Any interesting "serious" folders in the last 2 years?

Shmackey · Aug 14, 2005

Hi all... Long, long time no see...

Been gone forever and it'll take me a while to catch up. In the meantime, maybe you can put me on the right track. Where I live right now, the max folder length for carry is 3.5", so no BM 710. I broke out the ol' REKAT Carnie Cub, but I'd kind of like to retire it, since I don't think they make them anymore. (Or do they?)

So, in the last couple of years, has anyone introduced any interesting 3.5" folders along the lines of the Carnie (i.e., "serious business" folders)? I'm not real big into linerlocks (sold them all except for my Lum), but I'm open to anything.

Price isn't much of an issue; the hobbies that took time away from knives are much more expensive, so an "expensive" knife is, you know, all relative...

Good to be back. What'd I miss?

Esav Benyamin · Aug 14, 2005

Welcome back.

REKAT's gone, but Benchmade is making some folders with a rolling lock.

Forget liner locks. There are framelocks all over the place now. The lockback, which never really went away, has had a renaissance of sorts.

Shmackey · Aug 14, 2005

Thanks. Yes, it seems that Benchmade has been busy. Quite a few interesting models there. And the Axis lock -- my favorite -- is still going strong.

I was always a fan of lockbacks. You take care of them, and they work.

BladeGoblin · Aug 14, 2005

If cost is not an issue, how about a Lightfoot FCF?

fishface5 · Aug 15, 2005

lukaszki · Aug 15, 2005

Among new and interesting serious folders IMHO first place goes to Spyderco Manix.
Its one of the best heavy folders for its price. Very good edge geometry and strong, ambidextrous lock. Its something for folks who don't like liner or frame lock.

Also you may check out new Kershaw Offset with injection moulded blade - it's got best knife of Blade Show 2005 award.

logo · Aug 15, 2005

lukaszki said:
Among new and interesting serious folders IMHO first place goes to Spyderco Manix.
Its one of the best heavy folders for its price. Very good edge geometry and strong, ambidextrous lock. Its something for folks who don't like liner or frame lock.

Yes, Manix is really great knife - but its blade exceeds sadly a 3.5'' limit

As it already was said, I would look at Presidio, Resistor, Mini Skirmish or Paramilitary.

Strider PT? Well, it's not too serious

lukaszki · Aug 15, 2005

logo said:
Yes, Manix is really great knife - but its blade exceeds sadly a 3.5'' limit

As it already was said, I would look at Presidio, Resistor, Mini Skirmish or Paramilitary.

Strider PT? Well, it's not too serious

oh sorry, so you'll have to wait for Para/Mini Manix, it should be unveiled in near future. Paramili also is nice but not as strong.

BM 420 Resistor folder is also above 3,5" at exactly 3,75", my favourite folder from BM under 3,5" is 720 (3,25"), unfortunately no longer produced. Buck Mayo TNT is also cool.

logo · Aug 15, 2005

Hi lukaszki,

lukaszki said:
BM 420 Resistor folder is also above 3,5" at exactly 3,75",

No, it's rather not. I believe there must be a typo on their website at Auto Resistor and in a catalog at a manual version. They're both, manual and auto, 3,5''.

I have no 420, but a 520 and I could compare them once - they seemed to be of equal blade length to me.

Look at this - it's a comparison of Presidio (customized with green micarta scales) and Resistor, a photo of jhobbs from Benchmadeforum:

http://home.comcast.net/~hhobbs4/420-6.JPG

You can also compare their closed and overall lengths.

I've just asked them that.

lukaszki said:
my favourite folder from BM under 3,5" is 720 (3,25"), unfortunately no longer produced. Buck Mayo TNT is also cool.

I like a 720 too, but it was introduced 5 years ago IIRC.
And Buck Mayo is very nice one - I have it on my "to buy" list

lukaszki · Aug 15, 2005

logo said:
Hi lukaszki,

No, it's rather not. I believe there must be a typo on their website at Auto Resistor and in a catalog at a manual version. They're both, manual and auto, 3,5''.

I have no 420, but a 520 and I could compare them once - they seemed to be of equal blade length to me.

Look at this - it's a comparison of Presidio (customized with green micarta scales) and Resistor, a photo of jhobbs from Benchmadeforum:

http://home.comcast.net/~hhobbs4/420-6.JPG

You can also compare their closed and overall lengths.

I've just asked them that.

I like a 720 too, but it was introduced 5 years ago IIRC.
And Buck Mayo is very nice one - I have it on my "to buy" list

Well you may be right but I'm not sure. In my printed catalogue there is also 3,75" and Mike Snody Custom Resistor's blade is exactly 3,75" long. Look here
But I haven't got the 420 also and is hard to judge just by looking at the photos. Between 3,75" and 3,5" there is only 0,25" difference - thats 6 mm. Not much after all.

benchmademan · Aug 15, 2005

here's what i'd check out from the last couple of years:

Chris Reeves Sebenza (Large or Small)
Strider SnG or PT
Buck/Mayo TNT
Buck/Strider 882
Swamp Rat Rat Trap
Benchmade 635
Spyderco Dodo

Walking Man · Aug 15, 2005

Oh yeah.....
Cold Steel ripped off a few designs. Surprised?

logo · Aug 15, 2005

Hi lukaszki,

lukaszki said:
Well you may be right but I'm not sure.

I am

Just got an answer from Benchmade's website and forum webmaster - 3.75" was a blade length of Snody's prototype.

Both production models (manual and auto) have 3.5" blades.
They leaved a prototype's blade length by mistake. He corrected it already on a site.

@Shmackey - now You can be sure: there is an another great folder in Your range

lukaszki · Aug 15, 2005

thanks for info, in the meantime i figured it out comparing handle lenght in some folders, but now I'm sure. So its another great knife under 3,5"

Shmackey · Aug 15, 2005

Wow, thanks guys. Great info.

I'm leaning toward getting a BM 520 and then doing some custom scales if I don't like the aluminum. It looks like a great knife that addresses the reservations I had about the 720 series a few years ago.

Too bad the Chinook comes in at just over 3.5". I'm a little surprised at that, since they could've made it unnoticeably smaller at 3.5" and thus legal for carry in the state where they're made.

Sure would be nice to have a 3.5" folder with a real round Spydie hole, axis lock, and quality scales...

spyder8 · Aug 15, 2005

a mod knife, or a sog trident

but i would have 2 say that if price dosent matter than get a custom

Walking Man · Aug 16, 2005

If you look around you can find a REKAT carnivour cub. They don't make them anymore, but they are out there.

Keith Montgomery · Aug 16, 2005

Shmackey, it's great to see you back.

My recommendation would be to take a look at the Spyderco ATR.

Shmackey · Aug 16, 2005

Walking Man, I don't have to look far for a Carnie Cub; there's one in my pocket. But I'd like to retire it, as I can't find parts for it and they don't make them anymore.

Keith, thanks. It's good to be back. I'm trying to be careful and not "making up for lost time." That ATR looks promising.

I drive by the Spydie Factory and Outlet every day (hide your jealousy!), so I'll have to go handle one. I hear they're going to make a smaller Manix, which also would be great.

Any interesting "serious" folders in the last 2 years?

MidniteSuperMod