best folding knife for a tropical island?

[yuldeli]

My vote would be for the Salt 1 over the Pacific because I prefer a 3" blade for EDC.

 

[T.K.C.]

Maybe on of the MPF1 folders by Mission if you can find one. If not that the next best bet in the marine environment of an island would the only other knife I can think of that would allow him to swim, dive, wade or boat and about anything else involving daily life there would be a Salt series knife from Spyderco. The Pacific Salt would be an excellent choice and far less money than the Mission if you can even find one of the Mission knives at this point. .

STR

I agree. These will NEVER rust!!

 

[STR]

We are fortunate that we live in a time when we actually do have some choices in the way of durable, good edge keeping rust proof knives as close to maintenance free as you can get. As anyone that lives on the salt water knows if you can get one less thing you need to baby or wash off routinely and maintain its always a good thing. There is nothing at all the matter with a Salt 1 over the Pacific Salt. The price is certainly right running plus or minus $60-$65 at most dealers. I actually like the S1 better than the Pacific Salt or Atlantic Salt and its the only Salt knife I own.The bright yellow handle makes it easy to find if you drop it also and of the three shown here its probably the best edge keeper although its debatable between the H1 out of the box and the X-15 T.N. steel used by Boker which is the next one up. It may be true that over time with use as the H1 work hardens that it would soon out perform even itself if you were to use it in a test right out of the box and compare later as it hardened some.

Boker did a lot of knives in this X-15 T.N. steel a few years back. I'm not sure this one is still made but I see it on ebay all the time. Its the Boker Turbine now referred to as the Boker Turbine Junior. I like this knife. Its well, made, light weight and sturdy as well as completely rust proof. One thing I like about the Boker personally is that the blade is thick at nearly 4mm. It is a first production run shown here and those were apparently slightly thicker than later runs but not by much. The standard production models are usually 3.5 mm thick. This one is 3.9 mm and compared to the Spyderco at 2.5 its a bit of a difference there that could matter to some. The pocket clip is different also on the Turbine shown here than regular production models. Later models have reversible clips as I recall. This one is tip up right hand only. The body is all aluminum in a very durable hardcoat. This knife is usually around $140 to $160 and again not for everyone. They are well built silky smooth knives though and worthy of the highest praise. Boker doesn't get the level of press here stateside they get elsewhere in the world but they are capable of making some fine cutlery. Don't discount them from the running in a good EDC rust proof companion.

Last is the already mentioned Mission MPF-3. As you can tell it sees more pocket time than the other two combined. Also, I've modified this one with a new clip which I flipped and I made the plate that now functions as a lock stabalizer block for overtravel. What can I say I've learned to like this knife and since personalizing it it really has seen a lot of use off and on, especially in the summer time when I sweat a lot. It does lag a bit in edge keeping compared to either of these but not enough to make me put it away and switch to one of the others. Its blade is 3.5mm and basically since its ti that means you can really do a lot of prying and hard jobs with that blade. It can take it. Trust me I've done it. They are good workers and really not something for everyone but if rust and maintenance is an issue it fits the bill. This knife is expensive at $274 right before the company ran out of them and ebay usually has them for into the $340-$370 price range. They are getting harder to find all the time. I would sure not want to lose one of these babies!


STR

 

[James Y]

+1 for the Pacific Salt.
If he were open to a fixed blade, I'd probably recommend an Aqua Salt or a Caspian Salt.

It's great the types of knives that are now available. I can't wait to see any technological innovations are in the future for the Salt series.
Jim

 

[Bierkameel]

Spyderco Atlantic Salt.

 

[sircantaloupe]

Salt 1.

 

[Chris Pierce]

I'm really surprised that nobody mentioned the Spyderco SALT line of knives...

 

[zyhano]

if there is alot of sand involved you might want to check out the zt 500 mud folder. nice design by G&G and the pivot is protected from sand and mud

 

[CrialJLA]

I'd say spyderco salt aswell..

 

[MikeC]

The Mission's if you can find a one and it doesn't have QC issues, are literally bomb proof. People can say what they want but there is nothing tougher and nothing that will stand up the elements better. PERIOD. Say what you wan but there isn't. The entire knife is solid with thick titanium slabs on both sides, all parts or titanium and the blade is beta titanium. It will cut, slice, pry and hold an edge about like AUS 8, American Lawman ring a bell anyone. Too boot the thing will not RUST no part of it and its not flimsy in any way again the thing is solid titanium and thick. It is also open construction so if you get if full of sand which I did to some of mine, and I mean literlaly buried. Wash it off in the ocean water or with sweat or sweat and sea water and go on about your business.

If I could not have the Mission I would take the Boker Turbine JR it is a more robust knife than the spyderco better materials and thicker parts.