best tactical/hard use edc folding knife?

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Waldamir

Joined
Jun 30, 2012
Messages
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hello again. I was wondering if anyone could help me find the best hard use edc/ tactical folder. I was looking at the ZT scavenger but I would prefer the knife to have an Emerson wave opening feature. I'm presently carrying my spyderco endura 4 wave but the knife develops side to side play very quickly. if I open and close maybe like 10 times it begins to develop significant play (in actuality it isn't that much but any play to me is significant play ). I know I've drifted off topic and this probably isn't the right place to ask about my play issue but I'm hoping people on this forum are understanding and can answer my question :) thank you for taking the time to read this.
 
So you want an Emerson. I'm partial to the Commander, or mini cqc15.

Spydie lock backs will all have a tiny bit of play, its part of the design. (I'm not kidding, search the forum for more info)

Be prepared though, the spyderco rendition waves more freely than most Emersons, which personally I like as you won't wave out an Emerson unless you intend to unlike the delica I used.
 
Hard use folders lack a lot of practicality in edc use, but the ZT gives a good balance. You can get a super tough folder that will hammer nails, but forget food prep, and fine work. Flip side, is true also. I love my spyderco police III, and my ZT 300 just as much. Good luck finding the perfect folder. For me it turned out to be an ESEE izula II. Not a folder, but for me an easy carry knife, tough as all hell, but still very capable of doing fine tasks and food preparation.
 
EricV said:
So you want an Emerson. I'm partial to the Commander, or mini cqc15.

Spydie lock backs will all have a tiny bit of play, its part of the design. (I'm not kidding, search the forum for more info)

Be prepared though, the spyderco rendition waves more freely than most Emersons, which personally I like as you won't wave out an Emerson unless you intend to unlike the delica I used.
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I understand that there will be slight up and down play but the side to side is what throws me off. i adjust just like any other lock back but then 5-10 deployments later it begins to get loose and then maybe after 15 or 20 its audibly loose
 
i should also mention that im on an 80-100 dollar budget. i know i wont get far with that but we all make it work and i just looked at the price of the ZT so that probably wont be added to my collection
 
Waldamir said:
i should also mention that im on an 80-100 dollar budget. i know i wont get far with that but we all make it work and i just looked at the price of the ZT so that probably wont be added to my collection
Click to expand...

Saw a scavenger go for that much a few days ago on a well known auction site.

Or look for a used ZT 0350.
 
Waldamir said:
I understand that there will be slight up and down play but the side to side is what throws me off. i adjust just like any other lock back but then 5-10 deployments later it begins to get loose and then maybe after 15 or 20 its audibly loose
Click to expand...

Try a little loctite on the pivot screw that should help with it. I have a Stretch that does the same thing, or did the same thing, just a tad of loctite and the pivot screw has stayed put.
 
I don't know how you feel about Cold Steel, but you might want to check out the Rajah III. It's a little bulkier than the Endura, but it has a thumb disk that acts as a wave feature and it's below your price range....it's a brute of a knife and has been classified as tactical with good utility uses.
 
Spyderco Endura 4 FFG (many choices of handle color to make a scary knife a non-scary knife). No blade play in any of mine.
Kershaw JYD II.
Kershaw Rake.
 
I would say for your budget of 80-100 I think you would get the most for your money with kershaw .you can choose what kershaw best suits your need.I have used a junkyard dog 2 as a camp knife for a few years and it held up great with no problems. I will add this, the best hard use folder is a fixed blade.
 
Waldamir said:
I understand that there will be slight up and down play but the side to side is what throws me off. i adjust just like any other lock back but then 5-10 deployments later it begins to get loose and then maybe after 15 or 20 its audibly loose
Click to expand...

Lock-tite is your friend in this instance.;)
 
might i recommend a benchmade Adamas. by far the best knife for the money in my opinion. with a coupon you can get it for about $120 to your door
 
If the OP's looking for a knife that can be waved open, why so many non waved suggestions?

First off, I think your pivot screw is coming loose for some reason. I'd check that out first & see if you can fix it (Lock-Tite, most likely). If you are looking for another EDC folder that you can wave, then:

A used Emerson is one recommendation. You might be able to find a decent used one within your budget (Most likely a used CQC-7). Personally, I've found the Emerson's wave to work a little better than Spyderco's. It's smaller, but angled out a little more, which (For me) seems to work better.

After than, Cold Steel has a few models (AK47 & others, I think) that have a protruding thumb-stud that "can" be used to wave. However, you are going to have to angle it out to ensure it catches. If you're even thinking of that, you could get a different Spyderco model (I assume one that you really like) & put the zip-tie on the thumb-hole as a catch.
 
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