Any opinion about the knives listed?,

C

coldsteel03

Joined
Jan 10, 2003
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Beretta, Meyerco, Gutman, CRKT, Boker, Browning, Coldsteel Gerber.. Knives will be used for EDC (everyday carry) truth is I dont want to spend alot of $$.

ps
Just comment on the knives that you have owned or used.
Thanks for any info.
 
Originally posted by coldsteel03
Beretta, Meyerco, Gutman, CRKT, Boker, Browning, Coldsteel Gerber.. Knives will be used for EDC (everyday carry) truth is I dont want to spend alot of $$.

ps
Just comment on the knives that you have owned or used.
Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...

1) C.R.K.T.- Great for the cash. I really like the fact that they work with a lot of custom makers. Some complain about the steel they use, but their probably the best valve for your dollar of all the brands you listed. Very smooth action:).

2)Boker- There Traditional's are nice, but I have'nt heard anything good about their tactical lines.

3)Gerber- I've had their Gator, and E-Z Out models. They fit the hand well, the steel is passible, but the are very plain-jane. Good solid everyday knives.

Have you considered a Spyderco Endura? It's probably the best, relatively cheap knife around:).



HTH:D:).
 
I really like the Kershaw Whirlwind and Blackout. They can be had for $50. - $60. That's what I consider the Best Bang For Your Buck. The thumbstud works like a button, all you have to do is push it and it flings out. To get the blade out, your thumb doesn't have to move more than 1/4 of an inch. I carry my Whirlwind the most out of any other knife in my collection.

I'm thinking about maybe stocking up and buying a dozen or so. Because I don't think the speed safe will be legal forever. It's basically a $50. auto that can be had at almost any sportinggoods store. At Smokey Mountain Knife Works it says the smaller speed safes like the Scallions can't be sold in Michigan or Wisconsin. And it only says Michigan for the larger models. That makes absolutely no sense.
 
Originally posted by coldsteel03
Beretta, Meyerco, Gutman, CRKT, Boker, Browning, Coldsteel Gerber.. Knives will be used for EDC (everyday carry) truth is I dont want to spend alot of $$.

ps
Just comment on the knives that you have owned or used.
Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...

Beretta: I've owned a few of their Busfield and Airlight folders. I especially like the Aluminium handled ones. They're made in Japan and are of very good quality for the money. Razor sharp too.

Meyerco: Early lockbacks like the Speedster and the Blackie Collins "Tactical" linerlock knife were actually pretty good work knives. Their Stingray (now called the Speedster SR) and the Rascal with AUS-8 blades were interesting assisted openers, but the locks were a bit flimsy. Stay away from their Camp USA line!!! :barf:

Gutmann: I owned a few Junglee folders before S. Baliola of Gorilla & Sons acquired Gutmann Cutlery. The aluminium handled Foreign Legion, Sahara Jr and Shenzi are constructed exactly like the Smith & Wesson SWAT folders by Taylor Cutlery (most likely made by the same overseas factory). I've also handled some of their Walther folders like the Allied Forces, P99 and Tigereye, but I don't like them at all. They're not outright bad, but I just don't like them. In my opinion, the Armed Forces and Extreme Forces folders are the only Junglee folders worth checking out. Junglee also has some nice fixed blades worth checking out.

CRKT: They're the ones that pretty much helped legitimize Taiwan as a source for affordable quality knives. For the money, they are very good and CRKT always put out great designs. Their AUS6M blades are not bad (despite what the steel snobs say) and are not difficult to sharpen.

Böker: Their traditional folding pocket knives are classics and the Walker designed/inspired Superliner is a really nice modern folder, but I find that Böker's quality control is sometimes "iffy" so be wary. Also, stay way from their overpriced and cheaply constructed Heckler & Koch tactical folders.

Browning: They do have some very nice knives made in Japan. I own 2 Barracuda folders and one of their presentation lockbacks and am pleased. Their fixed blades are also well constructed and are worth a look.

Cold Steel: Despite the sometimes overblown marketing hype, they are solid well crafted knives. I've never been dissapointed by a Cold Steel knife, however, I'd like to see some G-10 handles on some of their folders.

Gerber: Good knives for the money and they can be found almost anywhere. Also, their Taiwan made "International" knives are well constructed and look good. I especially like the Air Ranger.


There are other manufacturers like Buck, Kershaw, Camillus and Spyderco have many affordable models that serve quite well for everyday carry, so take a look at their folders like the Spyderco Delica, Spyderco Salsa, Camillus EDC, Buck Odyssey, Kershaw Leek, and the Kershaw Vapor. Prices can range anywhere from $20 to $60-$65.00 depending on the model.
The bottom line is that you don't have to pay alot for a good working knife.
 
CRKT: As much as I like Spyderco and Benchmade, CRKT is probably my favorite maker right now. They deliver a solid well-made high quality product for a fair price. Some folks don't like them because they're produced in Taiwan (mostly), and some folks don't like the blade-steel they use (AUS-6, AUS-6M, AUS-8, and AUS-118). But I think this is mostly steel snobbery and "buy American" sentiment. If you don't have a problem buying a Japanese made Spyderco or a Swiss made SAK, then you should'nt have a problem buying a Taiwanese made knife.
The CRKT knives that I own are the Mirage, the M16-03, and the Bladelock. All three have been terrific knives with great fit-and-finish.
If these knives were'nt of great quality, I don't think CRKT could get so many custom knife-makers to put their name and reputation behind the product.


Boker: My father loves Boker traditionals and has always carried one it seems. Not too long ago, I decided to get him a new one for his birthday. I must say that I was very disappointed with what Boker is putting out these days. Not only were the knives rather expensive, but the quality and fit-and-finish just is'nt the same as with my father's old knife. The specific model he carries was made in Germany, but that same pattern is now being made in Argentina. Maybe they're still getting things up to speed in the Argentina plant, I don't know--but they just did'nt seem as well made.

I have not been impressed with any Boker tacticals. I think they are way over-priced for what you get.


Gerber: This one is hard to sort out. Some of their knives don't seem to be built so well--alittle sloppy with a definite lack of attention to the details. But other Gerber knives I seen were just fantastic in nearly every way.
I really like the Gerber multi-tools, and the International Line (made in Taiwan) seems very well made for a lower price than their US made knives.
I bought a Gerber Harsey Air Ranger and I really can't say enough good things about it. The ergonomics are terrific and it is very well put together. It's very light-weight but much stronger than you would believe.

Good luck on your decision,
Allen.
 
The Nogales clip point series (El Lobo, El Hombre, Vaquero, Vaquero Grande, Espresso Macchiatto, Half-caf Latte..) and the Voyager series of Cold Steel are spot on for the money. I'm partial to their serrations because I've used the knives to slice up shoes, plastic bottles, and small steel wires with only a baby dent in my baby (medium, serrated clip point) Voyager. If Cold Steel had thought to make these with reversible clips, I wouldn't have known or cared about any other brand or type of knife. You can find them online for great prices. That said, plain-edged aus-8 doesn't make up for my lack of slicing talent that serrated aus-8 does.

I have CRKT's KISS, M16-?, and Mt. Ranier. They were all gifts, so I don't know the price. They all lock up solid, but I'm more trusting of the KISS and especially the Mt. Ranier. Played with their bladelock model at a few stores and was very impressed, but I'm a lefty, so it wasn't for me. If you're right-handed, it may be better for you.

The Kershaw Blackout, mentioned by Zytif, fits perfectly in my hand and probably in the hands of others as well. Superb fit, finish, and attention to detail with a secure lockup. Don't like the assisted opening and that it's a right-handed opener,closer.

Can I comment on Spyderco? The knives are in the mail, so I technically own them. ;)
 
If i were you i'd buy an outdoor edge paragee designed by Darrel Ralph. I got one on trade and im very impressed for the $39.99 price tag. The frame lock is very smooth and i love the recurve sw blade. It might be a tad tight when you get it, just loosen the pivot a bit and it will open with the flick of the thumb. Crkt is your best bet IMO. I've owned only 3 but they were all very smooth and funcioned as good as my $100-150 folders. I like the mirage's the best for the fact they're small and pop open with very little pressure to the thumb stud. I'd look into spyderco knives also. I don't like how you can't take some of them apart or adjust them, but there really isn't any need to. You might want to take a look at the Benchmade 350 Mel pardue for $50-60. Reminds me of my crkt mirage as far as size and funcion go. Gerber Makes affordable quality knives. My favorite is the gerber EZ-OUT. For $25 one hell of a knife. Simple and with a flick of the wrist the blade flies out. For gerber you should be able to pick them up locally no problem.
But my vote goes to the paragee for $40.
paraone.jpg
 
Well, you can do what I did...Buy one of about every knife ever made, OR you can just go ahead and buy a Spyderco Delica and Police model for your folders, and a Camillus/Becker BK-2 and BK-9 for your fixed-blade knives, and save yourself ALOT of money that way.
 
Glockman99,

That's very good advice, but you know that we won't learn from the mistakes of others when we can experience the same pain, expense, confusion, wrong assumptions, and fun on our own.

Also, things change. Spyderco is always making their knives better. My guess is that Camillus/Becker is, too. Where I would've said "that's cool" and passed on an ATS-55 Delica and 440V Native, I'm seriously jonesing for them and double-checking the UPS tracking page. With a time machine, I wouldn't have bought most of my 154CM Benchmades and would've immediately went to their high speed steel stuff. Then and now, I would've bought way too many Cold Steel Voyagers and Vaquero Grande's.
 
I have no experience with Beretta, Meyerco, Guttman or Browning so no comment on them.

CRKT: Overall they are a great value for the money. The Carson collabs are among my favorite CRK&T's and the lg. M-18 is the best folder of them all IMHO.
Boker: Great fixed blades but stay far away from their so-called tactical folders. I've been very dissappointed(and injured) by them.
Cold Steel: Great fixed blades and very workable folders. I have lots of CS product and am quite satisfied overall with their offerings.
Gerber: Kinda ho-hum tactical type folders (to me) but serviceable. OTOH the lg. folding Gator is, IMO, the most comfortable folding knife to hold ever made. It just sits perfectly in the hand. I've only owned a fillet knife from them as a fixed so I can't comment.

Hope this helps.:D


All the best,
Mike U.
 
Gerber- got an EZ-Out in '95 (first production run). Carried it for five years. It doesn't feel like it should be that strong but it held up to some abuse without ever folding on my fingers.

Kershaw- my wife got a Blackout three years ago and loves it. It's not a prybar but it is a great slicer.

CRKT- I've been carrying an M-16-03Z for over two years now. Quick, sturdy, good point. I still like the looks of the spear point, but I don't know if it's the best utility blade. YMMV

Frank

Spyderco- I bought a Rescue from a Forum member but I'm still waiting for it to arrive. I expect it be a solid performer.
 
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