Best folding BEATER!

[tremonti_usa]

blade tech's lite line

I just looked at one of them and it looked almost identical to the cara cara. Probably a pretty good knife, eh?

 

[hardheart]

Is a lockback more secure than a liner? I've owned a few lockbacks and they all seem to be secure and I haven't had any real trouble with them.

imo, absolutely, in the same price range I've had liner locks fail while never a problem with lockbacks

 

[knarfeng]

STR's suggestion of a Native was excellent, but I'd like to add a couple of others as you said you wanted longer than 3" blade.

One of knives you were looking at in your initial post was the KaBar Mule. There have been several threads written by satisfied owners of that knife. All of the owners felt the knife was extremely robust, if not downright indestructible. It has a 4" blade of AUS8, which IMO is pretty good steel. It runs about $40 online. It probably needs to ride in its sheath rather than your pocket, as it is a bit large.

If you want something a bit smaller so that it fits in your pocket, try the KaBar Large Dozier. It has a 3 1/2 inch x 0.16" thick piece of AUS8 for a blade. It goes for $25 online. I have one and am extremely pleased with it.

If country of origin is of any concern to you:
Both of the KaBars are made in Taiwan.
The Native is USA,
The Byrds are mainland China.

add: both KaBars and the Native are lockbacks

 

[beckerhead]

I don't know much about the Kabar scrutiny of its imports, my wife's Warthog is top notch though. I do have a rather high opinion of Sal's watchful eye on the Spyderco imported "Byrd" line of knives. The actual steel is not too different from AUS-8, but the 61Rc makes a pretty big difference IMO .

 

[RandyW]

griptillian should get the job done for ya

 

[tremonti_usa]

STR's suggestion of a Native was excellent, but I'd like to add a couple of others as you said you wanted longer than 3" blade.

One of knives you were looking at in your initial post was the KaBar Mule. There have been several threads written by satisfied owners of that knife. All of the owners felt the knife was extremely robust, if not downright indestructible. It has a 4" blade of AUS8, which IMO is pretty good steel. It runs about $40 online. It probably needs to ride in its sheath rather than your pocket, as it is a bit large.

If you want something a bit smaller so that it fits in your pocket, try the KaBar Large Dozier. It has a 3 1/2 inch x 0.16" thick piece of AUS8 for a blade. It goes for $25 online. I have one and am extremely pleased with it.

If country of origin is of any concern to you:
Both of the KaBars are made in Taiwan.
The Native is USA,
The Byrds are mainland China.

add: both KaBars and the Native are lockbacks

That was a really great and informative post. I have a regular dozier folder and i really like it. I actually just bought it yesterday and i've been cutting random stuff ever since! haha.. It's the first in my collection.. I'm probably going to end up with 5 or so folders. Some edc and some just for camping and outdoors.

I know ka bar has been making pretty beefy knives for some time and my recent purchase of that dozier folder has turned my inclination toward buying another. I've also been looking at that newer dozier fixed blade.. the KaBar Bull Dozier. That seems like it will be a good knife too.

 

[tremonti_usa]

...my wife's Warthog is top notch though.

I think I saw one for like 13 bucks on ag russell or something. I definitely wouldn't be afraid of breaking that, but sounds like it might not be a problem. I'm definitely building some confidence in the ka bar line.

 

[tremonti_usa]

...and here's a question in regard to the spydercos: If I was to purchase only one of these four what should I purchase? Native, Delica, Endura, or Cara Cara?


Like I said I'm probably going to end up with about 5 folders. They're all going to be around 50 bucks or less (I'm cheap..no sebanzas or striders here). I might splurge on the ritter grip or a buck strider someday though. I've heard great things about them.

 

[beckerhead]

I think I saw one for like 13 bucks on ag russell or something. I definitely wouldn't be afraid of breaking that, but sounds like it might not be a problem. I'm definitely building some confidence in the ka bar line.

Please bear in mind that the new production Warthogs are not Japan made AUS-8, but China made 1.4116 stainless, and although I love my China made Byrd, the Chinese Warthogs to me at least, seemed to be a much lesser tool than the originals, which are mid-grade at best. The Warthog is a favorite of my wife, and the steel is good, the handle makes the knife very secure in hand, but there is blade play even when the pivot is tight, and the handles while grippy have too much flex for my taste, and I am not a thumb stud fan either. You can get a FRN Cara Cara for $17 at knivesplus.com, and it is way more knife for the money than the Chinahog. If you want a Kabar folder go with a Dozier, or a Mule. I would stay away from the Chinahogs myself, if you want a good China made knife get a Byrd.

 

[beckerhead]

...and here's a question in regard to the spydercos: If I was to purchase only one of these four what should I purchase? Native, Delica, Endura, or Cara Cara?


Like I said I'm probably going to end up with about 5 folders. They're all going to be around 50 bucks or less (I'm cheap..no sebanzas or striders here). I might splurge on the ritter grip or a buck strider someday though. I've heard great things about them.

Even as a Byrd lover, I must say that if you put mainline Spydies in the mix, the deck is stacked against my wonderful Cara Cara. My .02 says Delica/Endura

 

[azchevy]

...and here's a question in regard to the spydercos: If I was to purchase only one of these four what should I purchase? Native, Delica, Endura, or Cara Cara?


Like I said I'm probably going to end up with about 5 folders. They're all going to be around 50 bucks or less (I'm cheap..no sebanzas or striders here). I might splurge on the ritter grip or a buck strider someday though. I've heard great things about them.

I bought my delica serrated AUS-8 blade 8 years ago for 35 bucks and it still holds and edge and does the job so you know my recommendation

 

[Ludwig]

...and here's a question in regard to the spydercos: If I was to purchase only one of these four what should I purchase? Native, Delica, Endura, or Cara Cara?

Here's what you do.

Get four small pieces of paper, write the name of one knife on each, put them in a hat, and pick one out randomly

I have the Cara Cara, Delica, and Endura (only handled a Native), and I have little doubt that you will not be disappointed with any choice that you eventually make. They're all quality knives that won't let you down. Personally, I would choose the Delica (preferably with wave) because I use most of my knives for EDC, and I find the Delica to be a nice size.

My $.02

 

[tremonti_usa]

Here's what you do.

Get four small pieces of paper, write the name of one knife on each, put them in a hat, and pick one out randomly

I have the Cara Cara, Delica, and Endura (only handled a Native), and I have little doubt that you will not be disappointed with any choice that you eventually make. They're all quality knives that won't let you down. Personally, I would choose the Delica (preferably with wave) because I use most of my knives for EDC, and I find the Delica to be a nice size.

My $.02

lol, that's one way to do it! I think I decided on the Cara Cara from spyderco and a couple others (from various companies) as well to complete my collection. I'll post that next and see what everyone thinks. (I'm not buying them all at once, but over time..starting with the Cara Cara. Which is actually my second knife purchase.)

 

[tremonti_usa]

I'm going to list these by blade size, because the prices vary from site to site..

Folders:

Smallest To Largest: .............................Approx. Prices:...........................Lock:

3" Ka Bar Dozier Folding Hunter..........................25 (already bought).........lockback
3.5" BM Griptilian (mel pardue version).................70...............................axis lock
3.75" Kershaw Junk Yard Dog II...........................50.............................liner lock
4" Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara...............................25..............................lockback
4" Ka Bar Mule...............................................40................................lockback
5" Cold Steel Voyager......................................52...............................lockback


Fixed:

smallest to largest:

4.6" Ontario Spec Plus Navy Mark I......................35
6.5" Ka Bar Bull Dozier........................................75



I made this new list with everyone's help... I feel like they're all durable and should get the job done well. All the folders are lockbacks except for the JYD2 and the Griptilian. Which, arguably the JYD2 could be replaced with another spyderco lockback. I was considering the griptilian for my "nice" folder, but honestly if I have it in my pocket, I'm probably not going to cut it any slack.

I just thought I'd put the fixed blades on there as well to see if I could get some responses on them. For the most part I don't think you can go wrong with an Ontario or Ka Bar in a fixed blade. I just leaned toward the new dozier version, because I bought the small folding hunter already and I really like it. I figured the fixed blade would be the same quality and the pictures I've seen...it looks awesome.


The most expensive knife on the list is the 75 dollar Bull Dozier. I think that's reasonable. I was trying to keep below 70 dollars. Feel free to comment on the list.


The only thing left, really, is a decent sharpener. I'm leaning toward the spyderco sharpmaker medium/fine kit (about 45 dollars) and perhaps a sterling superior carbide sharpener (about 12 dollars). I could keep the sterling sharpener with me at all times, because of it's size. I don't know much about sharpeners, but I've heard pretty good stuff about both of these sharpeners.

 

[heisler]

How about a Buck 110?

 

[Bill86]

I would go with one of these
CRKT m16 - HUGE knife, 3.75 blade but its definitely a beater
Sog trident not so much a beater but definitely holds a nice edge and I've put mine through quite the abuse.
Recon1 - looks pretty bid and aus8a steel does hold a nice edge, I'm thinking about getting one, also I've been quite satisfied with the 4 cold steels I own.

 

[tremonti_usa]

....I've been quite satisfied with the 4 cold steels I own.

Which cold steel models do you own?

 

[Ludwig]

How about a Buck 110?

Yeah, you should include a Buck 110 in your list of folders :thumbup:

You can get one at Wal-Mart for $27 or so dollars, and it is, IMPO, the quintessential outdoors folder. Simply classic.

 

[tremonti_usa]

I'll make a note of that guys..thanks. I might get my dad one for his birthday. He probably had one when he was a kid and it should be a good knife for him.

 

[Ludwig]

I'll make a note of that guys..thanks. I might get my dad one for his birthday. He probably had one when he was a kid and it should be a good knife for him.

That's a nice gesture. I sure as hell know my dad would appreciate one.

Thanks for the gift idea