Any Sharpened Folding Pry Bars Under $100?

O

OrangeJoe

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Jul 13, 2004
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Is there a good Hard Use Tool Knife with the following features:

-Sturdy thick blade/lock for all those uses you are NOT supposed to put a knife through.

-Blade about 3 to 4 inches to allow EDC.

-Edge / blade geometry, no preference as long as blade has a point.

-Around $100 dollars.

Use will be EDC for someone whose duties could be described as handiman-maid-cat burglar, ie. a real estate broker.

A typical day could include cutting down multiple banners nylon-roped to that vacant property you now have to make presentable, jimming open the door to the pool house since none of the 32 keys given to you will fit and you have an interested party that NEEDS to see it now, scraping of some ofensive messages that the last renters painted on the glass sliding doors, pruning some smallish overgrown branches that make the landscaping look bad and never mind the classic bury the dead pet (at least I have not had to do that one yet) cutting a piece of grass off so it won't show.

And of course it needs to be a viable SD tool since you will always have it on you and this bussines gets you into some odd situations at odd neighborhoods with odd 'pets'.

I know there are better tools for most of these situation, but when you are on a client's property and the difference between getting the job done NOW and later is a signed contract now or air, things just need to get done.

Anyone willing to take a shot at this?

Only candidate I have is the Emerson Mini CQC8 @ around $118.


And if you read all that, I sincerily thank you! :)
 
I've seen a fair amunt of praise for the Manix. Still, I never put it on my mental 'hard use/abuse' list. To make my point clearer, when I see people post about the- I beleive equally priced- Mini CQC8 all I see is 'good tool knife' which leads me to think "unexciting hard use".

Maybe I was expecting other recommendations to have equally spartan looks as the Emerson.

Thanks.
 
Given that it needs to have prying ability, I'd advise against the Manix, great as it is for everything else.

Take a look at the Buck/Strider collaboration folders: 880, and the tanto 880t. I have the smaller 881T, and it would be my "prybar folder" if I had to pick. It is a very poor slicer, but that's to be expected. This series sounds like it'll meet your needs though.
 
I am getting a CQC-8 tomorrow so I will let you know what I think of it. I have had several Manix and Mini Manix knives and they are quite strong and stout. I will let you which I think is better.
 
I'd like to second Eojk's recommendation against the Manix for this kind of use. I have a Manix, and I love it, but the tip is just too fine to trust for any kind of prying. Flat grind is great for cutting, but for prying, there just isn't enough meat at the tip. I think you're right on with your thinking about the CQC-8. It sounds about perfect for your needs. Though I'd go with the full-sized version. It's still under 4" and pretty much indestructible. For SD, I can't think of anything better. That's what I'm carrying right now. It's a great knife.
 
eojk said:
Given that it needs to have prying ability, I'd advise against the Manix, great as it is for everything else.

Take a look at the Buck/Strider collaboration folders: 880, and the tanto 880t. I have the smaller 881T, and it would be my "prybar folder" if I had to pick. It is a very poor slicer, but that's to be expected. This series sounds like it'll meet your needs though.
Click to expand...

Looks pretty ugly :).
More like what I expected. Still it's $80 over either the Mini CQC8 or the Manix.

How would you best justify the (two JunkYard Dog= $80) difference?
 
According to NewGraham, the Manix and 880 cost the same. This makes sense, given the similarity in materials and US manufacture. Great knives, all.
 
Ummm, no folders in the range, but a Graham Bros. Skeleton Razel could do all that. About 150.00 though.
 
Buck 880's and 881's are officially discontinued, but it was fairly recently so there should still be some out there. If you wind up picking one of those, you might want to hurry.
 
Given that your "knife" has to perform many tasks well. It would be kinda difficult to find one knife that can do all of these things well. I think what you are really looking for is a multi tool. A swisstool will fit your bill perfectly and then some. It has a chisel built in and you can get one for ~70. The only setback is the weight.
 
Heres a 881 and a mini manix. The buck Strider can be had under 100$. Thick Titanium liners too. I have both, 881 better prybar hands down, heres the proof

beater-side.jpg


beater-tips.jpg


buck-blade.jpg
 
sixstrings101 said:
Emerson Mini CQC8 @ around $118

where have you found a mini cqc8?:confused:
Click to expand...

Now I feel stupid. :(

Checked back at newgraham.com and surely enough, no Mini cqc8. I was certain that there were two distinct models for $118. One being the PSARK (and SARK), a style wich I loved, but the point seems too fine and the other, the now vanished Mini.

Maybe I was looking at the Mini Comm? Still that one is $129.:confused::confused:

Of course, also checked Emerson's web page, voila no Mini CQC8.

so-lo kustom, thanks for the pics, looks just right.

Thanks to every poster on the thread.
 
Buck Strider is the ticket, although I must say, why not just get a smaller fixed blade if you have to put that level of stress on the tool? Folders don't do well with any heavy torsion or prying movements and are subject to gross failure. I have seen many hand injuries related to such behavior, including the failure of liner locks. A trip to the ER will rapidly change your thoughts on abusing a folder in such fashion. That being said, if you insist on a folder, take a look at the Manix, SOG Tomcat or the Buck offerings. These three offer reasonable strength in a folder configuration.
 
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