Best Production Folder

M

McLanahan

Joined
Oct 24, 2005
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Being new to this web-site I am sure this question has been ask before, however maybe the old timers will give their views to the new timers.
Subject : Best Production ( not custom ) made folders, reguardless of price in your opinion, no discontinued or special limited. A folder that can be purchased today.
Things to consider, quality of workmanship, blade material, lock system, scales if any, customer service.
This can be a daily carrier and work knife or a knife for the collector.
I will start by saying that in my opinion I choose the Benchmade and I have had many folders in my life and most did the job but when I first put a Benchmade in my hand I knew that I had come full circle and all my others have been sold.
Thanks to all who contribute to this. McLanahan
 
Which Spyderco?? Best BM is the 710HS, but I'd take a Manix or Chinook over one (and only these two over it).
 
I like a little known knife made by a company started by a South African fellow now based in Idaho.
 
Infidels! Dont you know the answer is Sebenza?

Incoming! *runs for cover :D

Serious now, what category would you like it to be 'best' in?
 
stjames said:
I like a little known knife made by a company started by a South African fellow now based in Idaho.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I know that guy!! He is definately makes the BEST production folder ever.
 
Strider SNG, without a doubt. No folder better for EDC. It is worth the price in every way, and their customer service is beyond awesome! I know a flame war is coming between 2 certain camps here, but I wanted to be the first to represent the Strider camp.
 
I can name 3 off the top of my head that are outstanding prod. folders. These being Sebenza and CRK knives, MT SOCOM by of course Microtech, and lastly the Buck/Mayo TNT copy with S30v steel. All three are freaking great blades, stellar workmanship, and sharp. Ok one more the SERE 2k. I am done now. keepem sharp

PS also my MOD Tempest, EKI Comm. and CQC 7b and mini A, or the Gerber Parabellum.:D Crap I likem' all.
 
stjames said:
I like a little known knife made by a company started by a South African fellow now based in Idaho.
Click to expand...

LOL, I agree wholeheartedly. The name of if has something to do with work if I remember correctly.:D Best knife ever. :p
 
I am also a Strider fan!! USAFSP is right, Striders ROCK!! But, you still can't beat a Sebbie!
 
I'll just echo what has already been said, the Sebenza is, IMO, the highest quality production folder $ can buy, with the best, most consistant fit and finish, the Strider folders are not quite as consistant, but they can be very close, and many people prefer their design for various reasons. Whether it be the SMF, the smaller SNG or the AR/GB line, the Strider folders are really excellent knives. If the Sebenza is a Mercedes, the Striders are Hummers. :) Finally, an often overlooked knife that someone did mention above, the full size, manual Microtech SOCOM, I have one of the so called "Tactical" manual SOCOMs with the S90V clip point blade and heavy duty Micro-bar lock, and I have to say, these knives hold their own against any tactical/utility knife out there, including many pricier customs. They are built like a tank, light as a feather and the F&F is truly custom-like, the best part is, if you keep an eye out, they can be had for very reasonable prices, I got mine for around $225 brand new.

Most people will agree that Chris Reeve and Strider both have exceptionally good warrantees and that each stands behind their product, while Microtech, unfortunately, has in recent years, become less responsive to customer service issues than they should be. Personally, until I see a stronger effort from MT on the CS front, I can't really recommend them, even though they have produced some of the world's finest production knives and been responsible for many brilliant and innovative designs like the Halo, Combat Talon, Ultratech and DA SOCOMS.

My question though is, the original poster specified production only, and both Chris Reeve and Strider have often been said to be semi-custom shops. Do they meet the OP's criteria of being a true production knife?
 
Asking for the company that makes the best folder is like asking who makes the best car. What the best SUV, sports car, truck, sedan, luxury car, or economy car? Although I like alot of Benchmade knives and a gentleman who designs for them by the name of Warren Osborne is responsible for my current addiction to high grade folders, I would say the 705 and 710 are excellent value knives. Gent's folders would go to Moki and Wm. Henry. Autos would have to go to Microtech. Kershaw dominates the assisted opener market. I think CRK makes a good knife and I own a few (8), but IMHO they're not a great value. Spyderco and Benchmade I believe give you alot more bang for the buck than CRK.

It all depends what your needs and wants are. Even though I own both large and small sebbies, I hardly ever carry them. They just don't go with the whole tie thing. They are certainly overkill as bait knives and are certainly not fillet knives, so they don't see much boat time. In the field, I'd rather have a Queen Texas toothpick and a Buck 110 for gutting and skinning critters. Sebbies are sort of serious overkill for opening the mail, although the Mnandi excells here. The Spyerco Police or Civilian are far better "retention devices" than the Sebbie, and for defense I much prefer an H&K or a Kimber. So, yeah sure the Sebenza is the greatest folder ever made.:rolleyes:

The bottom line is the Sebenza is a bridge between the typical "higher end" factory and the low to medium range handmade market. Sure, Sebbies are better than some handemade tactical knives, but Mokis are often far superior in fit and finish to most gent's folders under $700.;) Hell, William Henry sells some knives at prices that scare me away. It all depends on what you want, need and more importantly, what you value.
 
Best for new out of the box sharpness. Spyderco hands down. These knives are sharper when new than even high end customs in a high percentage of cases.

Best for blade steels- Spyderco hands down when looking at the best of the best and the latest and greatest in stainless steel.

Best in customer support- Spyderco is one of the better ones but no better to me than Kershaw is as both are pretty great, but then again so is Buck, and so is Ka-Bar, BenchMade and Emerson. All take care of their customers as well as anyone can ask for.

Best as far as locks- BenchMade makes a great lock, but so does Spyderco. Their compression lock and ball bearing or nested compression locks are very nice and probably equal in strength to the BM axis locks. These three are the latest and greatest in what is new and exciting but note that both companies still offer other locking systems or the old standby type. Spyderco makes some of the finest mid locking folders money can buy. They also keep up with the best out there in liner locks.

Best in handle materials- Both Spyderco and BenchMade offer different levels of handles for their customers and cover the bases well but then again so do all the others out there. Most everyone uses the same ones so six of one half dozen of another here.

Best in availability and affordability- I think Spyderco does this best. Where else can you buy a premium blade steel at an affordable price?


My pic for best production folder available today goes to Spyderco. Next would be BenchMade as a very close second followed by Buck, Kershaw, Emerson and then Kabar.
 
i have many of the knives listed and i must say the best on is the one you have on you when you need it. right now the best is my crk lg seb because it is in my pocket. tomorrow it may be a strider ar or a microtech socom. depends on what side of the bed i wake up on.
 
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