Deciding on a new grail

NjHart

NjHart

Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
715
Howdy folks,

It's been a rough couple of weeks for me and the next few months look rather ominous around here. Like any rational person, I like my little escapes and I've been toying with a fun little hypothetical to relax: "When all of this is over, I want to reward myself with a grail knife- what should I choose?" For my EDC lately I've been carrying my zt560cbcf and it is absolutely awesome, but it is monstrously big. That is great for heavy work, but I think I'd like my grail to be a little smaller (though not too small) and a little more pocketable. I've been playing with a tentative list that has a pretty wide range of stuff and price tags, but I'd like to hear from yall and see what you think about any of these or any other suggestions I may have missed. So far my list is:

Large Lefty CRK Insingo with inlays- I've had a large 21 before, but it didn't suit my needs as well at the time, I like the Insingo shape better, and inlays are a nice bit of style
William Henry E10- not a super expensive knife in comparison to some of these, but an interesting option on the opposite end of what I usually carry
John Gray THUCK- never held one, much less used one, but there is nothing else like it out there and they are certainly impressive
Will Moon MK6- Brilliant design with endless options, a little big but they seem like they'd carry well based on design
Hinderer xm-18 3"- Small but legendarily might. Customs are out of my league, but the list would be remiss without at least considering it


I want something with some style to it. As far as heavy work goes, I don't see much displacement of 560cbcf, but I'd like something I could use and use well.
 
I have fancier knives and I have less fancy knives. There is no "grail" knife in my mind. As far as higher end excellence, the best knives I've come across to date are the Sebenza 25 and any flavor SnG. I honestly don't prefer one over the other though. The SnG is fun, light, tactile, highly manipulatable & just a great knife for anything that might come up especially a tense situation where a knife may need to be accessed very quickly. The Sebs are just pretty much perfectly built gems that are, IMO, the best jack of all trades folding knives available. In this day and age neither break the bank but they are as good as or better than many if not all more expensive knives.

If I did have a grail knife it would be my Shirogorov 95 Hati. It's crazy nice. But there are things I like better about the Seb and SnG.
 
I'd forgotten about shirogorov knives- I'll have to look at them again. I fell into the trap I see often around here of using the term grail pretty ineffectively. I'm looking for something that will always have a place in my collection and with me. I had a sebenza, but at the time I could really only justify one higher end folder and I wanted something heavier duty (which I now have). I think I know want something with a little more style.
 
Actually just put money down for a little "grail" of my own. It is a Grimsmo Norseman and it will be my first semi-custom. I say semi because that is the term John uses. Others that are on my list are an SMF, Starbenza and something from Busse. Looking at a Ratmandu possibly.

Don't know how I forgot the XM 18 3.5 Spanto flipper. I will own one someday.
 
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Of all the flippers I've tried some costing much more and some much less the semi-custom limited edition/numbers Wilson Custom Eagle made by Les George is absolutely tops with me. It's an elegant all-titanium EDC while being hard-use. It looks better in person with a stonewashed look. Flips amazingly well and feels very nice and grippy due to to the Wilson Combat signature Starburst pattern. The steel is great but I think they should've gone with M390 or CTS-204P instead of CTS-XHP for the price tag of $525.

ddd73cca-6149-405c-b387-664a993de88d_zpsf60f561b.jpg


WILSON COMBAT EAGLE SPECIFICATIONS:
Blade Steel: Carpenter CTS XHP Stainless - RC 60
Blade Length: 3.6"
Blade Thickness: .125"
Handle Material: Titanium with Starburst Pattern
Handle Length: 4.8"
Overall Length: 8.5"
Weight 4.8 oz.
 
Have you checked out the Grimsmo Norseman? Sweet knife and the next round of orders are currently open. Got mine coming in November.
 
drhert said:
Have you checked out the Grimsmo Norseman? Sweet knife and the next round of orders are currently open. Got mine coming in November.
Click to expand...

It's a darned tanto. The most worthless blade shape in the history of edged weapons. Sold all mine after I came to that realization. No way I'd buy another if you gave me the money to do so. ;-)
 
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