How do the EZ open and Enigma compare, since you have them both?
They are very different knives. EZ open is just that, very easy to open, light detent but not so light as to feel unsafe maybe a 4? But very different feel. The Enigma is a stiff slipjoint, to me 7-8 pull.
I prefer no easy open notch but without a nail nick it’s necessary on the Viper.
Both have fairly large handles which are great in hand and O.K. in pocket.
I like both blade shapes, but for most things I think I prefer the Enigma, with its less drastic belly and the plunge grind a little further out from the handle, (easier to wipe clean).
I’ve got US2000 and M390 Enigmas, and of course the Viper is M390. (My fav steel is Cruwear and US2000 is essentially that) So far both M390 knives are comparable. Good heat treat. The Viper was sharper out of box but both have perfectly even grinds so bringing the Enigma to a screaming edge was easy enough.
I’ll give the F&F edge to the Viper but not by a lot. The Enigma has a little gap between the spring and liners due to the washers. The Viper is open construction so not a factor. On both my Enigma’s the liners are slightly proud of the spring when open, (after a fair bit of use). I buffed the sharp edges off so you can barely notice, and if anything it provides a little more traction.
IMO both knives are worth more than the asking price and you should get both! Really though, both are using their own set of premium materials and coming in at the same price as everyone’s favourite traditional brand, (which I really like too) that uses of course good materials but as much I like 1095, steels like M390 and US2000 are quite a draw to try a different brand. Not to mention fancy pants pivots, (mosaic on Enigma and easily tightened on the Viper if ever needed), titanium liners on the Enigma, stainless steel on Viper, everyone keeps begging GEC to put out stainless and these guys are offering it with extra bells and whistles.
I really like both and am glad I don’t have to choose, but if I did have to, I’d grab an Enigma because they are not as readily available, I think there’s about 10 on their site unspoken for as of this post though...