After much debate, tomorrow (I think) is the big day!

NjHart

NjHart

Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
715
Howdy yall,

After probably too many hours of debate and endless hours reading and watching reviews, tomorrow I'll be ordering my first nice knife! I joined blade forums a couple of month ago to learn from everyone here and get feedback on different aspects of the knives I was considering. It's been a long and interesting road just to decide where to start and I want to thank everyone who has responded to one of my endless threads and anyone else who has posted useful information and reviews. Its sort of funny to trace the path of knives from where I started to what I finally decided on (it is the big surprise at the end, and until recently wasn't on my radar, but we'll get to that). My path to my first good knife went something like this:

ZT 301 (opted against because of assist)
ZT 561 (was never crazy about the looks)
Microtech Socom Elite (beautiful, but just too big and scary)
ZT 301 again (recurve scared me away)
Spyderco TUFF (probably next on my list, but not EDCable enough)
ZT 561 again (a very close second place, it has everything I like but never really had the draw for me the others did)

And finally, after rereading some of the comments and advice in my previous posts, a well designed point from another knife fan I know, and two very compelling youtube videos (jdavis882's and the bladehq video) selected... The Spyderco Southard! I was sold by a couple of really compelling points. First the EDC status of it. I was really looking for a knife I could carry in my front pocket and that would still be nice and not too over the top while being big enough for some tougher tasks on occasion. I was reminded that I do travel a fair amount, and not everywhere is like rural Texas- it's nice for my first EDC tool to actually be ok to be with me regardless of where I go. Second, the blade steel seems really really awesome. I don't know enough about really high end steels yet, but it seems logical to have a very nice benchmark to start with. And finally, I love flippers. I've played with a number of different knives recently, and it is definitely my favorite opening method by a pretty large margin. I was a little concerned by the left handed pocketability of the Southard, until seeing the bladehq review and seeing how well it rode in the left pocket. I also suppose I must open my flippers upside down, because the knife would be in perfect position for opening as soon as its out of my pocket.

Overall, I think this is a pretty good starting point for my collection. It'll certainly be used and EDCed, and I think I can feel confident and comfortable with it in every situation that could come up. I just wanted to write all of this up as a big thank you for everyone, a last chance for anyone to try and change my mind (if you think I'm making a poor choice), and finally to ask a really simple question- will a basic set of water stones be adequate for sharpening this steel? I'll simultaneously order a set of stones and I'm leaning towards the water stones over the diamond stones, but wanted to see if that's an ok call with this blade!
 
NjHart said:
Howdy yall,

After probably too many hours of debate and endless hours reading and watching reviews, tomorrow I'll be ordering my first nice knife! I joined blade forums a couple of month ago to learn from everyone here and get feedback on different aspects of the knives I was considering. It's been a long and interesting road just to decide where to start and I want to thank everyone who has responded to one of my endless threads and anyone else who has posted useful information and reviews. Its sort of funny to trace the path of knives from where I started to what I finally decided on (it is the big surprise at the end, and until recently wasn't on my radar, but we'll get to that). My path to my first good knife went something like this:

ZT 301 (opted against because of assist)
ZT 561 (was never crazy about the looks)
Microtech Socom Elite (beautiful, but just too big and scary)
ZT 301 again (recurve scared me away)
Spyderco TUFF (probably next on my list, but not EDCable enough)
ZT 561 again (a very close second place, it has everything I like but never really had the draw for me the others did)

And finally, after rereading some of the comments and advice in my previous posts, a well designed point from another knife fan I know, and two very compelling youtube videos (jdavis882's and the bladehq video) selected... The Spyderco Southard! I was sold by a couple of really compelling points. First the EDC status of it. I was really looking for a knife I could carry in my front pocket and that would still be nice and not too over the top while being big enough for some tougher tasks on occasion. I was reminded that I do travel a fair amount, and not everywhere is like rural Texas- it's nice for my first EDC tool to actually be ok to be with me regardless of where I go. Second, the blade steel seems really really awesome. I don't know enough about really high end steels yet, but it seems logical to have a very nice benchmark to start with. And finally, I love flippers. I've played with a number of different knives recently, and it is definitely my favorite opening method by a pretty large margin. I was a little concerned by the left handed pocketability of the Southard, until seeing the bladehq review and seeing how well it rode in the left pocket. I also suppose I must open my flippers upside down, because the knife would be in perfect position for opening as soon as its out of my pocket.

Overall, I think this is a pretty good starting point for my collection. It'll certainly be used and EDCed, and I think I can feel confident and comfortable with it in every situation that could come up. I just wanted to write all of this up as a big thank you for everyone, a last chance for anyone to try and change my mind (if you think I'm making a poor choice), and finally to ask a really simple question- will a basic set of water stones be adequate for sharpening this steel? I'll simultaneously order a set of stones and I'm leaning towards the water stones over the diamond stones, but wanted to see if that's an ok call with this blade!
Click to expand...

Haha ohhhhh yaa you got it...better get that cortisone cream ready bc you got the itch brother!

Nice choice by the way! If I were to start buying better knives recently and I know what I do now the southard would be up there! Gread knife, great company, great steel and design. My only beef, and the reason I don't have one now, is the one side is thicker than the other and the color. When I get one (I will probably pull the trigger eventually) I am definitely get a custom carbon fiber scale so it match the other sides thickness.

Enjoy you new steel!

As for the waterstone, that is a loaded question but my first advice is buy a good set it will be worth it no doubt. Shapton is good Naniwa chosera being the cream of the crop. If you want to reprolife I would get a 120 or 220 in maybe even a diamond plate. It will make major reprofiling jobs easier. Then from 220 you go to 400 to 800 to 1000 to 3000 or even 5000 depending on the level of refinement you are looking for.

For a three or four stone set I would go 220, 400, 1000, then a 3000 or 5000. You can always add more later. good luck and remember there is a learning curve!
 
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Thanks! I should have mentioned I currently freehand on Arkansas stones and occasionally on lansky stones set in a vice (I may be in the minority, but after trying the setup I had much better results freehand). If I'm going to invest in a good knife, I damned well better be capable of keeping it sharp! I definitely have the itch, but the pragmatist in me says to be reasonable. I think I'll be getting a killer EDC knife and a great one to compare features of other great knives to- for, you know, in 2 weeks when I start the search for my next new knife.
 
Haha as soon as you said surprise ending I thought... he's getting a Southard. :)

I think it's probably the perfect choice. There doesn't seem to be anything else that garners as much fanaticism as the Southard so that's gotta mean something right? 10,000 Elvis fans can't be wrong and all that...

My only advice is that you don't get stuck in one camp. For some people like myself it is very easy to get drawn in and stuck on brand X, while completely ignoring the other stuff. I've had plenty of Spydercos and Kershaws, 1 ZT and a few Benchmades and I can honestly tell you that you will miss out big time if you get stuck on one make. I suggest a Benchmade or ZT as your next purchase.

Good luck and big congratulates on your decision! I'm sure it will be excellent. ;)
 
Thanks Strigamort! I had a benchmade once (it fell out of my pocket- terrible horrifying experience for the most expensive knife I'd purchased up till that point) and I really love ZTs in general. Oddly enough up until recently spyderco had been my least favorite of major brands. You're precisely right about the fanaticism about the Southard. It's pretty much just crowd sourcing a decision to hundreds of more experienced people than me. Hopefully I'll love it as much as I think I will. I'll definitely post another of my less than scientific initial reaction reviews once I get it, and probably two weeks later I'll be making a post that begins something like "So I've had my Southard for a few weeks and adore, but what next?"
 
What Strigamort is spot on about trying a little bit of everything.
My experiences with knives sent me all over the board trying all kinds of knives from all sorts of brands, and now, I generally stick with Spyderco unless I see something I really like.
You may get to that point eventually(whether it be with Spyderco or some other brand).
But even if you do, don't be afraid to try something new that you like the looks of from another brand.

Congrats on your knife choice! Let us know how you like it.
 
I bought two NIB and sold one. I don't need a spare Southard; it's not gonna wear out. Great knife. Nice choice.
 
Sharpski said:
Haha ohhhhh yaa you got it...better get that cortisone cream ready bc you got the itch brother!

Nice choice by the way! If I were to start buying better knives recently and I know what I do now the southard would be up there! Gread knife, great company, great steel and design. My only beef, and the reason I don't have one now, is the one side is thicker than the other and the color. When I get one (I will probably pull the trigger eventually) I am definitely get a custom carbon fiber scale so it match the other sides thickness.

Enjoy you new steel!

As for the waterstone, that is a loaded question but my first advice is buy a good set it will be worth it no doubt. Shapton is good Naniwa chosera being the cream of the crop. If you want to reprolife I would get a 120 or 220 in maybe even a diamond plate. It will make major reprofiling jobs easier. Then from 220 you go to 400 to 800 to 1000 to 3000 or even 5000 depending on the level of refinement you are looking for.

For a three or four stone set I would go 220, 400, 1000, then a 3000 or 5000. You can always add more later. good luck and remember there is a learning curve!
Click to expand...

Badum-PISH
lol

In all seriousness though, I am in the same boat as you NJ. I just got my first good knife after much research and help with these forums. The guys here are GREAT. Bar none, some of the greatest people on the internet. I personally went with a Griptilian with S30V. It was priced very well and I love the Axis lock. My thumb is sore after having it for a few days, lol. I'm hoping to develop a callous there...
 
The problem is that once you start looking around you realize there are ton of awesome knives and YOU MUST HAS THEM ALL.
 
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