Triton
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2000
- Messages
- 35,962
We've had these threads before, i.e. "what's the cheapest good knife I can get for 75 cents a gum wrapper and some pocket lint."
The answer invariably goes one of three ways (with some honorable mentions thrown in too of course).
1) The Ontario RAT folders. For around 40 dollars you get a pretty darned good folder with a decent lock, reasonable steel and nylon handles. It's a great knife for throwing in your pocket on that canoe trip or whatever where losing your super dee dooper 600 dollar folder would have you up nights questioning life choices.
2) The Swiss Army Knife. 40 bucks (or higher or somewhat lower depending on the configuration) you can get a usable tool that will cover most of your every day cutting, screwing.. er screw driving and cork pulling needs without breaking the bank. It's also often a bit lighter than either your 600 dollar folder or your Ontario RAT folder, which might help you not look like one of those miserable idiots that wander around with their underwear hanging out and their pants around their knees by choice.
3) The opinel number whatever. For around 20 bucks you can get a knife that cuts stuff and won't fold up on you (probably). The steel isn't great and the lock isn't either, but they take a good edge and you can hand them out at the office party as door prizes (assuming your office isn't populated by a bunch of hoplophobic imbeciles).
However, I'm wondering if this one isn't also a contender:
That's right, it's the venerable Mercator K55. I'm not sure what the steel is (although you can get it in stainless and carbon versions), but it locks up well, holds a good edge, is extremely thin and hasn't dragged my pants down once. I can't open it one handed with a flourish and it's not made out of unobtanium but I've carried this thing for two weeks after buying it on a whim (and at that price point pretty much anyone CAN buy it on a whim) and it turns out that it really deals with all my normal daily cutting needs. It also come in a variety of other handle materials and finishes if you want to spend a little more... although I'm beginning to wonder why you would.
I do know that it's not going to fit the bill for all you high speed low drag types out there. You won't be able to efficiently deanimate enemy sentries with it, you won't be able to jam it into a crevice to keep you from going over a cliff, you can't baton it through an engine block and let's face it as pocket jewelry it leaves a lot to be desired. If you are in the trades it might be a little light for you (although I would argue you should probably mostly be using removable blade utility knives if you are a tradesman rather than 600 dollar limited addition super steel whatsits.) However, if you need a decent knife to cut stuff in the office this one might be the one for you.
I've got a whole safe full of absurd cutlery that I like and I'm keeping, but there's little need for a 38 inch double edged Oakeshott type XI medieval sword or even a 22 inch pattern welded Viking Seax in my average day at the office. (We'll ignore the other days for the moment) So, I'm not asking you to turn in your knife knut card or anything, I'm sure not. I do begin to wonder however, if at some point we forgot what these things are actually for and that at the end of the day they have a purpose beyond being posted on internet forums.
Thoughts?
The answer invariably goes one of three ways (with some honorable mentions thrown in too of course).
1) The Ontario RAT folders. For around 40 dollars you get a pretty darned good folder with a decent lock, reasonable steel and nylon handles. It's a great knife for throwing in your pocket on that canoe trip or whatever where losing your super dee dooper 600 dollar folder would have you up nights questioning life choices.
2) The Swiss Army Knife. 40 bucks (or higher or somewhat lower depending on the configuration) you can get a usable tool that will cover most of your every day cutting, screwing.. er screw driving and cork pulling needs without breaking the bank. It's also often a bit lighter than either your 600 dollar folder or your Ontario RAT folder, which might help you not look like one of those miserable idiots that wander around with their underwear hanging out and their pants around their knees by choice.
3) The opinel number whatever. For around 20 bucks you can get a knife that cuts stuff and won't fold up on you (probably). The steel isn't great and the lock isn't either, but they take a good edge and you can hand them out at the office party as door prizes (assuming your office isn't populated by a bunch of hoplophobic imbeciles).
However, I'm wondering if this one isn't also a contender:
That's right, it's the venerable Mercator K55. I'm not sure what the steel is (although you can get it in stainless and carbon versions), but it locks up well, holds a good edge, is extremely thin and hasn't dragged my pants down once. I can't open it one handed with a flourish and it's not made out of unobtanium but I've carried this thing for two weeks after buying it on a whim (and at that price point pretty much anyone CAN buy it on a whim) and it turns out that it really deals with all my normal daily cutting needs. It also come in a variety of other handle materials and finishes if you want to spend a little more... although I'm beginning to wonder why you would.
I do know that it's not going to fit the bill for all you high speed low drag types out there. You won't be able to efficiently deanimate enemy sentries with it, you won't be able to jam it into a crevice to keep you from going over a cliff, you can't baton it through an engine block and let's face it as pocket jewelry it leaves a lot to be desired. If you are in the trades it might be a little light for you (although I would argue you should probably mostly be using removable blade utility knives if you are a tradesman rather than 600 dollar limited addition super steel whatsits.) However, if you need a decent knife to cut stuff in the office this one might be the one for you.
I've got a whole safe full of absurd cutlery that I like and I'm keeping, but there's little need for a 38 inch double edged Oakeshott type XI medieval sword or even a 22 inch pattern welded Viking Seax in my average day at the office. (We'll ignore the other days for the moment) So, I'm not asking you to turn in your knife knut card or anything, I'm sure not. I do begin to wonder however, if at some point we forgot what these things are actually for and that at the end of the day they have a purpose beyond being posted on internet forums.
Thoughts?
