best folders for prying?

C

cognitivefun

Joined
Oct 24, 2004
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Okay, a folder isn't meant for prying. We know that. But what do you feel is the best folder if you have to do prying?

I nominate the Extrema Ratio line. I have the M.P.C. and it sure seems ideal for prying: thick blade, huge solid frame, solid lockup beyond belief.

Striders, my SnG and SMF, deserve honorable mention but don't seem as solid as the ER.

What do you think you would want to carry if you knew you may have to do some heavy prying, for instance rescue ops or survival stuff with this being your only knife?
 
My Strider GB...I have already used it a couple of times to pry things I would not pry with any other knife I own!
 
cognitivefun said:
But what do you feel is the best folder if you have to do prying?

IWhat do you think you would want to carry if you knew you may have to do some heavy prying, for instance rescue ops or survival stuff with this being your only knife?
Click to expand...


anything beefy with a thick blade, a strong lock, strong pivot and a sturdy tip. stuff that comes to mind is (Buck-)Strider, TOPS, ER, ...........
 
PRY BAR!!! Although I would feel safe with an old buck 110. I say this because I broke the lock on my grandmothers house with it when I got locked out!!
 
There is a message in the CRKT warranty card that says, "Remember, a knife is the least effective, and yet the most expensive pry bar you will ever own."

In other words, don't use a knife as a pry bar! Use a pry bar as a pry bar and cutting tool as a cutting tool. Unless you are one of those with more money than brains and just like replacing knives.

Oh I know some of the guys here use their EDCs for prying on more than one or two occassions and think it is fine if you know what you are doing. Go ahead and believe that if you like.

First off the pivot pin of a folder isn't made to withstand the kind of forces for the action of prying, and second any steel that is hardened beyond a certain Rc becomes more likely to break rather than bend. Pry bars are specifically hardened to bend before breaking and even they can and do break if taken too far.

I've broken tips off of D2 and A2 knives without even really meaning to so I would say certain steels are even more prone to snapping quickly compared to others, probably depending on hardness levels and types of steels. Seems to me that steels like 1095, 01 and other high carbon steels will tend to bend first before breaking but the stainless steels seem to be less forgiving. I may be wrong but it just seems that way to me after working with both over the course of my life time.
 
Strider's. Probably the best would be the GB. Though what does it matter? Whatever does or doesn't happen, the warrenty will cover it.
 
There are some folders that can definitely be used for prying. The Striders are certainly heavy duty enough with their oversized pivot pins and hefty blades. But why not use a custom prybar? I think there's folks around who make them..... :p :D
 
I know it's not a folder, but what about a prybaby? I will throw down that any tough thick knife would do the trick...striders, emersons...there was some test in a german magazine that ernie emerson had listed on his website, and the only knive to survive were an emerson, a CRKT, and a buck strider. All thick knives.
 
Prying what? Prying a door off its hinges or prying a slat off a crate? Big difference. Technique counts, too. Prying with the tip is less effective than prying at the ricasso.

Of course Greco, Strider, and Extrema Ratio folders will do some prying with no problem. How far you want to push that depends on how highly you value your knife.
 
cognitivefun said:
But what do you feel is the best folder if you have to do prying?
Click to expand...

An old, cheap, ugly, well-insured one that you don't like.

Pry hard enough and you'll turn a Fallkniven A1 into a folder...

maximus otter
 
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