Best wave opening knife?

knife2Agunfight

knife2Agunfight

Joined
Jan 11, 2012
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I've really been wanting a knife with the wave feature, but I can't really settle on one. I originally wanted to get an Emerson, but they seem so overpriced for how basic they are and for all the problems they seem to have. But they are not out of the question.

I wanted your guys' opinion on what knife would be the best option for a knife with the wave feature. I'm looking for what knife opens the smoothest/fastest, what knife could handle EDC tasks, and what knife is really well built. If you have any other suggestions, let me know.

What I'm considering:

  • Cold Steel AK-47
  • Emerson CQC-7
  • Emerson CQC-13
  • Spyderco Endura 4 w/ Emerson Wave
  • Southern Grind Bad Monkey
 
Cold Steel mehh not really a "Waved" knife just a over sized thumb plate thingy s. They have Child like advertising ploys and Lynn C. Thompson something about him annoys me when I see his crap vidoes. they made a Combat tactical Spatula lets get real. that said the Lawmen and Recon are OK knives once you remove the paint from the blade.

Bias towards Emerson's Love the knives and the Company. I bought 3 Emerson's in 2012 a CQC-7 and roadhouse and a Journeyman. All had spot on Fit and Finish and are great working knives. As for EDC the journeyman is the closest thing to a classic EDC with the V grind and classic looks. All Emerson's have good sized handles and fit the hand well. One of the best warranties in the Biz and 100% US made. "Famous in the worst places"

Spyderco Endura 4 w/ Emerson Wave Not a huge Spyderco Fan, never owned a Endura but the "Wave" is licensed from Emerson so it will work and work well.

Southern Grind Bad Monkeys has been on my to buy list now for a bit. Southern grind is owned by Zac Brown the musican and long time knife guy, and he uses the patented "wave" opener with permission from Emerson. They are Bigger at 4 inches but very light at around 5 oz. They are not made with a Supper top end steel so if your a steel snob that might set you back. you get carbon fiber, wave feature a stout 4" spear or tanto for around 185 dollars that's not too bad. Made in the US but the steel is not. For a EDC you do not need a super steel?
 
In terms of wave-ability, the Endura is definitely the best. The hook on it is huge and very easy to wave open. Much easier than my cqc 7 or Commander.
 
From your list- Southern Grind all the way. I love mine to no end. Titanium, carbon fiber and Sandvik... How could you not love it?
 
Bigfatts said:
From your list- Southern Grind all the way. I love mine to no end. Titanium, carbon fiber and Sandvik... How could you not love it?
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I agree. But I am a sucker for carbon fiber. Nonetheless it looks like a great knife.
 
viper89 said:
I agree. But I am a sucker for carbon fiber. Nonetheless it looks like a great knife.
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I too am a sucker for carbon fiber. I like his knives, but the satin finish on his knives doesn't look very good. I haven't seen many, but it just looks a little rough.
 
I carried an Endura Wave for years and it's still a close second among my favourite folders. The larger wave makes easier to hook on a pocket to open consistently and also works quite well as a bottle opener.
 
From that list I would go with the Endura. Best steel of the bunch, very affordable and quite light and easy to carry. If you're looking for toughness my second choice would be the AK-47. It has the best lock, but the wave action can be pretty tight on the CS models. I have waved knives from Spyderco, Fox and Emerson and, unfortunately, I think both Fox and Spyderco execute the design significantly better than Emerson does. You can wave an Emerson open every time, but it takes practice to get it right, the other two seem to work much more naturally for me.
 
A Spyderco with a zip tie tied to the opening hole.

All of the speed and whatever of an Emerson opener, but without the Emerson. :thumbup:
 
Spyderco Endura Wave.

Fast...and sharp.

Be werry careful...it is S H A R P.

Best.
 
The Endura wave is the only one out of your list that is on my list aswell. So my vote goes for the endura! However that southern grind might make it onto my list....
 
If you plan on using it for something other than fighting, don't go for the Emersons. They heat treat their knives to a low RC hardness, so they barely hold an edge. I'd go for the Spyderhole + zip tie thing if you have cops frisking you and stuff. Since the Endura's wave is a bit larger than most, it'll open up as they pull it out of your pocket and you could be written up for having a switchblade or gravity knife.
 
XiaolongJackson said:
If you plan on using it for something other than fighting, don't go for the Emersons. They heat treat their knives to a low RC hardness, so they barely hold an edge. I'd go for the Spyderhole + zip tie thing if you have cops frisking you and stuff. Since the Endura's wave is a bit larger than most, it'll open up as they pull it out of your pocket and you could be written up for having a switchblade or gravity knife.
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If that ever happens then just tell them its a bottle opener and that you use it for opening beer and cutting samidges. A gravity knife has to flick open easily and a switchblade, by definition, requires the blade to spring open via a button or switch on the handle. The wave fits neither of those definitions provided the pivot is not too loose.
 
Torm said:
If that ever happens then just tell them its a bottle opener and that you use it for opening beer and cutting samidges. A gravity knife has to flick open easily and a switchblade, by definition, requires the blade to spring open via a button or switch on the handle. The wave fits neither of those definitions provided the pivot is not too loose.
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Yep, you can also keep a finger on the spine as you take it out so it doesn't inadvertently wave open.
 
Or you can get your favorite folder wave modded...
 
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