Review Ganzo G712

Review Ganzo G712 

Introduction

Definitely a knife that is not lost, that's the phrase i would define the model that today i invite you to know.

It is a model of the Ganzo, a copy/based design (not falsified) of the knife Benchmade 860 Bedlam, although unfortunately a bit more limited. As I said you will not be indifferent to its overall design and Persian style. A folder knife clearly aimed at self defense sector. Unlike model 860 having different versions (plain edge, mixed edge, coated blade and without it) Ganzo only makes a version of this model G712 today.

Exterior design and appearance

It is a knife that surprises in style by having a blade "Persian style" with a big upward curve and be extremely pointy, attached to a handle that necessarily must have an end curvature to fit inside that blade.

There is a (blunt) back edge on top of the blade to improve the penetration, ending the back edge in a thickness of about 4 mm for a blade with a total of 9.5 cm approx, and it can say that the top of the sheet have a jimping (with sharp edges) where we can make more force with your finger although it is a bit small for my taste and i prefer the jimping of the Ganzo G704, but it's better than nothing.

Overview

The weight on our scale has been grams for a total length of 22 centimeters with thick “liners” for not to be a “liner lock” system and without without drilling, as is customary in most chinese models, also come with sharp edges. The penalty is that they have not used the same measures from model based on, It is smaller in both blade and handle and it doesn’t get the windows breaker from the Benchmade’s model.

We have a really anatomical handle, with finger choil for fingers and low height, all designed to grab hard, and a front guard for if it’s stabbing, the hand doesn’t slip towards the blade and hurts who wields. A declaration of intentions, the knife does not deceive his fighting style / self defense. The material used is a quite attractive G10 with smoothed lines and a medium grip.

Handle detail

Respect to the pocket clip, It is smooth and without sharp lines with a curvature which leaves the handle lifted, it offers good comfort when separate, besides its hardness is not high, rather soft. There isn’t interchangeable its position, while the two "liners" have made the screw holes, but only one side is made through the G10 handle.

Closed view pocket clip

The blade is of Persian style “clip point” 440C steel, which as we have said on other occasions, it must be really 9CR13Mov or 9CR18Mov but only in a laboratory we could know, and it’s partial flat ground coming sharpened above average and with a sharp angle symmetrical and quite good.

Blade detail

Closed blade detail

Opened view

Handling

Very good and safe grip with axis lock system, this system being used to open or close the folder knife moving the spring backward or using the thumb studs for opening. But the handling is not good because the two pivot screws come locked  and can not graduate, and that is fundamental in a knife. It is too hard and it’s difficult to open from a hit, thus failing to graduate it takes away many integers, but it can be a particular problem with our unit because this model come sometimes with a possible screw graduate. Ganzo normally blocks one of the pivot screws and let the other free to graduate, but on our copy both are blocked.

About the "Axis lock", it's not too soft and the lock cylinder does not fit the bottom of the blade as well as the Ganzo G704 model but more than the Ganzo G710 model. Why Ganzo makes the axis lock system something different in each model?. Again, in the implementation of Enlan’s axis lock of its EL04 model fits much more the lock cylinder on the blade than the Ganzo models.

System lock detail

I don’t see a type of knife suitable for food, meat cutting or peeling fruit, make thin slices of vegetables and that type of tasks, the curved blade removes many possibilities. Its function is to slice into combat tasks (having a curved blade the blade is longer in contact with the target while we draw a semi arc with the forearm and the cutting will be deeper) or stabbing in a movement from the bottom to up. I see this model more for collectors than for normal use or selfdefense, either for survival.

One of the worst types of blade that come to mind for “batoning” is this, a blade with a long and thin top blade also the great curvature of the blade would cause It is nailed to the wooden stick used as a baton.

The verdict

Definitely a knife that enters the eye, unlike most, and based on a more expensive model. Well done blade, good Steel and pretty good handle, ergonomic and efficient. A knife in the hand makes you a smile, but with some problems of quality control at least in the analyzed here. Despite problems encountered i can recommend this knife if you like their style.

Pros:

- A blade that call the attention, it is striking, is aggressive and different with his Persian style.

- Very good handle to grab heavily and a guard to protect the hand.

- Axis lock system.

- Feeling very nice to have it in hand, a piece that really like.

Cons:

- Aggressive fighting style that might scare some people.

- Blade very little practical only useful for combat since the tip "Persian style" makes Straight cutting   area is very low.

- Delicate tip, made to puncture.

- Problem encountered by having two screws blocked with very strong glue, it is impossible the pivot   adjustment.

- The "axis lock" could engage better.

Final view