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- Nov 13, 2012
- Messages
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BM 810 Contego
Dendra Defender
ZT 560
BM 581
ZT 550
Spyderco Stretch ZDP-189
my largest folders. Contego, 581, and ZT 550 are my favorites
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250 wilderness folder suggestions?
- Thread starter olybears57
- Start date
BM 810 Contego
Dendra Defender
ZT 560
BM 581
ZT 550
Spyderco Stretch ZDP-189
my largest folders. Contego, 581, and ZT 550 are my favorites
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2013
- Messages
- 14,925
I have both the Spyderco Gayle Bradley folder and the LionSteel SR-1 and they are both excellent knives. I find I prefer the SR-1 due to the strong frame lock with rotoblock, the glass breaker, low carry clip. The Spyderco has better steel, more versatile blade shape, and is a bit more dexterous.
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2006
- Messages
- 8,250
If he's serious about doing any kind of carving or fuzz sticks I would highly recommend shying away from anything with a skinny handle and for sure anything with a squared handle. I have a military and the blade can make some killer fuzz sticks but it causes discomfort in the webbing of your hand due to the skinny and squared off scales. Anything less rounded over then the scales on an alox sak and you're asking for pain in your hand IME. I would recommend the opinel like above, a sak, a svord peasant knife or something similar to the griptilian if he has to have a tactical folder. Also stay away from overbuilt folders as they aren't worth it IMO. It's a folder not a fixed blade so batoning and prying should be ruled out even IF he gets an overbuilt folder. You want something that cuts, not something you can baton through a cinder block.
And he'll be fine with a folder. I find I only carry a fixed blade because I want to, not because I need to.
And he'll be fine with a folder. I find I only carry a fixed blade because I want to, not because I need to.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2005
- Messages
- 2,892
I honestly think that the best outdoors folder is a humble SAK. Any model from Wenger or Victorinox with asaw is fine. It can do a lot more stuff than any single blade folding knife, no matter how good it is. The extra tools also help avoid doing stupid things with the blade.
My three favourites are the Farmer, OHT and Huntsman (or their Wenger equivalent, especially the locking 85mm ones). I also use an Electrician Plus a lot, it's like a Farmer with small sheepfoot blade instead of the can opener. The saw is great, and the awl on the alox models is awesome as well. The only drawback to SAKs is edge holding, but you can touch them up very easily and the blade geometry is excellent.
I understand the appeal of knives like the ZT 560 (I've got a few ZTs and love them!), but in practical terms I really doubt that it can be more useful for outdoors activities than a OHT (I put a plain edge on mine, of course).
However, if your friend is sdt on using a single blade folding knife then ZT is definitely a good brand to look at. Any flat ground Spyderco would work well, even if the tips might seem a bit fragile, they are great for wood working (my old Mini Manix is my favourite) and tend to be lightweight. Benchmade has the Contego, Adamas, and Griptilians. If toughness is what he's after and is willing to settle for AUS8 for a blade steel, then Cold Steel should be on his list as well. There are some very utilitarian designs using the Tri-Ad lock in their catalog (American Lawman, Voyagers, etc.), rather affordable too.
My three favourites are the Farmer, OHT and Huntsman (or their Wenger equivalent, especially the locking 85mm ones). I also use an Electrician Plus a lot, it's like a Farmer with small sheepfoot blade instead of the can opener. The saw is great, and the awl on the alox models is awesome as well. The only drawback to SAKs is edge holding, but you can touch them up very easily and the blade geometry is excellent.
I understand the appeal of knives like the ZT 560 (I've got a few ZTs and love them!), but in practical terms I really doubt that it can be more useful for outdoors activities than a OHT (I put a plain edge on mine, of course).
However, if your friend is sdt on using a single blade folding knife then ZT is definitely a good brand to look at. Any flat ground Spyderco would work well, even if the tips might seem a bit fragile, they are great for wood working (my old Mini Manix is my favourite) and tend to be lightweight. Benchmade has the Contego, Adamas, and Griptilians. If toughness is what he's after and is willing to settle for AUS8 for a blade steel, then Cold Steel should be on his list as well. There are some very utilitarian designs using the Tri-Ad lock in their catalog (American Lawman, Voyagers, etc.), rather affordable too.