I know this is bordering on blasphemy, but ive found that some of the Chinese makers are putting out _much_ better ZDP189 than Spyderco. I had an SE endura and a Stretch 2 in ZDP and they both ended up having major issues. The endura i gave up on pretty early and gave it away, but i had tried a ton of different things with the stretch and it would always develop large (~1cm) sections where the apex essentially sheared off. Kinda like how a burr would, except it had been properly apexed. That made me avoid the steel for a long time, but after revisiting it recently, I've had nothing but great results from 3 different makers. Its actually becoming one of my favorite steels. The CF is probably my favorite thing about this knkfe. I have that same finish on the scales i made for my K2. They look and feel amazing, IMO.
That's good to hear in a way, because I have NOT been able to square my experience with Spyderco ZDP-189 with the data folks like Larrin Thomas get. You may have just given me an excuse to try some of the Monterey Bay Knives I've been eyeing...I don't buy many Chinese-made knives, but I will give them a shot when they're not just another churned out, disposable titanium flipper framelock. I will have to give it a shot and compare! Agreed, the CF on here is really nicely done. Wouldn't work on some handles, might be too slick, but looks AND feels great here. I've wanted to try the K2! Almost got one about a year ago, got beat to the punch over on Bladeforums. I've got two Farid Mehr Customs (video on those at some point, they are INCREDIBLE)...the last two customs from what used to be a large high-end collection...and they're very silly knives, but boy do they have character and a reason to exist.
I believe Moki is also in Seki City. Most of the Japanese Spyderco knives are made by G. Sakai in Seki City, but a few are made by Moki in Seki City. They just dont put Seki on the ones made by Moki for identification purposes even though they are in fact made in Seki City
I love mine have the same as you , scored it for 100 bucks a few years back . But i dig all the character this knife has . My chaparral is to thin and boring . To me the caly is a city PM 2 . But for all the points you bring up the Tashi prism would be more your flavor , I have but it’s to damn pretty to use and maybe lose . I know the caly is prob a collectors knife now but I rock mine out in the wild all the time lol . My PMs endura , delica and zdp dragon fly never see the light of day . But your review was excellent man !
I know this is bordering on blasphemy, but ive found that some of the Chinese makers are putting out _much_ better ZDP189 than Spyderco.
I had an SE endura and a Stretch 2 in ZDP and they both ended up having major issues. The endura i gave up on pretty early and gave it away, but i had tried a ton of different things with the stretch and it would always develop large (~1cm) sections where the apex essentially sheared off. Kinda like how a burr would, except it had been properly apexed.
That made me avoid the steel for a long time, but after revisiting it recently, I've had nothing but great results from 3 different makers. Its actually becoming one of my favorite steels.
The CF is probably my favorite thing about this knkfe. I have that same finish on the scales i made for my K2. They look and feel amazing, IMO.
That's good to hear in a way, because I have NOT been able to square my experience with Spyderco ZDP-189 with the data folks like Larrin Thomas get. You may have just given me an excuse to try some of the Monterey Bay Knives I've been eyeing...I don't buy many Chinese-made knives, but I will give them a shot when they're not just another churned out, disposable titanium flipper framelock. I will have to give it a shot and compare!
Agreed, the CF on here is really nicely done. Wouldn't work on some handles, might be too slick, but looks AND feels great here.
I've wanted to try the K2! Almost got one about a year ago, got beat to the punch over on Bladeforums. I've got two Farid Mehr Customs (video on those at some point, they are INCREDIBLE)...the last two customs from what used to be a large high-end collection...and they're very silly knives, but boy do they have character and a reason to exist.
I believe Moki is also in Seki City. Most of the Japanese Spyderco knives are made by G. Sakai in Seki City, but a few are made by Moki in Seki City. They just dont put Seki on the ones made by Moki for identification purposes even though they are in fact made in Seki City
I love mine have the same as you , scored it for 100 bucks a few years back .
But i dig all the character this knife has .
My chaparral is to thin and boring .
To me the caly is a city PM 2 .
But for all the points you bring up the Tashi prism would be more your flavor , I have but it’s to damn pretty to use and maybe lose .
I know the caly is prob a collectors knife now but I rock mine out in the wild all the time lol .
My PMs endura , delica and zdp dragon fly never see the light of day .
But your review was excellent man !