Around $40 to spend on my brothers birthday present... help me find a knife!

I'd say for the price range you are considering, the Delica 4 is the best option IMO.

The steel nested liners that reinforce the Bi-Directional textured FRN handles make for a very sturdy knife. I like stainless steel a lot, but unless you are considering getting it engraved, I would go with one of the FRN handles.

Stainless Steel looks very nice, but the FRN handles have many benefits over the SS ones...The FRN grips much better, feels nicer in the hand (just my opinion), weighs less, takes abuse with out showing it, no fingerprints, and possibly the most important advantage: the ability to take the knife completely apart for cleaning/the ability to adjust the pivot screw to your personal liking.

The option to adjust the pivot screw (and lock bar screw) gives the Delica 4 a bit of an advantage over the Cento 4 and the Native as well.

As mentioned previously, the D4's offer the option of tip-up or tip-down ambidextrous carry. VG-10 is great and is easy to sharpen.

If you can go without serrations consider the Waved model (fun and practical)

But, if you are adamant about purchasing a US made knife, than the D4 and many of your other choices are out, as they are made in Seki-City Japan...

(If you want a US made knife based on quality concerns, I can tell you that Spyderco's Seki-made knifes are of the utmost quality... if it is for political reasons than that is your own choice)

I like Kershaw knives, but in my experience they just aren't in the same league as Spyderco, in terms of quality, refinement, and usability.

Just my two cents...

Happy Knife Hunting : )
 
VigilantGuardian said:
But, if you are adamant about purchasing a US made knife, than the D4 and many of your other choices are out, as they are made in Seki-City Japan...

(If you want a US made knife based on quality concerns, I can tell you that Spyderco's Seki-made knifes are of the utmost quality... if it is for political reasons than that is your own choice)
Click to expand...


I guess I should have remembered the Delica is Japanese, being VG-10, but I have no political cares as to where it's made, simply quality concerns, and I have no quality concerns about Japanese knives.

I do believe the Native is USA made, being S30V, though. I'm still thinking of getting the SS D4.
 
_habit_ said:
http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=4810 - that one would be great if it were larger (I wouldn't mind one for myself if it was bigger ;P)
Click to expand...
What about the Kershaw (Ken Onion) Leek? It's larger than the Chive, around $40, made in the U.S., has a stainless handle which looks great, and the assisted opening feature:

ks1660.jpg


This is the knife I am going to give my brother in law for his upcoming birthday.
 
I mentioned in first post that Leek is my current EDC, and I don't want to get him the same thing.


Got to handle an old Delica today, seems like it was a good size, though I didn't much like the plastic handle... Being who he is I think he'd appreciate an SS handle, specially since it wont tear up his khakis :P
 
jyd-i sold mine to a friend who is crazy in love with it-
i sold it because he has been bugging me to get him a leek off line for awhile but he never had the cash-
when he opened his mouth this time i asked how much he had on him,took 25 of 30 and gave him the jyd-
 
You seem to lean toward Spydercos, so get your brother an Endura. Trust me, it's not too large. I've had one in my back pocket between my butt and my bandana for about 20 years it seems like. I don't leave home without it.

Or if you want to get him something more unique, but still strong, reliable, simple in design, and very effective you might consider getting him a Douk-Douk (original size with approx. 4 inch blade), a Mercator, or one of each. (One of each will still run you about $40!) Both have been made for about a hundred years, so I think they have the design perfected now. :D
 
Dr. Mudd said:
You seem to lean toward Spydercos, so get your brother an Endura. Trust me, it's not too large. I've had one in my back pocket between my butt and my bandana for about 20 years it seems like. I don't leave home without it.

Or if you want to get him something more unique, but still strong, reliable, simple in design, and very effective you might consider getting him a Douk-Douk (original size with approx. 4 inch blade), a Mercator, or one of each. (One of each will still run you about $40!) Both have been made for about a hundred years, so I think they have the design perfected now. :D
Click to expand...


I also got to handle an Endura today, and I found it much too large for myself, and him not being much larger than me, I think he would prefer the Delica.
 
"Hmmm... good words... have you had any problems with the C4 being a wharncliff (stabbing boxes and whatnot)? How's the size compared to Delicas and Enduras, and do you have any kind words for the Native?"

The Native is a well made knife but I just don't care for it. Everything seems a bit off with that knife. Others love it and think it is perfect, that is why they make so many knives I guess.

I haven't had any problems with the Wharncliff blade at all. I find it one of the most usefull blade designs. Like I said, the Centofante 3 is the same knife but with a drop point blade instead of the Wharncliff. The Cent 4 has enough point to make it a decent stabber unlike a sheepsfoot blade.

It really is hard to go wrong with a Delica 4. I can't imagine anyone would hate a D-4. I would go with a FRN D-4 rather than the SS because the SS can get slick when your hand is wet. Also, the SS is heavy.

The Cent 4 is a bit longer than the Delica but smaller than the Endura, that is why I suggested it. I think it would be a good choice. I would go with one of these: D-4 FRN, Cent 3 or Cent 4.
 
_habit_ said:
I mentioned in first post that Leek is my current EDC, and I don't want to get him the same thing.
Click to expand...
Oh my bad. Then again, maybe he'll appreciate that you are giving him what you yourself consider the ideal EDC. Good luck with your decision.
 
sleeper3 said:
Oh my bad. Then again, maybe he'll appreciate that you are giving him what you yourself consider the ideal EDC. Good luck with your decision.
Click to expand...

I consider the Stretch 2 to be the ideal EDC, and I've never even handled one >_>


Normark said:
Hey Guys..

How about a really nice SAK ??

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...

Personally, I don't consider SAK's very useful as knives.



kgriggs, I'm hearing what you're saying about the weight and lack of grip on the SS D4, but I dunno... I've never had problems with my Leek which is pretty much the same in terms of handles (it's like an ounce lighter, but I like knives with weight to them, and I never even notice this one on my pocket)... Has anyone had problems with FRN handles tearing up pants?

It is going to be his though, so I'll see what he thinks.
 
_habit_ said:
kgriggs, I'm hearing what you're saying about the weight and lack of grip on the SS D4, ...
Click to expand...
My two stainless-framed folders are quite a bit heavier than my Delica 4. I don't have a problem with the gripping of either (tho the Trance has Zytel scales on one side).

_habit_ said:
Has anyone had problems with FRN handles tearing up pants?
Click to expand...
Not I. Had it for a bit over a year. (Wow, doesn't seem that long.) Carried it well more than half the time I've carried a knife.
 
I have a SAK but it never gets used. The only thing I use on it are the scissors. I think they are outdated as multi tools since there are far better choices like the Leatherman tools. As far as knives, they are REALLY outdated. They are hard to open since they only have a small nail nick and they don't have a lock.

As far an only an ounce goes, you would be suprised at how much more that ounce feels like in a small knife like the Delica. It is not going to be so heavy that you will notice in jeans but if he wears shorts, it might be a problem. A good FRN knife is hard to beat. I have not had a problem with FRN tearing up my pants.
 
I am thoroughly impressed with the Spyderco Byrd Meadowlark. Buy one and put the rest of the money in your pocket. I like it better than the Delica, the clip grabs better, the blade penetrates better, the bigger hole makes opening easier... incredible value. I have the G10 model.

Kershaw would also be an excellent choice under $40, especially the Storm.
 
I'm rather partial to the Kershaw Mini-Cyclone myself, but I have to agree .... G10 Byrd Meadowlark. If you wanted it a bit larger I would recommend the Cara Cara, but I have to agree that it *is* better than the Delica, more ergo handles, super solidly built, etc. etc.

Oops I guess the Mini-Cyclone is $50 now. Hmm. I guess that does it? =P
 
Well, I just ordered him a Delica 4, plain edge FRN handle.

I decided that for his needs FRN would be better than SS, and I also had to consider that even though I can hang onto my Leek like there's no tomorrow, things might be different for him.


I also ordered an acid etched Spyderco Spin for myself, which I will take pictures of (they won't be professional, purely informational :P), and post on either this forum or the Spydie BladeForums forum. Not to mention I got 2 diamond stones:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top