Buying a $100 Knife

J

JNieporte

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Nov 1, 2004
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Looks like Uncle Same is sending me some money, so I'll have about $120 to spoedn on knives. I made a list of what I'd like; now I want your opinions on these blades. Tell me what you'd like and why; you can even mix and match with some of these due to the price. Have fun, and thansk for helping...

Sog Mini Vulcan #99116, 3" VG-10 blade. Arc Lock. Black FRN handles. Reversible pocket clip. $83.13

Sog Vulcan #99097, 3.5" VG-10 blade. Arc Lock. Black FRN handles. Reversible pocket clip. $95.00

Spyderco Tenacious #C122GP, 3.5" 8Cr13MoV blade. Black G-10 handles. Linerlock. 4-way pocket clip. $31.19

Spyderco Centofante III #C66PBK3, 3" VGT-10 blade. Black FRN handles. Lockback. Reversible pocket clip. $56.19

Spyderco D'Allara Drop Point #C82PBK2, 3.5" VG-10 blade. Ball bearing lock. Black FRN handles. Reversible pocket clip. $68.69

Spyderco ParaMilitary #C81FG, 3" DPM-D2 blade. Green G-10 handles. Compression lock. Pocket clip. $124.94

Kershaw Mini Cyclone #1635GY, 3" Sandvik 12C26 blade. Linerlock. Black anodized aluminum handles. SpeedSafe with on/off feature. Reversible pocket clip. $44.98

Kershaw Leek #1660CKT, 3" Sandvik 12C26 blade with black coating. Linerlock. SpeedSafe. Black Tungsten DLC handles. Reversible pocket clip. $46.48

Kershaw Leek #1660CB, 3" composite 14C28N and CPM-D2 blade. Linerlock. SpeedSafe. Aluminumk handles. Reversible pocket clip. $56.23

Kershaw Shallot #1840CKT, 3.5" Sandvik 12C26 blade with black coating. Linerlock. SpeedSafe. Black Tungsten DLC handles. Reversible pocket clip. $50.95

SOG Visionary II #VS02, 3.75" black VG-10 blade. Arc lock. Black Zytel handles. Reversible pocket clip. $107.95
 
Out of all of those I only have personal experience with a composite leek (just got it yesterday). If you have big hands I'm not sure you would find the handle of the leek very comfortable.
 
This is all just my opinion, so your mileage may vary.

I own a SOG Spec Elite II which I bought new at a tempting price. I like the arc lock that SOG uses, but for some reason after a lot of carry and some use, the blade has some side to side play that it did not have when it was new. I've tightened the blade piviot screw, and that eliminates the play but makes the blade so tight it won't open without a lot (too much) effort, even with some Rem Oil on the pivot point.

The Visionary (like my Spec Elite II) has a gap between the edge of the blade (when open) and the handle, and I have found that when cutting cardboard boxes down to size for easier recycyling, or when cutting fabric, what I'm cutting likes to jam up in this gap.

The Vulcan does not have this gap, but I've read complaints on this site that when the knife is closed and in your pocket, the end point of the blade can snag on your pocket liner, possibly resulting in a cut to your pants, or your leg. But I believe some Vulcan owners stated they did not have this problem.

Regardless, the Vulcan, Visionary, and the Spec Elite II all have the recurved blade which I find a bit difficult to sharpen on just a flat diamond stone. A round diamond rod makes it easier, but I can always get a knife sharper on a diamond stone, for some reason. Also, with my Spec Elite II, I have to take the thumb stud off before sharpening, or it drags on the diamond stone. This is no big deal, but it is annoying and makes it harder to sharpen the knife without a phillips screwdriver.

And for some reason, SOG likes to use both Torx screws and phillips head screws on the same knife, and that makes it necessary to have both types of tools for me to sharpen and adjust the Spec Elite. You may run into these problems with the SOGs you mentioned.

I own and recommend to you a Benchmade full size Griptillian and a Spyderco Endura 4. These should fall in your price range. The Endura has the VG-10 steel, and you can get a Griptillian with a thumb stud opener, or a thumb hole opener. My Griptillian and Endura have also been carried and used roughly the same amount as my SOG Spec Elite II, but they have not developed any side to side blade play. I do not own, but have handled a Spyderco D'allara Drop Point, and I liked it. The big ball bearing lock looked fairly tough. Does Spyderco still make these, or were they discontinued?
 
With that amount of money I'd buy either:

1. A Kershaw composite Leek and a Kershaw Junkyard Dog II (not on your list); or

2. A Spyderco Paramilitary.

I have all of these knives, and all 3 are keepers. The first choice would give you a nice compact gentleman's knife plus a bigger, more robust hard-use folder.

Here's a thought, and I don't mean to sound preachy or get into a political/economic discussion. I made sure all of the knives I bought with my economic stimulus money were made in the U.S.A. as a way to support what's left of American manufacturing. All 3 of the above knives are U.S.-made.
 
I have a composite Leek and JYDII, both great knives for the money.

However, you could also get a Ritter Grip for that money...
 
I would get a Benchmade 940. I know it is not on your list but I think you would enjoy it. I like the SOG Vulcan of the ones on your list. GOOD LUCK! Kevin :thumbup:
 
I would suggest the Spyderco Para or the Centofante III (a very underrated knife IMHO)...
 
Benchmade 940.

I really like my s30v Kershaw Blur too.

The only one on your list that I have is a Leek. I like it, but it is small.
 
Is the pocket clip on that Kershaw Centofante reversible? It doesn't look like it is. Also, it looks like the Centofante is, in terms of blade length, between a Chive and a Scallion. Is this correct?

I like everything about the Junkyard Dog II, except that the pocket clip is big and ugly. I'm actually considering an NGR2 (model #1745) instead, simply because of the pocket clip (and the fact that it's reversible).

About the Shallot... has anybody had any experience with their being "gummy" or a slower-than-normal deployment of the blade? I checked out three at the knife shop, and all three were new in the box but had some drag to the blade. As is something was keeping them from opening as fast as the other Onion series knives.
 
From this list, I'd get SOG Vulcan hands down, and I consider myself to be a spyderco guy. My only complaint about Vulcan is the pocket clip, which seems to be rather on the weak side - I managed to snap it. Other than that, it looks cool and is cool. If you can add more money and perhaps wait a little, new Spyderco G10 Police looks nice too.

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Out of your list I would go with the Kershaw mini Cyclone.
But I would agree with the other people that said a BM 940, look at the 950 also.
 
I did not care for the mini-Vulcan once I held it. Zytel felt plasticy/cheap compared to Spyderco or Cold Steel. Clip was lousy, knife felt cheap. I have a Visionary I that's pretty nice, but asking prices of $85 plus are high imo. It's a black powder coated Delica-type of knife with an Arc lock, should be more $, but the near-$100 prices for it are ridiculous.
Tenacious and Cent.III are great knives. Tenacious I traded, probably a mistake. Cent III was perfect but I felt that the handle was way too slippery. Otherwise, fantastic.
 
Not on your list, but I'd probably go with the Kershaw Leek with the S30V steel and G10 handle. Then get a Kershaw Cyclone with the change before they are all gone.
 
I have a few of the knives you list in your wish list. The Centofante 3 is very nice, and you may also want to check out the centofante 4.
But in general, My taste has evolved more towards more elegant knives. For example, a Leek is perfectly ok, but with your budget why not check out the superbly elegant and smooth Mcusta MC75D "Take" or one of its siblings? Or a nice Laguiole. Or the new "Le Thiers" by Fontenille Pataud. Finally if you prefer to buy 2 knives for your money one of them ought to be the excellent Eka Masur, one of the lesser known gems in the industry.
 
I'm a BIG fan of the Spydie compression lock. I'd replace your D2 Paramille with an S30V model which can be found on Ebay for >$100 NIB shipped if you're patient and bid well. I paid $94 for my factory-fresh example and you could maybe do better depending.

It's my EDC and it will cut the bejeezus out of anything you put in front of it.
 
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