Zero Tollerance 0550 : Design by Rick Hinderer

My main reason to purchase this basic looking folding knife was my curiousity for the ergonomics and quality. I am usualy a 4" blade user, but in this knife I experience the same. My first impression is that both size as non-binding shape it is a very good alternative for a EDC knife for a rather low MRSP.

In general the fit & finish of the 0550 is of a high standard. Not only the blade has a good, factory sharp and equal on both sides edge, but also the lock up is, non-slippy, non-sticky and solid. Just a drop of oil and a few days of use, opening and closing made the blade run with smooth action.

De G10 scale does not appeal visualy to me, but I am impressed by the 2d machined execution. It provides a lot more grip then the usual standard G10 versions.

The two sides of the handle are kept together by three stand-offs and the pivot. Naturaly this Hinderer designs comes with a lock bar stabilizer. To take the knife down, you need a simple Torx 10 for the stand-offs, a Torx 8 for the pivot and a Torx 6 for the disk and pocket clip bolts.

In closed position the blade is perfectly centered with a nice detent.

Specifications:
• Steel Grade: CPM S35VN
• Blade Finish: Stonewashed
• Handle: Textured G-10 / Titanium
• Titanium Finish: Beadblast
• Blade Length: 3 1/2 in. (8.8 cm)
• Closed Length: 4.625 in. (11.75 cm)
• Overall Length: 8.125 in. (20.6 cm)
• Weight: 5.8 oz. ( 164,5 gr)


Some extra detail pictures;

The tumb studs make contact on both sides of the handle.

Oversized lanyard hole to attach the lanyard very easy.

Grip on the down side of the handle.

Non-agressive thumb ramp.

Perfect, not to early, not to late lock-up.

Stabilizer disk.

The well known engraved ZT monogram on the clip.

Hinderer XM-24 : Spanto

After I first had the 3 inch Hinderer XM-18, I tried the 3.5 inch flipper version. Since I fancy large folders that much, I had to pick up a XM-24 to satisfy my curiosity. Shortly after the flipper came in I purchased a non-flipper to find out what I like the best.

Specifications:

Blade Length: 4" / 100 mm
Handle Length: 5.625" / 130 mm
Overall Length: 9.125" / 230 mm
Blade Thickness: .185" / 4,75 mm
Lockside Thickness: .185" / 4,75 mm
Liner Thickness: .150" / 1,27 mm
Overall Handle Thickness: .590" / 15 mm
Weight: 7.8oz / 221 gram
Blade Steel: CPM-S35VN
HRC: 60-61

Microtech MTX2 Manual Action

I was prety impressed when I purchased this particular Microtech MTX2 M/A. It's my first Microtech since I'm not realy into automatic knives. It arrived as NIB with box, pouch and papers. I'm affraid it will not stay this nice since it feels realy comfortable in my hand I'd like to EDC it next to my SMF. Anyway I just like to share my joy in a little photoshoot with you all.

The ergonomics are realy great although you would'nt say so when it's closed. By leaving out the blade choil, the index finger can be moved over the bolster towards the tip.

This is as good as it's going to get when it comes to F&F in a production knife in my believe. The Micarta inlays are a nice detail in the design.

Specifications:
• Steel Type: S30V Satin Finish
• Blade Lenth: 3.55" (9,0 cm)
• Lenth Closed: 4.45" (11,3 cm)
• Overall Lenth: 7.98" (20,25 cm)
• Scales: Canvas Micarta
• Bolsters: Titanium
• Liners: Titanium
• Pocket clip: Titanium
• Weight: 5.2 oz
• Production year: 11/2004
• SNR: 0177
• Pouch: Nylon

Although this knife is probably considered a Tactical knife, I'd like to call it a Gentlemans knife with a tactical touch.

Lone Wolf T3 Harsey Combat with Micarta scales

After searching for more than a year I finaly found this NIB Lone Wolf T3 Harsey Combat with Micarta scales. Somehow I just could not find one anywhere. The Ranger version with Nylon scales is sometimes put up for sale, but the Micarta version is the one I wanted. Although Lone Wolf does'nt excist anymore and the T3 is hardly seen, I thought it would be nice to give this discontinued knife its own post.

A few things are remarkable. Even though this is an exeptional large knife, (4.8" blade) it still fits my hand just fine. Easy to move around. No problem to open and close with one hand. The blade runs on brass washers and pivot ring and has an pretty smooth action. Leaving out a blade choil in the design makes it comfortable to move up your hand toward the blade. The thumbstudd is placed at the right spot. Just behind the grinding, so when sharpening, it will not be in the way. No blade play in any direction. Solid lock-up thanks to the thick Titanium liner.

Specifications:
• Blade Length: 4.8" / 12,2 cm
• Blade Finish: Bead Blasted
• Length Closed: 5.9" / 15,0 cm
• Overall Length: 10.75" / 27,3 cm
• Weight: ?? oz
• Blade Material: CPM-S30V
• Handle Material: Micarta
• Liners: 6AL4V Titanium
• Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel
• Fasteners/Rivets: Stainless Steel
• Sheath: Harsey Sheath System

Nice details and finish make this discontinued T3 a true High Quality knife in my book.

This is the first and original design of what later on would be named the T3. This happend when the other two sizes where designed. The T2 and T1 completed the series. On this particular blade the 'T3' naming is not yet etched.

The durable (MOLLE) cordura pouch is strenghtened between the fabric layers with hard plastic material.

Overall I'm pretty impressed by the largest folding knife I ever held.

AR HG : #073, 1st Edition, 2001

No glamour pictures of a display knife this time, this is a true user, always been and it will stay like that.
This particular knife only had one owner and served / used it in Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar.

For over a year I have been on the look out but they are never for sale.

Probably since almost non of these only (101 numbered) AR knives are left.

When I received it the dirt on and inside the whole knife was enormous.

I took it a part and cleaned it out sufficiently and put it back together.

The blade has lost some steel from almost 12 years of sharpening but is always taken good care of.

F'ing sharp after some Diafold® sharpening and stropping with lots of life left in her for many years.

Nice thin hollow grind, strong detent, thumb killing locking liner and ridiculous early lock up.

The thumb stud is just like on my GB new press fit, but installed with screwthread.

She might not be your beauty Queen, but strong and sturdy she is for sure.

I will use her for daily stuff and enjoy the thought it had some good use in the past.

Side Info:
The black striping on the Old School AR and GB's with ATS-34 and BG-42 blade steel is created by the heat treat Lighter parts are only blasted while the black parts can never show wear signs. The new tiger stripes are created by first black oxide and then bead blasting. The reddish color is the result of the heat treat although it shows poorly in my pictures.