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bedheadben

Joined
Sep 25, 2006
Messages
33
Okay, so I am looking into getting a new knife, well actually, let me tell the story first so it makes sense.

Okay, so I went to sport chalet (THE worst place to buy a knife) and bought a Coast C04. BUT, I got home and found out that they sold me a used blade! It had scratches and scuffs, etc. all over it. So now, I am going to return it, and I was wondering, should I still get the C04, or should I get the Gerber Gun Metal Paraframe I, Part Serrated Edge? Right now I am leaning towards the paraframe. I could easily flick open the C04 with just a tap on the knob as I was whipping it, but does anyone on here know how easily the paraframe I opens? I heard it will open without you even having to touch the blade (just wipping it), but either way, I just want to be able to open it really easily one handed.

Thanks a lot guys, I hope I'm not too much of a n00b.

Ben.:D
 
Oh ya, and I forgot to say that the C04 was also SUPER dull when i bought it, and I don't know how to sharpen a serrated blade. Can anyone point me in the right direction on how to do that? Plus, when I buy a new knife I want it to be sharp anyways, not so dull it won't cut through a piece of cardboard (like the C04 was).
 
If you are willing to buy it for me then sure! But that's not what I was asking for, I was asking for a review of these two perticular knives that are both under $30, not $100.
 
well, surgical stainless doesn't speak to the quality, and Gerber as a whole has a bad rep
 
I handled one before. Didn't care for the frame design. Any knife with an adjustable pivot can be easy to open. The only real concern would be the detent, but even that is easily adjustable for tension.

I would also recommend the Kershaw Storm or Vapor, it's closer still in price to the Paraframe. The Kershaws are easy to find at Wal-mart. If you shop online, the Benchmade Monochrome has gotten very good reviews, though I haven't handled that one myself. If you like lockbacks, the Byrd line is great for ~$20. I have a G10 Cara Cara that is excellent. Actually, they have a couple aluminum handled liner locks, too. Kabar has the Dozier line of frn lockbacks for $20 also.
 
bedheadben said:
And why do I need an assisted opening blade when I can open it with one hand just fine anyways?
Click to expand...
you definitely don't need it, but you seemed to value quick opening, and it has a nice gadget factor. I personally don't find them absolutely necessary, but have had a couple.
 
Yes, the one thing with the knife is that it MUST lock open. I was looking at the byrd line, and I think I still will go for the Paraframe because it is the lightest of them all as well (I will be carrying this everywhere). And for your post #12, is the first paragraph about the paraframe or the leek?
 
And is the feature of it being able to lock open also called lockback? One last thing about the Byrd line, are those assisted opening? Because they look like it!
 
That was about the paraframe. I didn't like the feel of the skeletonized frame in hand, but that's personal opinion about ergos and usefullness in varied situations. I didn't get much time with it, but I would suggest a moderate spinewhack test, handled a couple Gerber ARs that failed it easily. Hopefully the paraframe fares better.
 
bedheadben said:
And is the feature of it being able to lock open also called lockback? One last thing about the Byrd line, are those assisted opening? Because they look like it!
Click to expand...

here's a link about a few locks
http://www.benchmade.com/about_knives/locking_mechanisms.asp
the monolock is just a frame lock, like the para.

The Byrds are not assisted opening. You may want to look at SOG, Meyerco, Columbia River, or Camillus for other assisted openers.
 
Sorry for more newb questions, but what is a spinewhack test? The reason I want the paraframe is because it is just the right size and light. Oh, and it is serrated.
 
The spine is the top edge of the blade, opposite the cutting edge. With the knife locked open, you simply whack it, spine down, on a firm surface. If it fails, the knife will fold. You of course want to have some way of protecting your hand from being cut if this happens. Don't use excessive force, the test is not intended to try to break the knife.

you can use something like this to sharpen serrations
http://sepharus-store.stores.yahoo.net/mog60016.html
anything with a radiused edge to fit between the teeth.
 
I also checked out the vapor, and that looked pretty cool. From what I have heard, it passes the spinewhack test, and puts up pretty well.
 
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