3" folder $100-200 range for outdoor use?

shredthegnar

shredthegnar

Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Messages
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Hi all I'm posting this for a friend - she's looking for approx 3" blade folding knife, $1-200ish price range for outdoor use and specifically rock climbing (easy one hand opening required). Bright color handle preferred for visibility!

Whats your recommend for this $ and use case?
 
You say 3", I say Sage 3!

Easiest open and close there is, and you can still get it in the bright "smurf" blue G10 somewhere for closer to $100 than $200. If I could only remember where I saw it...

Though I'm not a rock climber, so I don't really know what they need knives to do. If she's going to be stabbing it into rocks, you may want to look elsewhere. At 1/8" thick, it's no prybar. But if she's just going to be cutting things like a normal person, then Sage 3 all the way. One of my favorites, and definitely my favorite 3" blade.
 
Spyderco Domino. The CF is a dark color but is somewhat reflective. I suggest getting bright paracord in an unnatural color to make a lanyard.
 
Benchmade makes 3 that come to mind, the griptillian, mini barrage, and the 375 flipper. If she wants to save and spend a little less than $100 Im sure I wont be the only one to recommend the delica, its lightweight, great blade steel, and easy to open.
 
mtbaddict said:
Benchmade makes 3 that come to mind, the griptillian, mini barrage, and the 375 flipper. If she wants to save and spend a little less than $100 Im sure I wont be the only one to recommend the delica, its lightweight, great blade steel, and easy to open.
Click to expand...

The flipper is actually the 300. The 375 is the Adamas.
 
I would advise against the mini barrage for outdoor use. Just took mine apart cause blade wasnt deploying right and good god take down and putting back together is quite the pain. Way too much moving parts and not enough holes/gapes in the frame to where liquid and debris can fall out. Had rust around the pivot screw and blade big time and liners. Love Benchmade and like the 585 but don't get if going to be getting it dirty frequently. Get a Benchmade Northfork in S30V is what i would go with for a 3" blade. Well built little knife with great steel.
 
I would look at the HEST/F. I believe there were some runs of colored handles.
 
shredthegnar said:
Hi all I'm posting this for a friend - she's looking for approx 3" blade folding knife, $1-200ish price range for outdoor use and specifically rock climbing (easy one hand opening required). Bright color handle preferred for visibility!

Whats your recommend for this $ and use case?
Click to expand...

I've got a few friends who are rock climbers, and they are always looking to save weight. So I'd suggest an FRN or similar handled knife like the Native, Delica, Endura, etc. from Spyderco or the Giptilian and Mini Griptilian from Benchmade. Any of those should work well, they are all easy to open, have lanyard holes so she can tie them to her harness and come in different colours. They are all on the lower end of her price range, too.

If she's interested in knives and wants something a bit nicer, there are loads of options in that price range.

-Spyderco Manix 2 (especially the lightweight version, which also has a blue handle), Paramilitary 2, Junior.

-ZTs might be a bit heavy, but the 0350, 0566, 0550 and 0801 are well within her budget.

-Benchmade Triage (comes in orange!), Axis Mini Stryker

-Emerson has several models like the Mini Commander or A-100

-Hogue EX01

-Al Mar Mini SERE 2000

-Kershaw Blur
 
What's she need it for specifically? Cutting rope or something? Maybe a spyderco harpy.

Benchmade griptilian otherwise - they are ok knives, right around the size requested, they are lightweight, and you can get the handles in crazy colors. I personally hate em, but I think it would be a good choice for your friend.
 
DPx HEST 2.0 folder or HEST II fixed.

Don't stick her on a ledge with a girl knife.
 
DPx HEST/F 2.0 is available in pink, and there are scale makers that can make whatever you want for it. But that would be my suggestion for a 3" outdoor knife!
 
Just got my Kershaw Emerson CQC-1k in, wave open is the way to go. For ~35 shipped it's a deal, but I would get a spyderco Endura wave, better steel and smoother action. Can get that for ~80 or so
 
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