Knives that perform similar to the Spyderco Gayle Bradley?

T

termiteslayer

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Dec 18, 2009
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Of all of the blades I've used at work the Spydie GB is in the lead.
I work with wood and it fills a legitimate spot in the cutting tools lineup.
Lots of whittling in corners, lots of small chopping chores, lots of scraping and lots of sawing motions in wood of unknown depths where hitting the metal underneath is inevitable. I've run it over close to ten feet of steel sheeting (light to moderate pressure in areas where I had no option but to run the blade on metal...:() and it's still sharp enough for most needs. This is what I call reasonable hard use, I don't pry, screw or smash it with a hammer. I will give 'er a light tap with a mallet when doing small chopping chores with no issues at this point.
Anyway, I've spent a hell of a lot more money on other quality knives and they simply don't measure up to the GB on the job.
I'm sure the CPM M4 is the major factor here but I think the grind might be almost equally important.
I can't get thin flat ground ZDP 189 to cut as easily as the GB even if I get the ZDP 189 slightly sharper than the CPM M4.
Maybe it's all in my head. The fact is that I haven't fought the GB. My other blades seem to have a 'struggle' factor in certain areas.
So, any ideas for knives of similar quality/performance? Weight isn't an issue for me. 3" or less might be good just to stay within legal range in most areas and I'm not a fan of 'tactical' stuff.
One handed opening is nice but not necessary.
 
When I read your question I though that theres really not anything in the price range with equal components until I read that next post... I agree that the SG2 JYD is another of the super crazy cutting machines. It has a high thin hollow grind much like the GB which makes it cut like a bad boy. The SG2 core is run nice and hard and takes an unbelievable fine edge and holds it for a long time. The 420J on the outside of the blade is nice and soft to add durability also. Check it out.
 
I didn't know San Diego had a 3" blade rule.

Than aside, the BM 760 LFTi also has M4 steel, but I believe those cost more than the Bradley. Kershaw's Ti JYD with SG2 steel or their Blur with the same steel might do as well, but I don't recall it performing as well as M4 (I had a BM 760 with M4 that I used for a while).

Kershaw's Volt might do well with that Bohler M390 steel edge (CPM D2 spine). I haven't used mine yet, but from what I've read, it's properties seem to be very similar to M4.

I used to think ZDP-189 was awesome & it is very good, but I don't believe it can be ground to as thin an edge as M4 while still being tough enough to not chip.

I guess there's a reason M4 seems to dominate chopping contests.
 
Good luck, The steel has a optimal heat treat and hardness (64Rc IIRC) the blade has a VERY nice hollow grind and its some of the best steel you could ever ask for.

Unless you go custom with the same steel and blade grind I don't think you will find better.

Yes, the steel is what makes it so good.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Good luck, The steel has a optimal heat treat and hardness (64Rc IIRC) the blade has a VERY nice hollow grind and its some of the best steel you could ever ask for.

Unless you go custom with the same steel and blade grind I don't think you will find better.

Yes, the steel is what makes it so good.
Click to expand...

+1 I can't think of a replacement for the GB.
 
Yep. The "other company's" CPM-M4 blades do not IMO/IME perform anywhere near as well as the GB. Hardness...grind...other factors, too, probably.
 
CL01 said:
I didn't know San Diego had a 3" blade rule.
Click to expand...

It doesn't, at least a couple of the local LEO's told me that, some told me otherwise.
I'd like to do some road trips and 3" or less would probably be a good way to go when crossing many states. Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado are about the only places I want to go, though I'd like to check out the Dakotas.
A knife that falls within the legalities of most places I'd go would be nice.
 
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ditto to the positive comments on the m4. last year i used an m4 mule to cot cardboard for 23 minutes. far escliping any other alloy i've tested. after all that the mule would scrape hair.
dennis
 
For your uses I'd say no. The combination of toughness, thin blade geometry and super-sharpness can only be achieved with a blade like the GB's.

Light weight can be achieved with maybe drilling or milling out the liners.
 
Spyderco needs to get busy and release more M4 knives. Unfortunately it appears there are supply troubles on that front. :(
 
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