Boyfriend's birthday coming up - looking for a heavy duty but small folder

recordaras said:
Thanks everyone!

Thank heavens he returned a couple of months ago, so hopefully sand won't be that much of an issue anymore. How much bigger are the 300 and 550 compared to the 350?

PS - the 550 is just such a gorgeous knife...
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Copying from a reliable retailer:

Zero Tolerance Model 0300ST Combo Blade, Black G-10 and Titanium Handles

Specifications:

Blade Material: S30V stainless-steel with Tungsten DLC coating
Blade Length: 3-3/4 inches (9.5 cm), partially serrated
Blade Thickness: 0.156 inches
Handle Material: 3-D machined, G-10 and Titanium back
Handle Length: 5-1/4 inches (13.3 cm)
Lock: Titanium frame lock
Weight: 8.0 oz.
Includes SpeedSafe® Ambidextrous Opening System (available in manual also)
Includes a quad mounting system for tip-up, tip-down, left or right handed clip carry
Made in USA

Zero Tolerance Model 0550 Folding Knife Black Plain Blade G-10 Handle

The ZT0550 features a bullet-tough blade of S35VN stainless steel. This ultra high-performance steel is a third-generation powdered steel. So it’s incredibly clean with virtually no inclusions and has an exceptionally uniform distribution of carbides. In other words, it can take whatever you can dish out. Designed by Rick Hinderer.

Specifications

Blade: S35VN blade black finish; 3.5 in. (8.8 cm), 0.156 in. thick
Scales: Textured G-10 in matte black; 4.5 in. (11.4 cm)
Overall: 8.125 in. (20.6 cm)
Lock: 6AL4V Titanium frame lock
Weight 5.8 oz.
Made in USA


ZT O350

The Model 0350 Zero Tolerance is Slightly smaller and lighter, but just as Aggressive. The new 0350 is 10% smaller the the 0300, but packs a lot of features into a size that some users prefer. Like its larger counterpart, the 0350 features the patented speed safe assisted opening system. Deploy the blade quickly and easily using the ambidextrous thumb stud or index finger protrusion. The ZT0350 features a S30V stainless-steel blade. S30V steel is extremely durable, Corrosion resistant and wear resistant. The high performance S30V blade is Paired with black G-10 scales for a secure grip and excellent mechanical strength even under the roughest conditions. A locking liner secures the blade. The 0350 also includes ZT-s quad mounting system for complete versatility. Mount the user clip in any of four ways: tip-up, tip-down on the left side or the right.Includes Speed Safe ambidextrous Opening System and a quad mounting system.

Specifications:

Blade: S30V Stainless Steel
Blade Length: 3 1/4 inches, .121 inches thick
Scales: G-10 Matte Black, Textured, 4 5/8 inches
Lock: Liner Lock
Weight: 5.8oz.
Made in USA


If he's not too worried about sand, I'll throw a couple more in the mix:

Doug Ritter RSK-1 Griptilian (or mini-Griptilian). This is my favorite EDC knife, hands down.

"Not everyone can afford $200 or more for a top quality folding knife. Even $150 is pushing it for many. However, everyone deserves a knife they can trust their life to in extreme conditions, a knife you can bet your life on™. The Doug Ritter RSK® Mk1 meets that goal at an affordable price. This is a collaborative evolution of Benchmade's Griptilian™ folder produced exclusively to Doug's specifications. "RSK®" stands for Ritter Survival Knife, an indication of its strength and reliability, but it's really a perfectly practical everyday carry knife. Thousands have been sold and are in daily use throughout the world, from urban city to Alaskan wilderness to Middle-Eastern war zones.

The sturdy black ergonomic glass-filled Noryl GTX handles, stainless inset liners and patented super strong ambidextrous AXIS™ Lock are pure Griptilian™. This is a handle that just plain works with a secure non-slip grip and a pronounced finger guard for safety, as well as a full-size lanyard hole. The pocket clip is reversible.

What helps sets the RSK® Mk1 apart is Doug's wide-chord and robust drop point blade design. This is a traditional blade style, very strong all the way to the point and very versatile, if not particularly "sexy" or "tactical." In today's politically correct world, that may not be such a bad thing for an everyday carry blade.

The blade's spine incorporates a prominent ramped thumb rest for enhanced control and security. This thumb rest portion of the spine also does an excellent job creating sparks using an artificial flint and can be used with the knife closed for added safety.

The 3.44 in. (8.74 cm) blade has a high, flat grind for cutting ease and strength. This grind makes for excellent slicing geometry; field reports confirm that it is an extraordinarily efficient slicer.

Dual thumb lugs provide ambidextrous opening, easy even with gloves on, completing the fully ambidextrous nature of the RSK® Mk1.

Topping this all off, the 0.115-inch (2.92 mm) thick blade is made of Crucible's superb, premium performance CPM S30V high-carbon stainless steel. It's proven tough and holds an edge.

The blade finish is a strikingly beautiful, but very practical "stone washed" tumbled finish that also serves to seal the metal's pores for added protection and strength. The result is a subdued finish, but one that is smooth and just barely lustrous. The finishing media and process was designed expressly for this knife to get the exclusive finish quality Doug desired."

Blade Material CPM S30V hardened to 58-60 HRC
Blade Length 3.44 in. (8.74 cm)
Blade Thickness 0.115 in. (2.92 mm)
Blade Shape Wide-Chord Drop Point
Blade Grind High Flat grind
Blade Finish Stonewashed
Closed Length 4.62 in. (11.73 cm)
Open Length 8.06 in. (20.47 cm)
Weight 3.82 oz. (108.29 g)
Handle Material Glass-filled Noryl GTX
Liners 410 Stainless Steel
Pivot Washers Phosphor Bronze
Pocket Clip Ambidextrous Reversible, Removeable, Parkerized Stainless Steel
Lock Mechanism Ambidextrous AXIS Lock
Opener Ambidextrous Dual Thumb Studs

Spyderco's Manix 2 Black G-10 Handles, 154CM blade with satin finish:

Dimensions:
Overall: 8 in. 203mm
Closed: 4 5/8 in. 117mm
Blade: 3 3/8 in. 86mm
Edge: 2 7/8 in. 73mm
Weight 5 3/8 oz 150 grams
Locking Mechanism: Ball Bearing Lock
Tip-up, Reversible Pocket Clip
Made in Golden, Colorado, USA

I think most of Spyderco's other offerings he'll find too big in the handle department (I know I do), but the Manix 2 is a heck of a nice knife. I own 1, with the second arriving in the mail today.
 
I'll recommend the Benchmade HK 14210S
http://www.benchmade.com/products/14210

31FYekfnb6L._SS500_.jpg


It's available cheaper than what it shows on Benchmade's site.

This knife is completely underrated.
 
He might like the Buck csar t it's not too big and the blade isn't too long but it's very heavy and strong.
 
recordaras said:
Thanks for your ideas everyone, it's incredibly helpful. Now just two questions:
- would liner lock be better than lockback in this case, or does it make no difference?
- does the Para Military come in combo edge? (My googling only brought me to plain edge options)
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Liner/lockback is kind of personal preference. I like liner locks better. I don't think the Para Military comes in combo edge, but in my opinion, plain edge is better anyways.
 
Nobody mentioned the Spyderco PPT or the Zula... Not for nothing but the SOG Vulcan is a beefy piece also (Not on par with some of the above items though, IMHO)
 
Peter Parker said:
You can get him the Kershaw RAM with coated blade for under $70 and it is a heck of a knife for that, just the right size too!
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+1...I'm flipping one right now. It's a great knife for EDC, but it's quite capable of handling general work use and abuse. Plus the serrations on the combo-edge version are actually pretty capable, if he wants another combo-edge knife.
 
How about a Kershaw Blur in S30V, a tough knife with a stone wash finish, ready for work.
 
Thee are some really great suggestions being given out; however if he isn't really a knife guy then a knife with a good using steel that is fairly easy to sharpen may suit him best. Look at the kershaw zing, buck vantage avid, spyderco delica.
 
I'd recommend a Benchmade Griptillion or a Spyderco Delica, maybe even a Spyderco Pacific Salt. I can't seem to find one in a combo edge, but the H1 steel wont rust, and from my experience holds an edge pretty well.

Also, the serrations on spydercos are some of the best I've ever encountered.
 
Buck vantage pro, awesome knife and a good deal cheaper so he won't feel bad about putting it to hard use. By the way how was he lucky enough to find you, the only time my girlfriend said anything about my knives it was just to ask if I had my crazy person knife on me
 
recordaras said:
Hi everyone,

My boyfriend's birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and I've spent the last couple of days trying to find the perfect EDC knife for him. This has resulted in frustration, aggravation and finally the realization that I need help with this if I don't want to end up just getting him a tie or something.

Here's a little bit of background:
- his current knife is an inexpensive semi-serrated Gerber that is now dull and full of sand after his deployment to Afghanistan. So I want something that comes in combo edge
- he isn't really knife-crazy (hence the state of his current knife), so I'm looking for a heavy-duty knife that he would actually use every day (so much for that Sebenza) and that wouldn't need too much special maintenance, and a steel that wouldn't be too soft or prone to stains/rust
- he has small hands and prefers small to medium-sized folders
- my budget is around $100, I could push it to $150, but something tells me that he'd be more careful with a $150 knife, and I just want something he'd use without thinking too much about it, like he does with his current one

So to sum all that up, I was hoping you knife gurus could recommend something that would fit comfortably in a smaller hand, be heavy duty and low-maintenance and within my price range. All your suggestions would really help me out!
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First and foremost, welcome to bladeforums! I applaud your choice in a gift that he will both love and really use. Very cool of you to be so thoughtful. :thumbup:

Hopefully you aren't too overwhelmed with all the available choices listed. The Zero-Tolerance line of knives seems to be very popular among the 'hard-use' folder guys. I've have and enjoy many folders from many different makers, but a spyderco usually finds itself in my pocket. I don't believe you can make a 'wrong' choice here among the knives suggested. In your price range, I'm sure you can find a quality knife that he will use.

Good luck, let us know what you decide.
 
I would look at something the size of the Spyderco Caly 3 or a Spyderco smaller 75mm Persian. You can good prices on these at the cutlery shoppe. Another option, and one that I highly recommend, is the Falkniven P folder in VG10 with a Micarta handle. Some online shops are discounting these heavily, and I got the Fallkniven P (3" blade) linerlock for $92 a short time ago. Some stores are even selling the bone handle Fallkniven P models for a little over $100. The Fallknivens are really nice knives.
 
Thank you so much for your ideas and especially for the warm welcome.
I must admit that it was slightly easier when everyone was just about unanimous about the 350, haha. I still have today and tomorrow to look through all the options and make up my mind. So far I think I'm most inclined towards the 350 and the Griptilian. The Delica is also nice, but I'm concerned that it looks (and possibly feels) a bit less "heavy duty" than the others - hope I'm not offending anyone out there by that...

As for the fixed blade recommendation - I was actually initially considering getting one of those (I have had a very long love affair with the Fallkniven F1, which to me is just one of the most beautiful things out there, not to mention those amazing Busses of course), but my boyfriend isn't really somebody to wear a fixed blade knife in a sheath when we go hiking or dog walking or doing other everyday stuff, so it would most likely end up lying around in a drawer. But a medium sized (and currently sandy and dull) folder is something he always has in his jeans/pants pocket, so that's what he could actually use and that's what I want to get him.

Once again, thanks so much for your help! You are certainly making this much easier than when I tried to just flip through online catalogs with thousands of items.
 
You can not go wrong with any of the brands mentioned IMO. Let me assure you the Spyderco Delica will hunt with any of these dogs.
 
Forgot the Benchmade Grip in my earlier post. It is light, tough and will feel good in medium to big hands. I've an old one I use with no quarter. I bought it used and it still stands up to everything.
 
+1 on all the suggestions, but I gotta throw my current favorite out there, the Benchmade 527 mini presidio ultra. The 440C steel will resist corrosion very well, it takes a great edge relatively easily and maintains it for a long time. The mini is just long enough for a full grip without compromising easy-of-carry. Axis lock, thick blade, and full-length liners make it a real workhorse, and you can find it for around $60 if you look at some of the more popular online retailers. Plus, Benchmade warranty and CS is tops. Have fun, the hunt is almost as good as the purchase.
 
I would suggest Endura. IMHO it would be the best fit to the list of the requirements.
 
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