.....

The more I carry and use it for EDC, the more fond I become of my lowly simply CRKT Mirage, both the zytel handled one, and the Grey Ghost model. For the money, they both provide a great knife and have held up under hard use.

While it's a little heavy for EDC in my pocket, I also give props to my Spyderco Chinook for being abot the toughest bult folder I have ever had.

Another knife I have that is built like a tank, but gets very little discussion it seems is a Katz 900 folder. This thing is massive, but incredibly well made.
 
It's funny how just a few weeks' time can change your opinion. For example, just two weeks ago I would have responded that I believe my Strider AR is easily the winner. Except for ONE day (actually a half day, I went home at lunch and switched my EDC), I have carried the AR and its performance has been flawless.

That answer does not hold to your debate. Consider this; I recently got my titanium CQC7 back. I'm ho-hum about chisel grinds. But if an AR and a titanium knife received enough abuse in salt (for a long enough period) the edge of the stainless blade would degrade. In keeping to your debate, the titanium knife wins.

Hmmm. Then I read a recent knife magazine article which reminded me that a knife "is for cutting." Good point; my Opinel OP-84 is the best slicer in the house. Not hard use, however, to your debate.

My wife has an eight dollar camp axe, and really great Gerber (?) axe used for brush clearing.

Yikes, I'm back-pedalling like a liberal!
 
"Hard use" is not my favorite term.

My definition of "hard use" would be using the knife far beyond how a knife is supposed to be used.

Like hammering it through a block of wood. Or prying open a door. The type of abuse that might snap a Spyderco Military in half.

In an absolute survival/do-or-die type situation, I can see the need for a knife that can handle this sort of abuse.

Most of the knives designed to be used in this manner are basically folding prybars, with thick blades and handles. They still cut - but not as well as a thin bladed knife.

Personally, I want my folding pocket knife to cut like crazy, and to have a lock that doesn't collapse easily. I don't use my folder as a prybar, a chisel, or even to chop down trees. I do use my knife to cut branches, break down boxes, cut carpet, cut zip ties, etc.

My current favorite work knife is the Benchmade 710. It has decent ergonomics, it cuts well, and it has a strong lock.

-- Rob
 
710HS. Been beating on this thing for over two years, now. I got it to try out the M2 steel, and intentionally abused it. Decided to try out BodyCote's boron carbide coating, since the BT2 was worn completely off. Got that done, and intentionally abused it a whole lot more. I've done everything my imagination can come up with short of just breaking the thing. Had to send it back for a broken spring, which sucked, and it looks pretty bad, but functionally it's as good as the day I bought it. It's been an outstanding knife.
 
Charles Marlowe Folders! He uses 3/16 thick blades and lock up like no other! Extreamly tough folders!:)
 
SOG tomcat, Al Mar SERE, Greco's folders, Buck 560, Spyderco Chinook, Sebenza, BM Axis lockers. For my budget the M-16-03-Z has turned out to be pretty sturdy. And if the mail will hurry up a plain edge Spyderco Rescue will be part of my EDC rotation.

Frank
 
I think that the Spyderco Military w/Combo Edge just can't be beat. What can I say that you haven't already mentioned?? Great ergonomics, a non-slip and TOUGH G10 handle, STRONG nested linerlock, easy clean open construction on a REAL handle, and that great edge holding CPM440V steel.

Military+CE.jpg


IMO, the Millie CE is "the ultimate survival knife for the backwood boonies or the concrete jungle". ;) :cool:
 
The best HARD USE folders? The SOG Tomcat. That bad-boy is STOUT! Also, the Chinook, but then, the blade does look alittle "weak" with that big Spydiehole that ate some of the steel away.
 
Admittedly, I haven't handled or used a lot of the knives that you are talking about but I've got to mention my Emerson mini commander.

I think it's a monster of a knife - strong and cuts extremely well. I intend on using it until I break it, but I can't see that happening anytime soon. I'm more of a knife abuser than a knife user. Nobody seems to mention emerson much but I'm really impressed with that knife.
 
Well, i would have said either a Sebenza or a Strider AR, but, honestly, i just cant bring myself to use the wood inlay Sebenza i do own, id be extremely depressed if i lost or damaged it, and though i dont yet own an AR, i would be equally upset if it were lost or damaged. I just cant bring myself to use or carry expensive knives.

But, as luck would have it, i finally got to handle one of the Buck/Strider lg. spearpoints yesterday, and i have to say, this thing is built like a tank, lockup was exremely solid, no play, the liner is THICK!!! And, engages the blade perfectly, well towards the left as it should be. From what i hear, the ATS-34 blades are very well heat treated and perform well. So, for a little over $100, its clearly a hard use folder, and one that i wouldnt cry TOO much if it were lost or broken.

The only caveat is, i examined 4 of them, and only one was what my anal self would consider flawless in fit and finish, so, if you want one, make sure you get a "good" one. Check for blade play up/down and side to side, see where the liner hits the blade, and look at the grinds to make sure theyre even. But, the one that was perfect, struck me as a great bargain at about $120, looks like it might be "alomst" as strong as my Sebenza, and thats saying something! :)
 
I can only vouch for what I have been exposed to and what I have used. That said, when the going get's tough, the tough break out their Crawford KFF. :)
 
BlackRazor,

Aliens, heh. Well, considering that I wouldn't know how 'corrosive' things might get (consider the blood in the 'Alien' movies) I would again chose the Benchmade 970ST, which is their titanium CQC7.

You know, even this choice has some gliches. The actual cutting edge on this knife is a 'carbide,' and I don't know exactly how they affixed it to the titanium. Further, even when I carefully sharpen this knife on the Edgepro, and carefully polish the burr off, the knife just doesn't seem sharp.

But let's be real. Aliens probably wouldn't care for the taste of my olive oil soaked flesh. You wouldn't need an 'anal probe' to know my diet really can reek some havoc. Any alien species would quickly cull me out of the herd. Based on this shorter time line, I guess the Strider AR would get me through.
 
Well for me, if abducted today or in the next several weeks, those aliens are going to get me along with my J.W. Smith LDC-5 that just came back from John with "upgrades" of my choice! Plain and simple...this is one of the stoutests knives in my stable.


Meg, I have the same experiences as you with the Buck/Strider sp. I've been fortunate in that the last two have been perfect. I think the qc on the knives must have been improved at some point in time.
 
Benchmade 710HS. I've tried to find something better, but I think it's impossible. I've carried a 710 for over 2 years now and no amount of abuse has fazed it. Flicking, stabbing, endless opening and closing, nothing hurt it. Thick stainless liners, thick enough tip (thicker than Military but usleful, unlike a Commander), Axis lock, strong steel. OH, and sharp, can't forget that. That's enough 1 handed typing for now, must get back to playing with knives....
:D
 
MT SOCOM, I have carried it for 6-7 years now always wrist flicked it open and used if for almost everything short of chopping wood. STill tight and still holds an edge with the best of them
 
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