dogboy
IDPA RSO / NRA RSO
U ever handle one? I thought my benchmade bone collector was a thick and heavy knife to carry for its size until I picked up an adamas. The thing feels like it's a mile thick and made of lead. It's tough for sure, but not sure I'd like one as an edc. You could probably carry a knife of normal size AND a small fixed blade for serious work easier than carrying that brick of a knife.
I handle one every day, carrying it right now. Yes, it is thick and heavy, but isn't a problem the way I carry it. In its pouch on my belt. And lest you think that is necessary, ... well, maybe it IS necessary for the Adamas... but I also carry my 560 that way, as well as several others. I'd also carry my 0301 that way, but it won't fit. I like belt pouches, and the Adamas helps counterbalance the Wave on the opposite side.
They are neat, and for the price it's not bad, but more of a knife for a belt pouch than in a pocket on a clip. I have looked at them, might still pick one up next time work starts handing out Amazon cards. It's probably the only somewhat practical folder in the same league as the ZT300, both are overbuilt, large and heavy, but from handling them the 300 is way more comfortable, more rounded and compact, better steel, and the AO flipper is great on it. On paper the Axis is stronger than a Ti framelock, but I'm not sure to what degree, and outside of trying to make it fail ala spinewhacking both would hold up to most anything. The fixed blade 375 is pretty cool for the most part too, but I can't stand scale-less knives or cord wrapped. They hold goo and dirt in the wrap, and can be uncomfortable with the narrow handle edges, without wrap they are hot, cold, look like crap, and are uncomfortable. Slap a pair of G10 scales on it, and I would buy one. In either case I use my knives, but take care of them, and realistically anything more than a 3" spyderco is more than I really "Need" on a daily basis, but there is little to do with "need" when it comes to the knives we enjoy most.
You sound like you've been in my head rummaging around with what you just typed there, for the most part. The only place I might not agree is with the statement of the S30V being superior to the D2. Even with KAI's S30V (which is done better than most), I do not see it as especially better than D2. Just my preferences. The S30V works, and works well; it is just that the D2 does as well. And I will say, in a Benchmade brand, I would typically prefer D2 to S30V.