axe. check it out. when i got it it was about 60 euros...lately their prices have gone up
@@SpartanJohns convexed its more versatile probably, yes. Actually i got way too many axes over the years. And i always Come back to the same two or three models. And i am damn happy i got what i got. Especially the swedish stuff is so expensive now its insane. That makes alternatives like the Ganzo even more attractive of course.
Hi Denis! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I enjoyed watching the three part series. I have some Opinions on the Lil Native. I got a used Rex 45 Sprint run version for a very good price some time ago. I originally was interested in it, because it shares a lot of build features with the PM2 but in a much smaller, more office friendly package. After carrying and using it, I find it just does not make much sence to me. It is overbuild for its size, which adds to the weight and I find I miss just a tad bit of blade for a few daily tasks, like slicing an apple. I never had this feeling with the Delica, which also is lighter. I think that the Lil Native was very clearly build around size constraints, but i really do not care that much about the closed lenght of a folding knife, esp. if it is this small. To me it seems like a mini hard use folder (esp. in Rex 45) for areas with strict laws, I think that Nick Shabazz mentioned Chicagos 2.5 inch blade limit in his review. If you are not affected by such laws, to me the more sensible option would be to either get a larger knife, or, if you want the small size, get something very light like the Dragonfly (maybe the upcoming Lil Native lightweight could also be a good option). I do admit though, that I like the humpless blade shape a lot as well and it made me consider the full size Native. Do you intent to carry it as your main and only balde or as a secondary/backup? I find, that it is just a tad to small to be a one and only folder for me. Regards, David
to be 100% honest i get by with the victorinox sd on my keychain. I am more curious about how i can adapt it to me. round off the g10 scales, thin out the grind. For me, this blade would be enough, but as it is, it is a bit too thick behind the edge. and yes, the handle is very bulky. but i like the lack of a hump, as you said and the lack of jimping. and the wire pocket clip, in my book, is always a good idea. yes...the frn model which will be released is interesting, but the dragonfly....while i like it, for use i would take the chucky lil native anyday.
I have the slipjoint verson. Although its not petfect its staying i agree with everything you say. Changed the grind and pocket clip (not wire on the slipjoint it comes without jimping) its as good as it gets.
i can't say much about spyderco knives..because of our knife laws..tho one hand opening hole makes them illegal to carry here in germany..for that reason i stayed away from spyderco for a long time now..in the old times i carried a pacific salt knife for years..but this time i didn't know much about knives..but i realized the h1 steel is shitty soft..and i wasn't able to sharpen knives this time..this luckily changed today..
spyderco does have a few slipjoints. those are still legal in germany. i recently got a ukpk s110v. liking it, but the grind is a bit too thick. as far as H1/2 goes...i like such steels. been using my pacific salt for a while an recently also got the stretch 2 xl in h2
@@SpartanJohns i am no fan of slip joints..i am actually happy with my little fixed blades i carry for years now..i hope the new law of 6 cm is not coming through..i can live very happy with the 12 cm law we have now..most blades i carry are between 7 and 12 cm..
all my favorite knives i have are in s30v..cts-xhp..and today cpm magnacut..i would like to get k390 steel too..but what i wanna say..s30v is fine..i don't like the s35vn..but s30v..i am happy with..lg uddo
i am fine with it too. i like more exotic steels but as far as how it performs..i have no issues with it. i can always thin it out to get it performing the way i want it to
@@SpartanJohns the favorites steels i own and use is s30v..cts-xhp..cpm magnacut..and cheap steels..i like d2 and aus 10 a..and for big chopping knives 80crv2..i like very fine edges and because some steels are hooky on my cigarette paper tests..i don't like them..1.4116..s35vn..s110v..and for a long time i made s90v blades from modified müller blanks..can't say if i like this steel..because i never did the cigarette paper test on it and somehow i gave all s90v blades away..but mr müller only hardened s110v and s90v only to 58 hrc..i like hard blade..magnacut in 64 hrc ..i like nazarov damscus steel in 62 - 63 hrc..i like roseeli uhc blades..up to 64 - 67 hrc..they cut good..sharpen good with my method..hold an edge good..and like i said..my big chopping leukus..i like 80crv2 in 58 -59 hrc..this is..what i learned to like by experience..i am glad that you can get high hardened blades these days..and for my cheaper beaters i like d2..but d2 still gives me fine cigarette paper edges..and i like cold steels aus 10 a..greetings..uddo
Sigur. Maine postez partea a 3-a. Cu taisul ascutit de mine la un unghi mai mic. Dar bavura lasata pe tais am tot intalnit in ultima perioada la spuderco….pe langa alte chestii de CTC…
Din ultimele 7 bricege spyderco pe care le-am cumparat 3 aveau o bavura vizibila pe tais. 2 un grind inegal, 5 unghiuri diferite pe o parte a lamei decat pe cealalta, si unul nu avea filetul pt suruburi executat bine in linere. Per total as zice ca la capitolul QC au decazut f mult
I did! I like it but for one issue i had with the crucarta model. Holes for the screws in the liners were not threaded properly. That is something i have never encountered before with spyderco. Othwr than that…i like the military 2
Enjoyed the logical and realistic insights and analysis as always. Interesting to hear about the civivi edged, I guess I was a bit late on all of these newer high quality Chinese brands. I obtained a vosteed mini nightshade recently, amazingly thin behind the edge, more like good Japanese kitchen cutlery, wish spyderco did that then they'd be about perfect I guess.
I recently bought a K390 Endela. Thinnest spyderco I bought so far. They tried with the Nilaakka...made it really thin but users complained about it. As it stands....they keep them at about 16-20T BTE at a 17-20 dps....which is not bad...compared to others. But Civivi, Manly, Real Steel...they do it much better. I'd also like to see a thin line from them
Small knives + compression lock is an ergonomic nightmare. As much as ppl like the “fidget factor” of compression locks, the sacrifice of comfort for hard tasks isn’t worth it. Just my two cents.
dificult to say. usually my favorite knife is the last one i buy. At the moment it is the Military 2. But ....tbh...as it is very obvious from my channel...i like all well made knives...too much....
reprofiling on a 1000 grit stone? You´re working too hard. Get something coarse for that like an Atoma 140 grit diamond plate. You can also use that to flatten your stone.
Like most materials it can deteriorate in different ways at rates that vary widely and that are unpredictable. Deterioration may be chemical, caused by oxidation or hydrolysis, or may be physical, or biological
Every RU-vidr who reviews knives is always wearing a bandage 😆 Damn, I served in the Miltary and did Construction work for awhile and I have never seen so many folks who talk about knives wear so many bandaids... It's hilarious. Leave the knives alone if you don't know how to use these simple tools. BTW, all of mine a stupid sharp!
So your knives are stupid sharp and you worked construction and served time in the military. I am a dock worker myself! I used to protect the queen of England on her many secret visits to Russia. Never got cut. And mine are psychotic sharp! At least my story was entertaining
I have various steels from Spyderco and am also looking to purchase Spyderco knives with other good steels. But I somehow want to understand how to correctly place steels such as Cruwear, k390, s110v, m4, zdp189, s90v, cpm 15v, rex45, Maxamet into categories. I like the way you think, it is logically sound and confirmed by your practice. If it is not difficult, could you arrange the steels I have indicated according to the level of preference specifically in terms of better retention of the cutting edge, of course, if the difference is not significant, you can place the steels in the same category. If you do not, in your opinion, have sufficient experience with any steel, you do not have to indicate it. Thank you very much.
difficult to arrange them. Especially since some are non stainless. Maxamet is fantastic for edge retention when cutting cardboard but a salty environment will dull it. Tbh i think K390 is a superb steel for edge retention and it is really easy to sharpen. Price is also decent. S110V is a superb steel but has its kinks. I like it. just got a couple of knives because it does not stain easily and has great edge retention... If you want something which sharpens easily and can be maintained to a very sharp edge for a long time with ease...CRUWEAR... In the end, you should chose stainless or non stainless and focus on geometry more. That would be my advice
@@SpartanJohns Somehow it slipped my mind that rust can also damage the cutting edge. On the other hand, the climate in my region is quite dry and I usually always try to take care of my knives. In any case, thanks for the answer.☺️
Byrd are good knives and a good budget price. I still prefer the regular Spyderco's like the Tenacious and Resilience but I like bigger knives. If you try some other brands can you review one from CJRB in AR RPM9 steel. I'm curious to see how you like that particular steel.
I never tried CJRB. Wanted at one point but never got around to it. I assume their steel will be similar to most in that class. I think that cutting geometry is much more important than the steel. I liked the Pirite but, ike I said, never got around to it
@@SpartanJohns The Resource is my favorite one from them because I like large folders and the blade is 4.15in. full flat grind and for $70 it's rock solid
Hey! I'm glad I can help. The Siren is a good knife but I can see why it would not be on everyone's list. I personally do not like the back lock too much. the S90V version kinda caught my eye
Mr. John to do great reviews I’ve seen a few of them keep up the good work that K390 stretch video that you did was awesome. You went pretty deep into the dive about it. I feel like it was totally honest and non-biased. I would like for you to do a review on the Kershaw blur and magnacut Kershaw traditionally always runs their steel. A little soft just slightly. They say magna cut sweet spot is 63 to 64 Rockwell. And I would like to know what your 30 day review of that steel is cause I would like to see how good Kershaw is doing magnacut cause he seem to be using it pretty steadily a few other designs.
I have one in CPM-SPY27. Action was terrible and I couldn't take out the side to side movement out of the blade. Took it out just this morning and decided to work on it. First I tightened both pivot screws until they would no longer move then I backed them out slowly a little bit at a time. Now, I've got no play and it's drop-shut. Went on RU-vid afterwards and typed "spyderco para 3 lw' and saw your video. Thanks for this. I'm fidgeting with my LW and it seems to be getting better. You make great reviews. Looking forward to seeing more. Thanks again. 🙂
Glad you liked the video. I think the Para3 is a pretty cool knife. For my liking the grind is a bit thick. Modded the Para3 to a slim mod and reground the blade. SPY27 is a steel I have yet to try...
Cs builds knives for abuse! Tbh i would love to see them up their exotic steel and heat treatment game. But even so…as tools..models like the air lite are hard to beat. Used it when i renovated my apartment. Dry wall, steel cables… I never had a tanto. I will for sure
@@SpartanJohns Yeah I've had voyager tanto, sr1 tanto, pro lite tanto and air lite tanto. Great beater utility knife. Use the tanto tip like a chisel sometimes. I wish they'd make tanto sized in between an air lite and sr1 which would be about perfect
I did sharpen a few tanto knives for friends but never used tanto blades myself so i do not know what the advantages are. I get the very stable tip and being able to use the point where the edges meet, and they look cool…but other than that….why do you prefer tanto blades to drop or clip points?
@@SpartanJohns Using the tip like a razor blade/utility knife on tough material and don't have to worry about it breaking, chisel out wood with the tip of it. Still can use the "belly" or flat part to strip wire or cut through hose materials, etc
A friend of mine gifted me a Subvert. With that weird bladeshape i have the feeling that i can do sort of the same things. Not a tri-ad lock so… i have been looking at the verdict tanto but i do miss my airlite. Gave that to a friend. So now i am thinking of an airlite tanto and thinking whether try something new or go with the model i know but in a tanto.
Fantastic review. I was looking for a knife like this to use as a skinning knife. 4034 steel doesn't bother me (Krupp does well with extremely budget steels), but my opinion is that this doesn't come close to Kershaw's 8Cr13MoV. What Krupp has done is to create a knife that is more along the average 420HC...and that's not Buck's 420HC, which really does match 8Cr13MoV. Great for out in the field though, because you can sharpen it on just about anything.
Thank you! Glad you liked it! The Range Boss is inexpensive, light weight, slim, has a lot of edge and is pretty stable. Tbh i started looking at steel a bit different in the last years. I enjoy “super steels” but i do see the benefits that “budget” steels offer. Depending on what you need, set your edge angle, and as you said, you can sharpen it “as you go” and on anything. I think this is one of the most important features of a knife for an actual knife user because no matter what steel you have in pocket, a few cuts thru wild boar hair will dull it. Then what? Glad to see there are others out there who know how to use/maintain their tools!
Not a Trapper, that was my first decent bushcraft knife, in green micarta (first bushcraft one was a Mora Robust). It’s a lovely knife but the handle is a tad too small for me, unfortunately.
1:28 That’s why I like the Fallkniven CC4, the white side is excellent for a fine edge at 9 microns, the coarser ceramic side is 15 microns, compared to 25 microns for the diamond side on the DC3/4, not sure what the other side is on them; also, the leather case is designed to be used as a strop. I also have the DC4 as well though, taking both doesn’t add to your weight at all, so why not?😁
I got a cc4 a few years back, from a friend. Pair that up with a D4 and some compound in the leather case. But can’t say i’m too happy with how the case/strop works. Been meaning to get the spyderco double stuff 2.
You asked why would someone carry a 4 Max over a fixed blade. My reason is fir the stupid knife laws where I live. If you carry a fixed blade, its got to be on your belt in plain sight. This means you can get busted if its in plain sight strapped to your pack and not to your waist. On the other hand, tou can carry a folder of any size as long as it is not a butter fly knife, switch blade, knuckle knife, double edged, or a gravity knife. Since I don't always like wearing a belt or having things hang off my waist, a folder is the way to go. Th above being said, I would love to carry my fixed blade Kukri in the event that circumstances from an emergency situation when exploring or hiking but the laws don't give me the luxury of keeping it concealed in or strapped to my pack. A folding knife built like a tank but can do what a fix blade can do in a pinch makes the 4 Max my just in case I need it on an excursion knife. I carry a 4 Max Scout or a Rajah 2 in a situation where Im not going to hang things of my waist and my fixed blade where the situation is needed for it. Even with these knives, an overzealous cop could bust you being that these knives have such smooth actions that you can use gravity to flick them open but I'm less likely to get heat for it on a hiking trail as opposed to carrying it in Time Square when a riot breaks out! 😀
Knife laws, in my opinion, never had a lot of thought go into them. Where i live now it is also pretty ambiguous. But i see old timers carry a pocket knife or a multitool all the time and use it in public. I really like that. People understanding that knives are tools! The 4 max scout is pretty awesome. Tbh i hope CS will make a g10 voyager xl. I know the Espada is a good alternative but not there yet. Would be fun to test and play around with. A friend got the 5 max…what a beast!
Now you really need to grow up! Read a book! Learn how to properly speak and write so that you don’t come across like a douche! Try making some friends! Learn about active listening and being part of society. Imagine how cool it would be if people actually liked you…just imagine it!
I have a para 3 s110v and it has 3 very small chips, one in the tip then one just below that and then a slightly longer one near the middle belly. I think the one at the tip was more my fault I pried on something, but the other two I just noticed one day they were there. I love the knife itself but I think the next spyderco I get I will get a different steel. CPM S110v has great sharpness but is very brittle and difficult to sharpen.
I never felt like that. I am looking into getting a couple models in s100v. I really like it. If toughness is what you’re looking for…and if you don’t mind a patina…go for k390. It is amazing!
Cool video. I use the Dragonfly 2 Salt with H1 steel for cutting cardboard boxes and such, and it does a very nice job (I rounded the top "beak" a bit for comfort), though my newest EDC is the serrated Manbug Salt in H2 steel (I only have 2 serrated knives in my collection), as it is even smaller than the Dragonfly, and has a sheepsfoot blade, thus is less threatening to people, if I'm getting it out of the pocket BTW did you mod the Caribbean handles?
I dyed the scales on the Caribbean to a dark red. I like them much more now. I never liked serrations on knives. So I started testing serrations vs fine edges. I learned to sharpen serrations. I can't say i like serrations now...but i like to sharpen them and play around with them. For small knives, and salt knives...they could make sense.
