Best hard-use manual under $175?

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
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Emerson claims to have the best "hard-use" knives but I have issue with their quality vs. price and I know I'm not alone. I do carrry a Commander (in addition to my other knives) but I mostly like it because of the WAVE.

From my personal experience the best hard-use knives in that price range are Benchmades or MOD.

I really like my MOD Tempest, but it's a little small and very slippery.

What are some other good hard-use knives in that price-range?

P.S. I hate the Buck Striders.
 
You're certainly not alone in your opinion of Emerson knives. I put a $175 or so Emerson next to my $88 Spyderco Military, and the Military is a better built knife.

Now that my grumbling is out of the way, I put in votes for:
- MOD CQD I/II
- Camillus Dominator
- MT LCC
 
fulloflead, gotta back the Benchmade. I've never owned an Emerson only because I was able to hold one first. Most knives I buy are never handled but I was able to handle a couple of Emersons, and they did nothing for me, price point was comparable to BM, but quality was lacking, IMO. I might recommend a Microtech as well, as they have never dissappointed me either. I know that there are a lot of Emerson fans out there... please don't take my gun show handling experience only to heart...
 
Originally posted by frank k
What do you consider to be “hard use”?
Click to expand...

Opening envelopes, cleaning my fingernails...

Just kidding.;)

Scraping, some light prying, severing some bailing wire, pulling staples out of wood, cutting through various glues...

I don't know....
Just normal working-in-a-plant kind of work. I want something slightly more than what I probably need.
 
yeah that is my big gripe with MOD knives whats the deal with them, why cant they make bigger sizes, like microtech, I love some of the MOD knives, but they are to small, I know the CQD, I think its called is big, but I cant stand the looks of it, I think that MOD would have much better business, if they started giving more choices for knife sizes.:(
 
Opening envelopes, cleaning my fingernails...


Plus the usual chopping rocks, cutting free standing redwoods, digging in concrete, or chiseling open tank turrets between beheading sentries, right? ;) :D



Scraping, some light prying, severing some bailing wire, pulling staples out of wood, cutting through various glues...


I use a multi-tool for stuff like that. If you left out the bailing wire, just about any good locking blade folder or fixed blade should do nicely.





- Frank
 
I would suggest a Cold Steel Recon 1, that's a hard use knife! Mine is spear point and it can take some real pounding... until today it has always worked fine in my outdoors activities, so for a few stapples to remove ;)
 
MT LCC
I've used and abused mine on a daily basis for 3 years without a single problem. It just keeps coming back for more
 
I gotta say the best hard use folder I've used is a Spyderco Native Lightweight.
Combo edge. And I don't usually like Combo's.
I sawed thru 3/4 sheetrock with 3/16 real wood paneling covering it for junction boxes then placed 12 hi hats in 1/2 sheetrock. electric wire sheath, etc.
The put it in a passaround here and Knifeforums.
It passed all tests superbly :)

No Baling wire tho.
Tom
 
I agree with you tob9595, the Native really rocks, and it's the best ratio (size+weight)/cutting power I've ever seen, but Fulloflead is looking for bigger sized folder ... :rolleyes:
A blade lenght between a 5.5in cuda max and a 9.25in Giant Opinel should be fine no? :p

NATIVE POWAAA!!! :D
 
AAAhhh
Size does matter :)

Fulloflead
I'd like to hear the downside of the
Buck Strider. Looks nice tho I've not handled one.

Lady in the Post Office just wished me Happy Halloween
Sheesh!!

Tom
 
In that price range, I'd say the Benchmades would be practically unbeatable. My personal favorites are the 710 and the 720.
 
Just like Max, I'll suggest the Al Mar SERE 2000...That's one stout folder!
 
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