dont know where to start

I

ibourque11

Joined
Jul 12, 2011
Messages
4
hey everybody, im new to knives and the forum.

i went to an army navy surplus store and saw knives and was like hmm maybe ill buy one. so i bought a S&W SWAT folding knife. and since im new with knives i love it. ive used it so much and its only been a month. So i went back and was lookin and was like i want one for carrying so i bought a S&W extreme ops 3" folding knife. the extreme ops didnt have any wobble when i bought it but now it does and idk if its even safe to use anymore. and the SWAT is too big to just carry so pretty much my question or dilemma is that im looking for a good carry knife with a 3" blade and dont know where to start looking.

i would like your suggestions for good reliable knives under say 70$

ive been looking at cold steel, sog, and kershaw but there are so many and would like opinions. if at all possible ide like the knife to have a lanyard hole.
oh and i would also like it to have a combat knife-ish look if at all possible
thanks , IB
 
Sounds like a SOG Trident folder might be right up your alley. It's got a combat-ish look, decent steel in AUS-8. For less than $70, you could also look into a Spyderco Endura 4. I own one and the steel is better, but the knife is less 'tactical' looking.
 
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Have a look at the Ontario RAT-1 or the Kabar Dozier Folding hunter (both around $30) or the Cold Steel Recon 1. All good choices that I suspect you may like better than the S&W and they don't cost a ton. Welcome to the party!


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Beckerhead #42
 
Welcome to BladeForums. There are some surprisingly good knives in that price range. One of my first knives when I was your age was a Gerber Gator; I think you can still get one for around $30, and it's not a bad knife. Don't forget the Buck 110 also. $30 just about everywhere, and everybody should have at least one.
 
Samael said:
Welcome to BladeForums. There are some surprisingly good knives in that price range. One of my first knives when I was your age was a Gerber Gator; I think you can still get one for around $30, and it's not a bad knife. Don't forget the Buck 110 also. $30 just about everywhere, and everybody should have at least one.
Click to expand...

Does Gerber still make the Gator in this US?
 
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Welcome
sypderco Delica 4 with with full flat grind *** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Ontario Rat 1
Kershawa Leek *** another Highly recommended knife!
Swiss Army knives are great pocket tools!
There are a million great options!
 
You've made a good choice in deciding to upgrade you knife and for $70 you can get one that'll last for many years of service. For something weapon-like the current Coldsteel Recon-1 is a good choice. I like the clip-point (bowie style blade) myself. If you would rather step up to better steel and a tamer look, the Spyderco Endura (larger) or Delica (smaller) would be good choices worth looking at. If you want a more impressive lock and smoother opening knife the Benchmade Griptilians are nice.
 
hmmm, i love the spyderco endura and with the wave opener you get fast opening and a combat knife-ish look to it. and its one heck of a user, i have the one with the saber grind which is a thicker grind less prone to slicing but nobody told the enduara that!


let me check... endura 4 goes for about $65 dollars online. with some care this knife will last you a great while, and the ergonomics are great too. i have carried this for about 6 months now and it hasn't failed me yet, in my opinion its a great value
 
Delica 3 might be tough to find. The Delica 4 would work. Or the Benchmade mini Griptilian, or the mini AK47 from Coldsteel as it's a little meaner looking than the mini Lawman imo.
 
You can still pick up a used D3 in his price range, but yeah, a D4 works too.

Which brings me to a whole 'nother line of thinking here. Many of the newer models of these things aren't, at least in my opinion, as good as the older ones. That definitely includes the Spydercos and Benchmades. It's sort of a new car/used car kind of thing, but if you know what you're doing, you can get some very nice older knives at a very nice price. Check out the exchange here.
 
spyderco tenacious is a good start at around $35-$40, or if you can bump your price range to $70-$80 get a spyderco manix 2.
 
If you hunt around online you should be able to pick up a Benchmade Mini Griptilian for about $80. I know it's about $10 over your cap, but Benchmade makes great stuff too.
 
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