I just joined this forum, and was surprised to read through this thread and see such a large number of votes for the Spyderco Wegner. I thought this gem was a sleeper, but it's catching on. My favs, in order:
1. Large Spyderco Wegner: Great handle, good steel, the semi-skinner blade profile is hands-down the most useful working profile I've found...works as well upside down (like you'd use it to zip open a whitetail, or a bag of topsoil without trashing the edge) as it does right side up. It's a bit heavier than it needs to be with the steel backspacer, but an excellent design. (sure wish it had a thumbstud instead of the Spyderco bulge, er, hole, and that it came in 420V/440V/or BG-42 with a super heat-treat, and with Axis lock... maybe someday I'll get Boguszewski to make me a custom. One other design glitch...the clip is on the wrong side of the handle! The curvature of the comfortable handle is backwards in my jeans pockets given the clip where it is, so it's not as good as it could be comfort-wise. Guess I give the semi-skinner blade big points, eh? ) If you are a hunter, you'll look long and hard for a better folding hunting knife (see Dozier and Kit Carson drop points in custom $$ range). But this is a champ in utility situations also.
2. Benchmade 710, McHenry & Williams designed Axis Lock is another gem. Very efficient design, ratio of blade length to handle length is optimized. Axis lock is a real winner. Good basic steel in ATS-34. Wouldn't change a thing about the design, unless they'd offer better steel. The 710 beats the Spyderco Military (aside from blade steel) with a stick! (The Spyderco Military is a very inefficient design, and I find it is the only folder I own that annoys me to carry in my pocket due to its extreme closed length ... pokes me when I sit, and I'm 5'-11". The Military has about 3/16" less useable blade length, but is nearly 1/2" longer closed!)
3a. Spyderco Starmate is another gem. Sexy design is also very practical. I feel like you get all of the Spyderco Military benefits with none of the drawbacks. Similar to the Military, they cleverly minimized the amount of titanium and/or steel they used for double sided liners...the liner lock is plenty secure but is minimized mass-wise to make a very thin profile, yet still plenty strong (folders are not pry bars) folding knife making good use of G-10's very stiff and tough qualities. I have Terzuola's custom Starmate in ATS-34, and well, they are different, and the custom is a bit slicker fit & finish & action, and it's got a thumb stud and no hump, but the heat treat wasn't quite on par, and for the money, the Spyderco is a big winner in 440V to my mind.
3b. The 4" AFCK 800 would've gotten my vote for #2, but it's still tied for 3rd place post-BM710 release. Another great sub-$120 utility folder in ATS-34. And stick with ATS-34. The M2 version may hold an edge a bit better when dry, but a high moly/tungsten/vanadium, Low Chromium non-stainless tool steel blade isn't worth the small incremental bump in cutting ability if you take it into the outdoors for extended periods, e.g. camping (M2, even with black T, has an exposed edge that will rust, and rust means its getting dull quickly. You could try Sentry Solutions Tuf Cloth or something, but just not worth the trouble for the small benefit. Rather have D2 than M2).
[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 05-27-2000).]
[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 05-27-2000).]
