Best folder for under $400?

hardheart said:
not ambi, at all
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It is kind of ambi if you have the dual thumb stud option. It isn't quite as easy to open a right handed, dual stud, model with your left hand, but it can be done. Closing it is a bit more of a problem.
 
minimize said:
What makes a Sebenza less qualified than an Emerson for Self Defense?
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To add to what Hardheart said, the Sebenza has less of a sure grip (Titanium vs. G-10), lacks the enlarged finger cutout (think hard stabs), doesn't have the "wave" feature (think quick deployment), and lacks the ergos of an intended defensive folder.

minimize said:
Cause Chris Reeve isn't out wielding a knife in self defense videos making such claims? Please.
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Chris and Ernie are good friends. Chris and Ernie design and manufacture knives to serve different segments of the knife community. Chris simply doesn't have the level of attention to detail with regards to designing combat, folding knives that Ernie does. Fact! Ernie doesn't have the attention to detail with regards to fit and finish that Chris does. Fact!

Chris designs and manufacturers some of the best, most flawless, production UTILITY folders that can serve as a defensive knife if the need arises. Ernie designs and manufactures some of the best, COMBAT/DEFENSIVE folders that can double as utility folders if the need arises. It's as simple as that. Ask either one of them! They'll tell you the same thing!;)

Regards,
3G
 
Rich357 said:
3G, other than the wave feature what makes an Emerson better than a Sebenza or Strider SnG for SD?
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The ergos, for one, in different grip styles. The large finger cut-out is lacking on the Sebenza. The choil on the SnG is next to useless for a fighting folder, aside from being a back-up safety if the lock fails. The SnG has a grip that wedges your hand towards the blade, not away from it, like a dedicated fighter should. I could go on.

Rich357 said:
What makes an Emerson better for SD then the Benchmade AFCK 806? If you want bang for the buck the BM AFCK 806 is about $50 less than many of the Emersons.
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I don't disagree with you at all! The AFCK definitely has the potential to live up to its name!

Rich357 said:
Emerson makes a few frame locks but most are liner locks. Do you think the Emerson liner locks are more secure than the frame locks by Chris Reeve and Strider, or the AXIS lock by Benchmade?
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Well, on this point, I'll have to agree with you, and frankly, I'd go with the AFCK, if available, over the Emersons for that reason. As far as the Strider or the CRK, I think you'd be more likely to slice your hand on a hard stab then you would to break the lock on an Emerson, but you may disagree.

Rich357 said:
Part of the reason I suggested the Benchmade AFCK 806 and Strider SnG was because no one else had and I wanted to give the OP more options to consider.
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I absolutely agree as far as the AFCK, but as far as the SnG, I think there are much better, much, much more affordable options out there, and Spyderco, Kershaw, and Benchmade make most of 'em.

Rich357 said:
I think the Large Classic Sebenza would make darned good SD knife. Maybe a little skate board tape on the handle would help?
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Yeah! Putting some sort of material on there to make the handle surface more grippy would certainly help! I'd also like to see a lot deeper of a finger cut-out on there, too, before I'd consider in using one in a defensive role.

Regards,
3G
 
+1 on the Pacific Salt. I also have the Endura 4 Wave, but I like the Salt more since I find the wave can somtimes be unreliable depending on the pants I'm wearing, what else is in my pockets, etc. If you feel comfortable waving, than power to you.

The Pacific Salt is lighter than the Endura 4 due to the lack of metal scales in the FRN handles. This might make it weaker in theory, but it still feels mighty strong. It is very light for a knife with this blade size. The large hole and smooth pivot make this knife very easy to flick open FAST. The clip is also well implemented as it holds the pocket tight enough, yet comes off with a simple tug. I can pull this knife from my pocket so fast people think its a switchblade. As for the steel- 100% maintainance free, minus the occasional sharpening. The bladeshape might not seem the best for SD, but the slightly fatter tip is also stronger, and the blade holds a wicked edge.

Honestly, the Pacific Salt is the knife that kind of got me out of this hobby as it does so many things right, I don't need to look for any replacements. I rarely come out of the woodwork and post, but whenever it's mentioned, I feel a bit obligated since its my trusty EDC.
 
3Guardsmen:
"The ergos, for one, in different grip styles. The large finger cut-out is lacking on the Sebenza. The choil on the SnG is next to useless for a fighting folder, aside from being a back-up safety if the lock fails. The SnG has a grip that wedges your hand towards the blade, not away from it, like a dedicated fighter should. I could go on".
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Have you ever handled either the SnG or Large Classic Sebenza, or are you just going by the pictures?

With a saber grip the rear of the SnG's handle fits nicely in front of the heel of your hand. Your index finger is quite secure in the cut out in the grip. It is also easy to hold in a reverse grip. Much the same is true for the Large Classic Sebenza.

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3Guardsmen:
"I absolutely agree as far as the AFCK, but as far as the SnG, I think there are much better, much, much more affordable options out there, and Spyderco, Kershaw, and Benchmade make most of 'em. "
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Have you noticed how much the frame lock Emersons cost?

What concerns me about the liner locks is that if your hand moves a little round the long axis of the grip, you may move the liner out of position. With a frame lock the harder you grip the more you force the lick bar into the locked position.

You can get Large Classic Sebenzas with Micarta inlays. They can be made even more grippy with a little file work on them. But, I like the idea of skate board tape on
the plain Classic Sebenza.

Rich
 
Something else to consider....

If you ever actually need to defend yourself with your knife, and if the police are involved, your knife will be confiscated as evidence.
And you might never see it again (except in the courtroom).

So....

Would you rather the police confiscate your Spyderco Pacific Salt or your CR Sebenza?
 
allenC said:
Something else to consider....

If you ever actually need to defend yourself with your knife, and if the police are involved, your knife will be confiscated as evidence.
And you might never see it again (except in the courtroom).

So....

Would you rather the police confiscate your Spyderco Pacific Salt or your CR Sebenza?
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While it is highly unlikely I will have to use my knife to defend myself, if it happens and there is enough of me left to talk to the police, I would consider it money well spent on my Strider SnG, damascus Sebenza, etc. :)
 
It misses the point that the Strider SnG and the damascus Sebenza will not do anything that a Spyderco Endura can't do for self defense.
 
There are likely less expensive knives than a Spydeerco Endura that can do as well in a self defense situation. It is more the person than the knife.
 
Rich357 said:
Or, you could buy a couple of Benchmade Pika IIs for roughly the cost of one Spyderco Endura. :)
http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=7747
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I personally find it harder to open a Pika than to open an Endura. Of course, more expensive knives generally are easier to open, but I think the cost/benefit ratio is high enough I'd choose an Endura. I actually had the store I bought the Pika from loosen the pivot pins before I walked out because I couldn't stand having a knife as hard to open as it was (to be fair, I had to use it as my only knife; I might have tolerated a secondary knife but not a primary knife being that hard). Besides, if he says $400 budget, I think saving $345 to get a really good knife is better than saving an extra 25 and getting a pretty good knife. If it was a budget of $75 I might agree with saving 25, but at that level, it sounds like it won't be too much hardship.
 
I've had a Pika for a few years and have used it quite a bit. No problems. In the hands of someone like Steve Tarani that Pika would seem pretty darned effective.

I'm not the one arguing in favor of a lower priced knife. You guys like the Spyderco Endura and I prefer other folders, most of them happen to be more expensive than the Endura. I would add some Microtech folders to my list along with some of the frame lock Emersons.

Again, in the unlikely chance you may get in a knife fight are you really going to worry about a few hundred bucks when all is said and done? Heck, your court costs to defend yourself, even if you were in the right, will make the cost of a Strider SnG look like pocket change.
 
BTW, I have a Spyderco Endura and Delica. They work well. I've used both quite a bit aound the house.
 
For SD the knife will be unpocketed, opened, and inserted into bad guy with all due repetition. That being one of the reasons I carry a knife myself, I say just carry a knife you can quickly, and cleanly unpocket, open, and insert into aforementioned bad guy.

I have never felt scared with my $29 Camillus Heat, or my $18 FRN Byrd Cara Cara. They carry well, are easy to grip firmly, and open quickly enough to satisfy me in my daily management of my probationers, and summons service duties.

The ability to survive Noss4 for 2 hours and the ability to slice, dice and jab someone for 5-20 seconds are 2 different animals.

If you are really concerned carry 2 blades or even 3 with one as a backup in an ankle rig, or such.

And, a $20 blade leaves you enough left over to buy a few other surprises.
 
I think some people are really missing the point. You don't need a knife with superb fit and finish to stab someone. Heck, people stab each other with toothbrushes.
 
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