Suggestions for a decent folding knife

[rucker]

I just realized we don't seem to have an official place for knife related stuff to go....

I am in the market for a decent (but not too expensive) folding knife for everyday carry. I have a leatherman but it's too heavy and bulky, you can't tell which blade you are opening, and you can't get a good grip on it.

Any recommendations on what brands to look at for under $100?

edit: also, why are spyderco knives so goofy looking?

[rtk]

Look at Cold Steel, decent quality for a fair price and in a variety of flavors.

rtk

[rucker]

Look at Cold Steel, decent quality for a fair price and in a variety of flavors.

rtk

Thank you! I had looked at those a long time ago and couldn't remember the name now!

[gman1868]

I like my Cold Steel Scimitar...

[jac714]

I have a Gerber I really like.

Reasonable price, durable, has held an edge well.

[gunshop guy]

I carry either a SOG Flash II or my CRKT (both under $50). Both work great.

[cobb]

Look at Cold Steel, decent quality for a fair price and in a variety of flavors.

rtk

My current favorite, Cold Steel Voyager folding knife, not too expensive and very durable.

[Wadero]

Second on the Cold Steel Voyager.

[1911fan]

Look at the spydercos. still putting good steel in the blade.

What are you looking for as far as appearance, are you looking for sheeple acceptable? or a little more aggressive looking folder.

I recommend Al Mar, Spyderco, particularly the made in Golden Colorado lines, the Japanese made spyderco's have held a great rep for quaility. Benchmades are good, strong and also made with good steel.

for traditional "grampa's pocketknife" along with high grade tool steel, try Queens cutlery, but get a lock back or liner lock

The fight among good quality knifes is the locking system. Some use a slipjoint, the traditional spring lock we all learned will cut your fingers off when we got a boy scout knife. better knifes use a positive locking system, such as a lock back, which is a steel bar that drops in behind the blade and prevents it from closing until you decide to push the latch and unlock it. A liner lock does the same thing, but is inside the slot the blade folds into, and snaps over when you open the knife and prevents the blade from closing until the liner is moved sideways.

There are some other locks like the Tbar lock (called axis by benchmade) or the button lock or bolt action used by Gerber on some, all have benefits and all have some deficiencies.

For the most part, ONLY buy blades that are made of great steel. CPM30sv, ATS 34, BG42, D2, 154 cpm, and 440C are all good, and can be trusted to be great.

44O stainless, AUS8 and some others can be good, but can suck too, as the window of heat treat is very small. Meaning that to get the best performance, the steel must be heated up to EXACTLY the right temp, then cooled at exactly the right rate, then reheated at the right rate, to the right temp, and then quenched off at the right rate, which makes it great steel, mess any of the steps up just a tiny bit and they can be worse than tin can steel ...

Any off the 420 modified, or 420 HC or surgical stainless are pretty much worthless. Any knife worth its money will tell you what the steel is. and no matter what the name, crappy steel or crappy heat treat, and its JUNK>

A VERY good deal is found at some walmarts, and that is Spyderco Native, in CPM SV30. American made, with a GREAT steel, for $40 dollars.

If you get up to a hundred bucks, or about 75 plus there are some great knives.

I do not want to put down any brands but for hte most part, the older big names have all gone seriously down hill. I would not buy a new buck, gerber, or cold steel or a CRKT. Buck is trying to comeback, but they have a long way to go, and aren't back yet. Gerber got bought out by fiskars and have not turned out something I would trust for a couple of years. Cold steel and CRKT are not manufacturers but are resellers and jobbers. they find people to make products they want at the price that they want. you can get good ones, but I have not found quality steady for a long time, and the number or returns they accept is staggering. Browning is the same way. Everything they sell is made by someone else.

PM if you questions,

Although legal to buy here in MN as "collectables" automatics are pretty much trouble waiting to happen as far as a useful tool.

a few good choices,
http://benchmade.com/products/product_d ... ?model=707

http://www.bladematrix.tv/index.asp?Pag ... odID=52832

http://www.bladematrix.tv/index.asp?Pag ... odID=24452

Two less tacticool looking but thoroughly modern knives....
http://www.bladematrix.tv/index.asp?Pag ... odID=50819

http://www.bladematrix.tv/index.asp?Pag ... odID=50228

[tt3]

I feel somewhat silly stating this after the previous post, but I love my Spyderco...

[cobb]

Another thought for you rucker.

Do you prefer a blade tip up or a blade tip down carry. Years ago I preferred a tip down carry like a lot of the Benchmade's were and at the time was a big fan of the Benchmade. But over a period of time, the inconsistent bevel of their blades I saw as a problem that I did not want to deal with. You can get a good bevel and edge on a Benchmade, I just wish they would not goof it up in the first place and make me spend way too much time fixing it, plus I think they are over priced, just like a Colt.

After some training and playing with different knives, I now prefer a tip up carry which is common with the Cold Steel, Spyderco and several other knives. I like Spyderco, but have found them weaker in the joint in their lighter carry models, the all metal Spyderco are more solid, but I still prefer the non serrated Cold Steel Voyager model overall.

You can spend several hundreds on a knife, but a $50 to $70 Cold Steel will do the job and you won't cringe when using it because of the price.

[Pat Cannon]

Am I correct in my impression that a carry permit makes it legal to carry a fixed blade knife?

'Cause I've been thinking that I want a small knife to carry on my left side specifically in case I want to make somebody let go of my right hand. This is based on two experiences I've had over the years, one with a person and one with a dog. As it turned out, in both cases they were playing with me, and I got them to let go by winning a staring contest. But I might not always be so lucky.

[David]

I think one of the best knives out there in the $100 range is the Kershaw Boa:

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?Pag ... ProdID=339

I had one for several years and then lost it. Liked it so much I bought it again. Assisted opening, durable, stays sharp, and higher quality than most brands. Kershaw is easily one of the best brands before you get into the custom or boutique brands. I've got some 50 knives, and this is the one I keep around me and rely on (and that includes some pretty serious brands like Emerson and Mad Dog, so that should tell you something). I'll show it to you on Saturday if you're coming to the steel shoot. One flick and I think you'll be hooked!

I also like Benchmades. I have two dozen or more of them. Many are under $100. Here are 12 pages of them:

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?Pag ... 076&Page=1

If you really need to stay on a budget, Columbia River makes good knives for the money. Notice the emphasis there.

And make sure before you buy anything that you at least check Roger's price at knifeworks.com. Great guy, and usually has good stock and decent prices. Excellent to deal with, too. When I was collecting knives, he'd call me from time to time when something came in that he knew I'd like. He was rarely wrong, and that attention to detail impressed me. He's got a funny Bayou accent, which makes it even more fun.

Spyderco knives look weird because...well, I dunno. I guess they are made to appeal to a certain type of buyer. I have a buddy who can't get enough of them. I think they're just going after the talon or bird-of-prey style, which definitely has its attributes. I only have two of them, as I don't care for the style either.

Careful now, Mike. Knives can be addicting! Buy one, and then save your money for guns.

[Jeff Bergquist]

If you really need to stay on a budget, Columbia River makes good knives for the money. Notice the emphasis there.

FWIW I've been happy with the CRKT M16 knife I got as a gift.

[DeanC]

Here's a little different twist - I have been carrying one of the new Cutco folders. I picked one up at the Sportshow this Winter. They had a booth and were having a buy two, get one free sale.



I have always loved the durable edge of the Cutco Double-D blade and the guarantee is unbeatable. My wife and kids have snapped the tip off one of my kitchen knives twice and they have replaced them no questions asked.