A Workin' Knife

O

okto

Joined
May 13, 2014
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194
I do pre-fab construction, lots of slinging twobafers around (if you don't know what that is, ask one of your Southern friends ;P) and not having time to fuss with a knife.

Here's what I need from a blade(ranked from most to least important):
- Push-cut fiber-reinforced plastic pallet strapping
- Pry staples out of lumber
- Be opened and closed easily with work gloves on (if a folder)
- Good retention in hand
- Blade length at least 3.25"
- Non-serrated edge
- Pointed blade (needs some piercing ability)
- Corrosion-resistant (I live in Houston, it's wet here)
- Uncoated (in my experience they bind more when slicing, and I think worn coating looks awful)


I prefer a folder, as long as it can be opened and closed easily with work gloves on (sorry liner locks, you might not make the cut), but I'm not dead-set against a small fixed blade.

Budget is $100 absolute max, would like to spend closer to $50 if possible.
 
Cold Steel Mackinac, but the grips are as slippery as owl snot. I just took a soldering iron and melted divots into the grips. Who cares what it looks like, it's a tough, inexpensive beater that stands up to hard use.
 
CRKT Razel. Doesn't have pointed blade but that's low on your list and it's plenty pointed enough to get under staples. I think it'd be a great knife for construction and they can still be found pretty cheap.

Mike
 
Cold steel large tanto voyager? The tanto edge might hold up to some prying, plus good grip and the newer steel is gonna be more corrosion resistant that the older AUS-8 steel I believe. Not super expensive either
 
Hultafors craftsman RFR. I have the HVK GH (carbon steel version) and its my do work fixed blade. I've used it for everything you've mentioned and much more.
 
First response will be dont pry staple with your knife, risk of breaking the tip... But, since im going to assume you are going to pry them anyways;

Just outside your budget is the TOPS/Buck CSAR in 154cm... All reports is it's an absolute pocket tank! The tip is not going to break prying a staple. But, it's a liner lock...

Kershaw Thermite - framelock, assisted open and flipper.

Boker M-type - framelock but it's coated
Kizer ki302b1 or ki403a1 - frame lock
Kershaw Emerson cqc-7 - framelock

All have a more robust tip then your avg. folder.
 
I would go with a small fixed blade such as a Mora, Bahco, or Hultafors they are tough work knives and for $100 you could buy a whole bunch of them and replace them when they break or disappear.
 
From what you wrote, IMO you need a fixed blade. I bet it will prove easier for you in the long haul than constantly opening, closing and re-pocketing a folder, esp. in gloves.

Although it will be at the top end of your stated budget, your knife should be an original HEST fixed blade by Rowen. One of the keys of this knife for you is the super convenient prybar on the handle. I think it would be extremely useful to you, sparing the tip of the knife over time. In addition the tip itself IS very strong. If 1095 steel worries you the knife is available in several steels as the HEST II. These cost a bit more but should be available on the used market here within your budget.

If you must go with a folder off the top of my head I'd second the Buck CSAR-T folder. One tough knife for what you do. After that I'd have to recommend an Emerson which will probably be over your budget.
 
Thanks for the responses, y'all. Looks like I have some good starting points for research.
 
Before you spend $100 on a work knife keep in mind that nice things have a habit of disappearing from job sights.
 
A Strider SnG Spearpoint would excel at what you are looking to do with a knife, but unfortunately, your budget does not allow for it...

I am not sure if there is any knife under $100 that I could recommend that would take that abuse on a daily basis.
It's not just the work, but the environment.
I work in construction as well (Electrician) and the beating my tools take is incredible.

I prefer to buy the best tools I can, even though they cost more.
It's how I make a living, and they have to always work....

There is a very noticeable difference in the quality of tools when they are used in very harsh environments....
 
Out of the knives I own, the folder that meets you requirements best is my Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Covert Folder. I am a big fan of that knife, and it is the folder I use out in the field. But it is a liner lock, but pretty easy to operate.

That said, I would really suggest thinking about just picking up a stainless Mora. A Mora is going to handle your needs better (particularly the prying) better than any folder. Plus they cost like $15. The sheaths are well designed for being able to quickly take on/off your belt easily if you are not wanting to run around with a fixed blade on your belt off the site. I bought a Mora recently in order to review it and then I had planned to do a giveaway, but I have decided that I am keeping it because it's just so handy.
 
I managed to purchase a ZT0566 from the exchange here for $95 over a year ago, I bet you could find one of similar price if you looked. It would be among my first suggestions for hard-use folders if you're gonna be prying with it, the tip ain't gonna break on you and it has everything you're looking for, it even feels better when your hands are gloved than without.

If you don't want to go for the fancier ZT, the Kershaw Cryo II and/or Thermite are both in your price range and have the same blade design, with much less cost going into them.
 
Hultafors as mentioned before or a spyderco military sprint of your choice blade steel. Try m4/m2 or m390.
The millie might not be the best for prying with, but otherwise it will fit your needs nicely.
 
I too would think that a fixed blade would suit your needs very well. May I suggest the Schrade SCHF-14. Mora knives are also very handy and provide great value.

That said, and as a fan of fixed blades my own self, they are not as one handed as you may think. Yes, they certainly can be deployed with one hand - even a gloved hand, but the re-sheathing is not as easy as folding a folder and re-inserting into your pocket or clipping it to whatever you had it clipped to (tool bag, strap, whatever) so, in that regard, a folder can actually be more one-handed friendly. The Cold Steel Voyager, especially the tanto seems to be right for you and your budget.

For a heavy tank of a knife that can do all (and much more) than what you seek, check out the Becker BK-2; it's a beast.
 
Cold Steel Recon 1. There's a couple different blade shape options but they're all 4" blades and very durable folders. Even better, they just went through a blade steel upgrade... so you can get the originals with a nice bit of a discount. AUS 8A is the original steel, CTS-XHP is the new stuff. XHP will be a bit more wear resistant in abrasive media but AUS 8A is still plenty good and easy to sharpen back up.

Check out knifeworks - a spearpoint recon 1 in AUS 8A is $40 if you can deal with partially serrated, $70 for plain edge, and $97 for plain edge with the new CTS-XHP steel.

Only one of your requirements I'm not sure about it fitting is the easy-open with gloves; how are you with thumbstuds?
 
SALTY said:
For a heavy tank of a knife that can do all (and much more) than what you seek, check out the Becker BK-2; it's a beast.
Click to expand...

I own and love a BK-2 already. It would handle my job, for sure, it's just a bit, ah, heavy. :)
 
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