Difficult choice for edc knife

Which ones have you handled or are you able to handle? In my experience, how they feel in hand and how you feel about their operation will make or break your love for them over the long run. For instance, I like the spyderco paramilitary designs but can't get along with the compression lock on them. Many love it, I'm not one of them however.

Honestly, I've come to appreciate how a lock operates and how a knife feels in hand as much or more than the looks of it. The catch there is that if you can get all of that and the knife still looks good, then it's a major win. The only knife on your list that may come close to my tastes, maybe not yours, is the chaparal. I sold my chaparal after a short bit because the backlock was far too thin and sharp and really annoyed my thumb over the course of using it.

For that size, again this is my personal preferences, I really like a BM mini grip or spyderco native 5.

The civivi pintail is one that I've never considered simply because of aesthetics. Civivi's are a really decent value, generally.

The bugouts are just really thin in the handle and if I used them for hard tasks, particularly cardboard which is what many of my EDC's are used on a lot, it's a little uncomfortable. However, that thinness makes it really nice to carry.
 
If you want fidgety, you want an Axis lock.... so get the Mini Bugout. It's fidget friendly as it gets.

I have never broken a spring in any of the Axis lock Benchmades I've had in all the years I've had them. And I'm not particularly gentle on knives.
 
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Of the knives listed I would go Chaparral. The RN Chaparral is quite the little thin slicey blade with deceptive abilities. It is not as fidget friendly as a para 3 or minibugout, but is quite mesmerizing in person.
 
The lock tension can be adjusted on the Chaparral by disassembling and slightly shifting the spring bar.
 
There are no wrong choices among those knives, so it'll come down to ergonomics and other preferences.

I have the WE Banter, Civivi Pintail, and Benchmade Mini Bugout. The Spyderco Chaparal (with the maple handle) is on my list, but I'm likely to get the Para 2 instead of the Para 3, because I like most of my Spydercos to be a little bit bigger. I'd probably like my Mini-Bugout more if a screw hadn't fallen out of it shortly after purchasing it. Rumours of uneven quality control at Benchmade seem to be more than a rumour, as I've never had that ever happen with any of my other knives.

I'd also add the Spyderco Native 5 to the list. The Native 5 Salt also gives you more options if you're working in places where corrosion is more of a factor (I've got one of these).

If you don't have large mitts, the Civivi Pintail has amazing action and feel, as does the WE Banter. The Blue Banter also has a very non-murdery look to it, compared to most knives out there. The Kizer Blue Mini-Sheepdog is also a good choice and one I keep for use when I work in my showroom in front of random humans.
 
Mini Bugout is a smart small knife. But make sure it fits your hand. It was only a 3 finger knife for me, which I found disappointing when I opened the box (not big hands either, size 9,5 glove).
 
I was just playing with my carbon fiber chaparral and bugout. The chap feels like it was put together by a Swiss watchmaker. It is smooth and thin. It isn’t fidgety but I am not concerned with that. It feels strangely dense in my hand.

I have a full size Bugout. Same knife as the mini, just a bit longer. It is small and light. the CF Bugout is big for its weight. It feels like a lot of knife for the weight and price. The handle is small but it is a lot more comfortable to use, if you have to use it for more than a few minutes. I have watched the torture tests on YouTube where it was batonned, ran over with cars, etc.

You really need both, OP.
 
Like many here, I'd lean toward the Para 3, or the Chaparral if you'd like a thinner blade. If this is going to be your one knife I'd steer clear of the Bugout. The omega springs may not fail often, but they do fail as opposed to the compression lock which fails.......never.

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NG VI said:
But the blade isn't that heavy and for whatever reason my 2s all have better swinginess than the 3
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Shouldn’t matter, since the weight of the blade isn’t trying to overcome friction when the lock is disengaged; if you unlock the blade, it should drop freely.

Opening is a little different, since the lock bar is applying tension and you’ve got the detent to overcome. But again, if the knife is closed and you disengage the lock, it should flop open since there’s nothing holding it closed.
 
CyberRacer said:
Like many here, I'd lean toward the Para 3, or the Chaparral if you'd like a thinner blade. If this is going to be your one knife I'd steer clear of the Bugout. The omega springs may not fail often, but they do fail as opposed to the compression lock which fails.......never.

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Some people should not be allowed to play with knives. If he only took 1 knife and he broke it he should be without a knife. He broke his knife, it didn’t just break
 
I also share the concern about omega springs failing. If I was setting out in to the forest, I would choose something else but my Bugout.
However the OP said this knife will be used in an urban environment, where a broken omega spring would present nothing more than a “minor inconvenience”.
 
AlohaPapa said:
1- We Banter

2- Spyderco Para3

3- Spyderco Chaparal Raffir Noble

4- Benchmade Mini Bugout

5- Civivi Pintail
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I’ve owned all 5 of these knives. I still own 4 of them (in a way). I feel fairly qualified to offer comments. Here’s my ranking from worst to first:

5. WE Banter. I ended up giving this one away. It felt very awkward in my hand and the clip, along with the “square” butt of the handle, created active hotspots. The blade is a fairly boring spear point and probably the worst slicer in the group. I gave it to one of our Admins, and she loves it. I think it all matters on whether your hands are small enough to get more than a 3-finger grip. For me, 3-fingers were not comfortable. The Banter feels like a bunch of great EDC features that never added up to a great knife. It’s the only one in this group that I actually dislike.

4. Para 3. I went through a couple and never kept them. I hate the clip placement. The knife feels too “small” for a compression lock (I have the same problem with the Lil Native). Blade play, thick blade stock, off-center blades; I’ve been generally underwhelmed with the Para 3. Then I got a Lighweight and my experience improved. In my opinion, the LWT is the Para 3 with Spyderco CQI. While a regular Para 3 is solidly in 4th place, a LWT would be tied for 3rd with…

3. CIVIVI Pintail. I really like my Pintail. Mine is the Damascus with wood handles, which helps me like it more. The Pintail has great action, great ergos and cuts well. What keeps it from ranking higher is its really formulaic. It looks so much like other knives, in fact the CIVIVI Houligan is practically the same knife without a flipper. The looks are pleasing but very common, and that keeps it down.

2. Spyderco Chaparral. I love Chappys. I have 3; the RN, the stepped titanium and the LWT and the LWT is my favorite. The Taichung FRN is hands down the best that Spyderco offers. The blade slices like a laser; best in this bunch. It carries like a dream and serves so well as a non-threatening EDC knife (the Pintail blade is a little “aggressive “). It might have been number 1 had you not included “fun” as your criteria. I don’t think back locks are ever fun. The blade is fun, the Spydie hole is fun but the back lot is utilitarian boring.

1. Mini Bugout. Hands down the best knife in this group, in fact I think the MB is one of the best things Benchmade has done in years. The Axis lock is rivaled only by a button/plunge lock or a Compression lock on a larger knife for fun factor. The blade works great, it carries great. The smaller format seems more rigid than it’s bigger brother.

The reports of broken Omega springs is largely internet myth. I’ve had over 30 knives with Axis locks over 20 years and never had a spring break. If it was such a flawed design, why are Hogue, Millit, TRM (among others) rushing to use it in new designs. Ignore the noise!

I’ve got a Mini Hogue Ritter, Mini Grips and a Mini Osborne and I love them all, but the MB is one of my all time favorite EDC knives.

Here’s a picture of my flock. Again, no Banter because it couldn’t make the cut. Good luck!
View attachment 1624692
 
Hackenslash said:
The reports of broken Omega springs is largely internet myth. If it was such a flawed design, why are Hogue, Millit, TRM (among others) rushing to use it in new designs. Ignore the noise!
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Hogue uses Wolff springs, a much more robust spring, which they use in their gun manufacturing, whereas the Benchmade Omega springs are susceptible to failure. It’s not a myth, yet it is not as widespread as some may think.
 
Oklahoma Outlaw said:
Hogue uses Wolff springs, a much more robust spring, which they use in their gun manufacturing, whereas the Benchmade Omega springs are susceptible to failure. It’s not a myth, yet it is not as widespread as some may think.
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Again, I said largely an internet myth. Wolff Springs are only very slightly heavier gauge than an Omega spring, so I’m not sure “much more robust” is accurate. If one is concerned, Wolff will sell springs directly. The springs used by Millit and TRM are almost identical to an Omega spring.
 
Hi guys! Sorry for the long delay to give some update. I finally made a choice. Last night. I will post the picture of the knife I’ve chosen. Stay connected. ;)
 
The Mini Bugout with S30V steel is a great little EDC. I added carbon fiber scales to mine, and it feels more solid.
Having said this: you can't go wrong with a Para 3 either.
Have fun shopping!
 
I love civivi and WE so am biased with them, but for an EDC that can tackle almost any task, the Para 3 is great
 
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