A do it all folder

H

HFinn

Joined
Sep 6, 2012
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I quess this has been discussed to death but here goes. I realized I lack a serious working folder, a large blade that can do most everything I want (I am not going to baton with it!). What I need is as follows:

The blade should be long enough (around 4 inches) to use in food preparation, to cut meat and vegetables.

It should be a cutting tool, not a crowbar. A good slicer. The knife should be light for it's size and carry well.

The blade and edge should not be afraid to process wood, to whittle and make chips and fuzzy sticks to start a fire.

The construction should be open or semi-open, I want to be able to flush the knife under water to get crud out and clean it. The knife should be immune to rust under the normal conditions where I live (fresh water, not seawater).

The lock type is otherwise irrelevant, but the requirements above limit it to either liner lock or frame lock. I have not owned a frame lock. The quality of the lock is more important than type.

So far Spyderco Military looks like it would fit every criteria and is on the upper end of my budget. Budget option would be something from the Realsteel, like the Megalodon. Thoughts?
 
The military would be a good option.

However, given your needs, an endura with flat ground blade would do just as well for a bit less. I used one for awhile in very similar capacity and it was great.
 
SVTFreak said:
The military would be a good option.

However, given your needs, an endura with flat ground blade would do just as well for a bit less. I used one for awhile in very similar capacity and it was great.
Click to expand...

How about keeping it clean with the backlock?
 
The more i read the more i was thinking about the military. But if that is too expensive for you, you could go for its budget cousin. The resilience, its really cheap... But its 8cr13. Its not as nice as a military so dont expect miracles but it would get you by for a while.
 
The Military makes a great work knife. Well worth it's price, and ticks all your boxes. You won't regret buying one.

Shrugs off crud very well.
( There is a Military in this pi)
vy5rb7.jpg

Arrrghhh...will fix pic on break..

After taking it out of the discharge shoot of my hydrasplitter.

2w6iiag.jpg[\IMG]
 
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HFinn said:
How about keeping it clean with the backlock?
Click to expand...

Soapy hot water and working the lock always worked well for me. It's not worse than cleaning the pivot area in any other knife and farther away from your food anyway.
 
As I was reading my first thought was the Spyderco Endura, but once the open construction requirement came up the Military was the only thing I could think of.

I've carried both for a long time and never had a problem with "crud" in the handle of either. At least nothing some soap and hot water couldn't take care of.

Personally, after many years of knife carry I find that open construction tends to let more things in than keep it out. Keys, change, and other small objects can easily slip into the handle of an open construction knife and ends up dulling the cutting edge. It can also prevent deployment by things getting wedged in there. I've had that happen with my Millie and car keys.

So, Spyderco Endura gets my vote.
 
Cold Steel broken skull. Its large 4" blade, excellent FFG grind and blade shape are excellent for food prep. Super light weight not sure I know of a liter weight knife in its size and incredibly thin in pocket. Lock is also super strong and you could batton with it if your really wanted to. Comes in a few cool colors, has great CTS XHP steel. Its a win all around and all for $63 at the moment. I got a grey one. Use it all the time for food prep, as my cheese board knife. Ideal for hiking and camping due to the stainless steel, blade length and most importantly weight savings. Sure the name is stupid and its kinda a older style blade shape but, its older because it works so well.
 
I would also put the Military at the top of my recommendations. Even if you have to stretch your budget a bit to get one, I think it'll fit all your requirements and you'll only have to buy one knife. There are many people here and in the Spyderco forum who will witness to the Military's versatility and longevity as a work knife.

Cold Steel would probably be my second choice, but you're gonna have to go with a backlock. They do have several offerings that might work for you, though.
 
Military is the answer. Just get one, it's worth it. I see some on the exchange for good prices frequently.
 
Well.. you guys got me interested about Endura. I have some Cold Steels but at this time none that would fit the bill. XL Voyager is a bit overkill allthough I own one and also Hold Out 1 :D

Do the springs in lockbacks rust easily? The millie is still in the list, not out of budget.
 
Hi! Have you considered the ZT 0909? Maybe not a “do it all”, but it looks it can fit most of the requirements you have listed :). Good luck with your choice :thumbsup:!
 
If the Millie is at the upper end of the budget, the ZTs are priced too high.
Go with the Millie. Fantastic knife that will do everything you need it to.
Also, it's a great fondle knife!!
Good luck!
Joe
 
I first thought of the ZT 0562 its a good slicer grind and fairly lightweight for what you get ... and I recently purchased a ZT 0909 which Im really enjoying so far ... but they do both have steel liners on the frame lock with your specifications may not qualify as they can rust but just a drop of oil after a cleaning will prevent that. I have a couple PM2s and I think they are a good deal for the cost and other then the compression lock may fit all your needs ... but Ive never used mine for wood craft so can't speak to how it handles that. Now if you are talking about the Millie not the PM2 it is a liner lock but I do not own one ... but the blade steel on a plain PM2 and Millies is S30V and I've not experienced it but read it can be prone to chipping in some cases. I know you can get some variants in different steels but pushes your price point up . The ZTs are S35VN which is one of my favorite steels it can take anything Ive thrown at it and sharpens back up with relative ease.
 
HFinn said:
I realized I lack a serious working folder, a large blade that can do most everything I want (I am not going to baton with it!). What I need is as follows:

The blade should be long enough (around 4 inches) to use in food preparation, to cut meat and vegetables.

It should be a cutting tool, not a crowbar. A good slicer. The knife should be light for it's size and carry well.
Click to expand...

The Military is a great, great knife.
Something that I like even more as far as versatility, control, slicyness . . .
. . . well . . . i had to pretty much MAKE the thing. Ground the blade to full flat and about 1.9mm thick. Still plenty strong, because it is CTS-XHP, unless you were to baton then forget it.
That would be the Cold Steel Ti Lite four with very stout heat treated aluminum alloy handle and steel liner lock shown here with another real winner , the Endura 4

Not open construction, may not even like all this washing you are describing.
Maybe a fixed blade for that sort of thing.

I can carry the Military in my pocket with the excellent clip it comes with how ever I prefer even more my Ti Lite with the clip removed and carried in a belt pouch.

THIS is what I call a knife :
IMG_3992_zpsuinyvwyz.jpg
 
For standard level modern folder, I would say there are the Military /Paramilitary, Griptilian, ZT 454.

Entry, look at Rat1, or Kershaw Link.

Everything else is a matter of taste.
 
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