While Stedman is most widely known as the soul mate to the future ruler of planet earth,
it’s also a several year old knife company based out of China competing with high end
knives, I guess also made in China… like We and you know everywhere else. So Stedeman
is pronounced like Oprah’s boy toy only not spelled the same. So let’s look at the
overall dimensions, as you wonder if I have run out of interesting things to say during
my opening bit. I guess I could offer corrections for prior reviews, because I always have plenty
of those. I erroneously mentioned the nylon handles were G10 on my Ontario Rat II review.
I would humbly apologize if it were my fault, but a combination of the word not bolded and
flashing on the product description and the scales manufactured in a way to purposely
trick an idiot Youtuber.. well Knife Center and Ontario should be the ones apologizing.
With the length and weight. The blade size and cutting edge. Also it was my mothers fault
for not showing me how to properly apologize. Handle size and grip area… and the alcohols
fault for making me not feel like putting more effort into it. Spine thickness and handle
thickness. And Youtube’s algorithms fault for not catching the mistake . Tallness and
flipper protrusion. Plus I’m 38 and have been reviewing dozens of knives for only a
few years- I’m just a kid.
Now I’ve done some research, I’m not saying it’s good research, just research… the
official product description on the Gear Best page is “Ball Bearing Quick-open Pocket
Frame Lock Folding Knife - GOLDEN” It is not sold under the Stedemon name, but
it looks identical to Blade HQs Stedemon ZKC A01A.. the box on mine also says Zon Knives
Company… or ZKC for short… and if you head on over to Knife Center you’ll find
the higher end versions of the A01 in titanium and S35VN. I guess so basically while Gear
Best’s product description doesn’t say Stedemon, this is a Stedemon. Because the
box says it and so does the knife and satan. Except this is $86 and it’s $119 on Blade
HQ. So let’s look at the blade first which is a standard straight backed blade, which
is the first I’ve reviewed in a while. You’re like you may as well just call it a karambit.
Come on man G10?? The blade is flat ground, with a satin finish and made from CTS-204P
steel. This is the first knife I own with CTS-204P steel, but according to steel website,
totally not run by a troll farm, it’s made by carpenter and it’s like Bohler M390 but
with a hair more tungsten. Awesome. In non steel nerd terms (yeah those are a type of
nerd) that’s supposed to translate into a high wear and corrosion resistant steel.
Also note the carbon fiber insert blade flair.
The knife is a ball bearing flipper. Meaning it has a flipper tab that you swipe with your
finger to open. It is an okay smooth opening, you need to hit it with a moderate amount
of force for consistent deployments though. I prefer a slightly longer flipper tab than
on here because it gives you a little more metal to swipe at. There is tab jimping, it’s
not sharp but it is a tab aggressive- yeah I’m running out of em. The lockup is handled
by a an aluminum frame lock, with a hardened steel insert. The frame lock is neither the
stiffest or easiest I’ve ever disengaged… long term fidgeting may wear on the fingers.
Detent is very strong, and I can’t get it to open by flinging it downward.
The handle is made from aluminum with carbon fiber inserts. The carbon fiber inserts are
adhered to the surface probably with glue or some shit, and not full on handle replacement
sections, it probably helps save weight, but it’s mostly there for high performance looks.
The knife comes in less ugly versions like a blue or a black- both seem to go better
with the carbon fiber then the reddish copperish color of the aluminum here. The handle is
smaller… this is a compact knife, and a bit smaller than I like to every day carry,
and it’s mostly comfortable, with the exception the the handle section right where the A-01
model number is written… which is in front of the frame lock. It’s a little sharp right
there. To get a full good grip my thumbs needs to sit almost past the blade spine jimping.
It is an open backed design, and there’s a…. I’m pretty sure titanium and not aluminum
backspacer, so you can paracordize the shit out of it- should you so choose. You’re
like are you sure that backspace isn’t G10.
The pocket clip, and this is a first for me, is carbon fiber (or G10), which feels about
the same amount of tension and springiness as a tighter stainless steel pocket clip…
although it does go into the pocket, it is a tight clip and isn’t as effortless as
say on my Spydercos, which are a little easier to pull up as they go into your pocket. If
your pockets are of a thinner material though it is actually nice for that. It’s tip up
carry only, and blade backward in my right pocket.
How about a few comparisons. Let’s pull out some of my high end integral flippers…
or if I don’t want to sound like I’m paying royalties to Chris Reeve, knives with frame
locks. Integral lock, frame lock, G10, all basically the same thing. First is the A01A.
I dunno, it’s a well made knife, has quite a few high end features… ball bearing, carbon
fiber, decent blade steel, good centering and fit and finish… not exactly my smoothest
ball bearing knife, but whatever. Now my $300 ish Benchmade 765. I don’t use this knife
a whole lot except in these comparisons… it’s light also has a very strong detent,
and deploys a bit smoother than the A01A. However it has a sharp part up in front of
the frame lock too… much sharper than this. It uses Bohler M390 a similar steel to the
A01. The blade is longer and I do like that better plus it ain’t as ugly. Now the HX
Outdoors ZD-005… it retails for about $100, legit carbon fiber, titanium, nice lookingish.
I have found Tantos aren’t my favorite in an every day carry. I prefer long cutting
edges with a slight belly. Both the A01 and have similar flipping action. What about the
HEADdesigns Poison. I carried this knife a lot last year, but less so now. I don’t
dislike it, but there’s a lot of knives competing for my pocket space. It’s a faster
flipper because I oiled the pivot, but otherwise it was gritty and not as sharp as I would
have liked out of the box. I do love the look though… and I’m sure some people hate
it. Okay now, let’s do the para military 2. This is a good every day carry knife just
a little heavier… I broke my rules this is not an integral but uses a compression
lock- a better lock in my opinion- at least for a daily carry knife.
Ok so the A01A is actually a well made knife. It would have made sense for me to offer an
natural aluminum color, because it would have complemented the carbon fiber a bit better-
at least in my opinion. It’s kind of a tall stubby knife, and if they made it more elongated
and slimmed down the profile from the side well, that’s my jam. Fit and finish, materials,
and if this knife uses a legit CTS-204P well it rivals all my knives which max out at about
$450 retailish. I feel the flipping action could be smoother, but I’d be lying if I
said I haven’t said that about knives I own that retail for above $100. Anyway, if
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