Work Knife, CPM-M4 or ZDP-189?

H

HardUse

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Jan 13, 2010
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I need a new knife for work and hard use. I'm an electrician so I use a knife all day to strip big wire, cut electrical tape, cut rope, packaging, bundling etc.

I've got it basically narrowed down to either a Gayle Bradley M4, or an Endura ZDP189. I've heard ZDP189 is hard to sharpen. My first choice is the Gayle Bradley. Can anybody give me some input?
 
I'd probably go with the Bradley of the two you mention. M4 is less likely to chip if you hit a staple or discover that plastic band is actually a steel band. It takes less time to sharpen as well.
 
I recommend an SE ZDP-189 Endura or Delica. Or even VG-10. I think it would be good for both wire stripping and rope cutting.
 
+1 for the M4.

I use a Mule with M4 in my kitchen everyday, cuts everything. I don't have to sharpen it often, and if I hit the blade on the counter or a china plate I don't worry about it chipping.

The ZDP189 Mule can be 'sharper', but it's a little more fragile.
 
Definitely the Bradley M4. It's easier to sharpen and more chip resistant. Can take a lot more abuse.
 
I agree with the majority that M-4 would be inherently better suited to harsh use. ZDP-189 could do the job just as well with the right edge profile, but the Gayle Bradly looks like it's set up pretty well right out of the box, and is by far the nicer knife
 
ZDP could definitely do the job if the edge wasn’t too thin, I seem to remember someone beating the hell out of a ZDP endura just to test it (Solo maybe?) and it did just fine. I would still pick M4 though, because M4 is the bomb :D.
 
most elects use smaller knifes...... Love my new M4 Spyderco, but am not sure It would be my 1st choice for stripping wire.
 
My work folder is a zdp delica, cuts rope like a demon but if you hit a staple, nail, or drop it on concrete it will chip. I've done it a few times, I've no experience with m4 but other tools steels I've used are far less likely to chip (d2)
 
I'm an electrician as well and I agree that smaller knives are the way to go. I usually like something around 60-70mm of cutting edge for use with wires. Don't buy into the hype of super steels too much though, anything that holds an edge that will last you the day will be fine.
 
Well I've used a few knives over time and shorter knives are not for me. I'm a commercial electrician and strip BIG wire, like #4-750 MCM/KCMIL. A longer blade makes it easier. I also use the knife a lot to cut electrical tape on wires inside of LBs/Boxes so a short blade makes it harder. A longer and thinner blade is more useful. The knife also comes into contact with metal or hard objects frequently. I very rarely work with wood.


To be honest, a Spyderco Dodo would be ideal but I can't find them anywhere. I hope they release a new one soon. Right now I beat on a SOG Trident Tanto at work and it frustrates me sometimes. The blade won't cut through simple tape or packaging sometimes, and the edge wears off very quickly and also rolls very easily. The blade is loose and the assist mechanism barely works.

I need a tough knife so it looks like the Gayle Bradley fits that role well. After I use it at work for a little while I'll post a review on here.
 
Have you considered the Stretch? Its similar in size to the Gayle Bradley and Endura. Available in ZDP-189 and VG-10 blade steel.
 
I'm an electrician and I've gone through a ton of knives looking for the right one. Unfortunately after spending thousands a replaceable blade razor knife is my favorite for electrical work. I bought some lenox gold blades for it (mine is a cully non folding with a retractable blade) and they last for months stripping wire.
Other than that I like the Spyderco Rock Lobster for electrical duties. That thing is a wire slicing MACHINE!

I've been on a knife collection downsizing at the moment, I bought a CRK insingo, I was thrilled that it had the blade shape of the rock lobster. The arc of the blade is almost identical. So I decided I would sell the rock lobster. When I took it back out of its box to take some pictures, I decided I would rather get rid of the Insingo!

Here is a link to a review I did awhile back.
Rock Lobster review

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=638316
 
I hate multi-tools personally, they do nothing good. I wear a tool belt or have a tool bag next to me filled with klein tools. Wire strippers don't strip below #10 wire, you can get #8 if u use the wire cutters to round the wire out. There are so many things you need a knife for that a multi tool or even a razor knife can't do properly.

I also don't really like razor knives because of a bad experience cutting myself with one. The blades used to snap and bend easy. Of course that was like 10+ years ago so I'm sure they have better stuff now. I'll probably pick one up with the lenox gold blades to beat on but I won't use it much.

That Rock Lobster looks very interesting but it's more than I want to spend right now(Holidays put me on a knife buying spree). I'm ordering a Gayle Bradley today and I am going to put it through it's paces.
 
I'm also a commercial electricicn and have found that anything with a hollow grind is bad for stripping big wire the spyderco Gayle Bradly looks like a great hard use beater other than the hollow grind. IMO a M4 Ritter may fit the bill better, I personally like a sng or xm18 for work myself !!
 
As far as wire goes, how big are we talking? I'm an underground lineman, and the average stuff we work with is 500mcm-800mcm. For that, I'll use one of my good spydies just to remove the jacket, but for aught or smaller I'll use a byrd crossbill. I have two knives on me at work; usually my millie for cutting mule tape, vinyl, and general use, and the crossbill for skinning smaller gauge wire like 1/O and smaller. Don't discount the crossbill as a fantastic inexpensive work knife. The hawkbill blade skins beautifully and, at least on mine, the edge retention was more than adequate for a looong period of time.
 
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