Review Y-Start LK5008

Review Y-Start LK5008

Introduction

Today i bring you a very special knife from the Y-Start brand. We started talking about this company, it takes many years on the market but for some reason is not known really, not like Sanrenmu, Enlan, Ganzo… A few years ago it has several models of fixed knives that can still be found, as “knife with wooden handle old style”, or “swordfish”, both with AUS-8ª steel, also a copy of Baileys S4 on ATS-34 steel and several models. But it has also made knives for other manufacturers who have put their brand. In this I want to clarify something about the difference between copying a model and make a model for another company and then out you with your brand:

Imagine two knives of two different companies but are equal in design. Companies are called A and B.

It can take two things (among many others):

       1)  That the knife is original from A but B copies its design and puts its brand.

       2)  That the knife is original from A but B copies its design and puts the A Brand (fake).

       3)  That the knife is original from A but it offers to B and B put its brand name. But A puts this            model in the market too with its brand (A).

For some of the more quality knives from Y-Start have gone through the process 3). For example with its model Jin01, which it is identical to model of Steelclaw and to the Bokër magnum b&b. The Jin01 model on D2 steel from Y-Start also seems an excellent model to be analyzed.

A brand through the point 3) usually very good because it indicates that you have enough quality to other well-known brands rebrand with its name, for example Enlan also offers some of its models for Böker, like the EL01 and the EL17, that we can find rebranded.

But today we get the model Y-Start LK5008, I think it will not leave anyone indifferent, let's see...

Exterior design and appearance

As i said, its appearance does not leave anyone indifferent, has a fearsome appearance by a little width blade, with a spectacular back edge, very sharp and long. In general it has a fairly aggressive look so be careful where you use it to avoid causing fear in people.

OverView

Top view

We have several colors to choose and blade finishes: black, military green, and orange (much like Ganzo style). Only with black handle i have seen that you can also choose the blade “stonewashed”, not so in other colors.

We begin with some measures, which they are: 23.5 cm total length, 9.6 cm blade with a width of 2.7 cm and 4 mm thick, total weight 173 gr on the same scale used in all models tested. As we see, a bigger knife than we normally see. If the Ganzo G720 was a bodybuilder of 1.80 m and 130 kg aspect, this would be a basketball player of 2 m and 110 kg (taller, but thinner) to give us an idea.

Versus some of the most popular models in years.

Y-Start LK5008, Enlan EL01, Ganzo G720 and Ganzo G704

On the one hand, we have a blade style virtually “spear point” but tecnically would be a “drop point”, very penetrating tip, narrow blade, designed for piercing, with 9Cr18Mov steel (better than average) and partial flat grind. The sharpening factory is very good, one of the best that has come to me.

Impressive blade

Blade designed for penetration

View from below

Blade perfectly centered and good thickness

We could say that is a blade-type near to "stylet" (just nearby), thereby having “flipper” this makes guard and protect our hands when pearcing on hard things if hand slips handle.

Flipper with jimping

There are not many models with “flipper” in quality chinese knives with blades greater than or equal to 8.5 cm (Sanrenmu is discarded by blade size, not quality, and Real Steel because i think they are in another price category), some of the few examples might be: Enlan EL01, Inron My803 and Ganzo G743, hardly any. Indeed, if we think in a knife of the brands Enlan, Ganzo, Harnds, Inron and else, I can not think of at the time of writing this article on a knife with “flipper” but do not have “thumb studs” (not hinder when the blade does a deep piercing) except this LK5008 from Y-Start and the EL01 from Enlan (classic if ever there was).

The pocket clip has only one position and it's soft, The knife disappears in your pocket (the clip is at the top), but use long pockets...

Closed view

Regarding steel “liners”, they aren’t sharp below but they are sharp above the folder knife. The “liners” of the Enlan El01 are softer.

Handling and use

The advantage of a blade near to "stylet" type with “flipper” and not automatic makes it can carry without being illegal (of course depends on the laws of each country), for example, the model Ganzo G707 stylet type is automatic opening and that is forbidden in most countries, even possession at home.

Use for a knife like this is ideal for self-defense or tactical, by blade style and length. Having an aggressive look must think where you are going to use because it can scare people. If you want to prepare food on a camping or something like that, this is not your knife. It is only a contra if you want that.

I think the use of "flipper" in general is quite comfortable and also protects our hands, but in this case preferred a locking system "framelock" rather than a "liner lock" because piercing on things with a particular angle can lead to failures in safety lock and is preferable to have a system the strongest possible, this is generally speaking, in the model with us today, although it is a "liner lock" looks strong and with an aceptable thickness, although the Enlan EL01 one is thicker.

"Liner lock" Y-Start LK5008 vs Enlan EL01

In the handling we found no problem, and once locked, the blade has not blade play, vertical or horizontal after tightening a little the axis screw. Although in my copy I see the "liner" lock too deeply stuck on the blade.

"Liner lock" Y-Start LK5008

Relative to the G10 handle, touch, grip and texture is good. It is also anatomical and has a curve for supporting the finger together to a "jimping". The handle is quite long and thin.

Curvature with jimping to support the finger

Handle with good grip and non-standard screw

Opening the smoothness is good, although it’s difficult to open using the "flipper" without making a shake with the wrist, also the “jimping” that has the “flipper” makes me some damage. Note that has an opening system "ball bearing" (small balls in a bearing cause the blade to slide more smoothly than traditional washers).

If you see, it has not “thumb studs” for opening, only the “flipper”, i can not think right now in a quality chinese knife than the Enlan EL01 having a “flipper” and it does not have “thumb studs”. And I really spent years expecting to see a folder knife of the Enlan EL01 style, one of my favorites, and it seems that the time has come. The flipper should work very well as it is the only option to open with one hand, and yes, it works well.

One thing I have copied from the Elan brand is the non-standard pivot screws, which prevents to adjust the pivot to your liking, although in this case, with a flathead screwdriver can try to adjust, but it would be much better to have put a normal screw.

Final verdict

You will not find many knives that are similar, I would say that is almost unique in quality Chinese brands, with that blade morphology, total length and quality of construction, few.

Certainly worthy of being in the collection of people who collect Ganzo, Enlan, Sanremu etc. Y-Start shows keep up, not in vain manufactures for other brands that underline his signature. It's a shame that not more advertising or more distribution because it is certainly a reference brand.

I can recommend buying this knife without any doubt regarding construction quality, materials and design. A knife that will be among the favorites, you must not miss in your collection.

Pros

- Produces a surprise effect, it is spectacular. Yes, it is one of those blades that draw a smile when you open it, one of the best things that can produce a knife. Design that leaves no one indifferent, not many knives that are similar. Astonishing. in a word: a beauty

- Very good quality construction, materials and 9Cr18Mov steel, better than average and good heat treatment.

- A good size on handle and blade, always appreciated, in both cases superior to normal in size.

- Opening by ball-bearing.

- They are not many quality Chinese brands knives with “flipper”, and even less without “thumb studs” at the same time (only match the famous Enlan EL01).

Cons

- I would prefer a "framelock" system for a knife like this.

- Beware if you take off in inappropriate places, appearance is aggressive and can scare. It isn’t a contra, just that it is not suitable for all places.

- Non-standard pivot screws for adjusting the pivot as it does Enlan. Better would be a normal screw. However, it can be adjusted with a flathead screwdriver.

- I hurt the finger with the "jimping" of the "flipper".

- Handle "liners" with sharp edges.

Where to buy it

Fasttech

Campaign store:

https://www.fasttech.com/?utm_source=FT&utm_medium=forums&utm_campaign=NK

Y-Start LK5008:

Link: Y-Start LK5008

Final view