ENLAN Wood Handle Folding Pocket Knife Review
on January 4th, 2012 at 5:51 amSteel Sahlute lovers of the steel!
Have you ever scrolled through folding pocket knives section on eBay and wondered what those cool-looking imported knives are like? Are they cheap because "they're cheap" or are we bypassing the BIG NAME brand mark-ups and getting a stellar steal?
On behalf of both of my faithful followers of this knife blog (jk on the "both" part), I had to dig in and discover. I contacted eBay seller sanrenmu.knife and asked if he'd be willing to send one for review. He did. For your info, here is his a link to his store:
http://stores.ebay.com/Knife-Made-in-China?_trksid=p4340.l2563
Review: Enlan 2.8 inch Blade Wood Handel Folding Knife M011
Ya know I love W-O-O-D handled knives. Ohhhhhhh yeah. I love one-handed openers. And I love pocket clip knives I can access quickly. Major props right off the get go.
Straight out of the package the initial "feel" of the knife was light…..almost too light.
I turned the knife over to view the linerlock. Hmmmmmmm…….I thought, this doesn't seem to fit safely under the blade (see pic):
I tested by putting pressure on the spine of the blade to see if it would slip. It didn't. I did it a few more times. Didn't slip. Hmmmmmm, well, ok then. Let's cut stuff 🙂
First thing to cut? As always, the cap of my cigar. Cut like a razor. BAM!
I then conducted the standard paper cutting test. ICE COLD!
So far we're rocking. The 8Cr13MoV steel blade was pumpin' out the cuts emphatically.
A few days pass…….I cut some cardboard, from a box to use for packing a knife, and the blade thumped as I smacked it on my desk. Dang it! A chip in the blade appeared. I wondered…….did I do this now, or earlier? I scratched my bald head, contimplating what may have caused this little "nick." Hmmmmmmmm……….did it just happen by hitting my desk? No matter when, I now had a knick. &$%#(*@&
Moving right along. I'm carrying this knife, opening Christmas presents for the grand kids, cutting those dang clamshells like nothing, knick ot knot.
It opens easy. It's a "tip-up" knife so when it's extracted from my pocket the thumb stud is down, placing it right next to my thumb on the draw. That's a big PLUS in my book when it debating the ACCESS FACTOR, which I detailed in my last review of the Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara2 . You can see the position of the thumb stud for right handed carry in this pic, knowing the pocket clip is located on the opposite side at the non-opening end where the tip of the blade is:
About this time, later into the day with the brother in-laws on Christmas, I knotice the pocket clip is wiggling. I checked to double check the wiggling sitiation and dang nabbit if it wasn't moving back and forth. Not much, but it was loose. Of course I can tighten it I thought, but I've only had this rascally rabbit for a week and she's coming unglued. (That doesn't imply that the pocket clip was glued onto the knife, it's just my way of saying "things are gettin' crazy")
Ok. I'm a week into this knife. I've got a chip on the blade. A loose pocket clip. And the linerlock doesn't line up securely under the blade. The blade is knot slipping closed on my dainty fingers but I'm cautious. At this point I removed the knife from my rotation and set it on my desk. I was kind of dissappointed actually. 🙁
I will say this. The shipping was fast from China. I received the knife in like 8 or 9 days. I thought that was impressive.
On to the COLLECTING FACTOR. I also consider this the resale factor. Will the knife resale for close to what you paid for it? More? Less?
I believe the price is $13.85, including shipping. That's quite reasonable, but will it fetch that if it is resold? Personally, I don't think so. In that light I'd have to grade the knife a a little less in the STEEL SAHLUTE SCORE!
Which slices me right into the STEEL SAHLUTE SCORE.
I'll subtract -1.0 for knick in blade.
I'll subtract -.50 for linerlock knot fitting snuggly under blade.
I'll subtract – .30 for clip coming loose (I can re-tighten that).
TOTAL STEEL SAHLUTES = 8.2
Now you have some answers about the inexspensive imported knives.
Steel Sahlute!
Scott