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Dumb question but -

H

Helderberg

Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
322
I have been collecting knives since I was twelve, and I am now sixty-five so I have a LOT of stuff, mostly trash but some good stuff. I have been liking the Benchmade Axis lock stuff and any good back lock but can not warmup to liner and frame lock knives. My question is I would like to branch out to other than Spyderco knives, of which I do have one, but do not know enough about the other brands that would fall in the same quality and not necessarily the same price range. I am no snob, and if something cheaper is good that is always fine with me. Please feel free to just wing it as to brand and style, I need to find other knives as I am turning into a one brand collector which is not a bad thing, but does limit my choices.
Thanks in advance, Frank.
 
If you're looking to get your feet wet at a reasonable price then try a Spyderco Tenascious and a Kershaw Cryo (maybe Cryo 2.)

They're both excellent options at a very reasonable price point (e.g. sub $40) and excellent at displaying their respective lock types.

It's true that you won't get top market materials / steels but as an example they are great (esp at the price point.)
 
Benchmade's AXIS locks would be a good choice. A Grip, mini-Grip, or small Bone collector would give you a taste of how it works. You could also look for a Hogue and try their button lock. A. G. Russell also has a pretty unique lock on his One-Hand Knives. Kershaw and ZT are also quality brands, but a lot of their models are liner or frame locks. Another one you might want to try is Cold Steel's Tri-Ad lock. It's a variation on the back lock so it ought to work for you.
 
Hi Frank,

To be honest, Spyderco probably DOES have the widest selection of lock types. Avoiding frame and liner locks will REALLY limit your selection, as they are by far the most popular locking mechanisms in the knife industry. In fact, other than Spyderco and Benchmade, MOST of the knives that are popular here on BF are either frame or liner lock. But... Besides Benchmade, you might want to look at some of the SOG knives. They have some interesting lock designs. For example, the Twitch series uses a back lock AND a flipper, which I think is unique. Also, the Vulcan series uses their 'Arc' lock, which is similar to the BM Axis lock. For the most part, the SOGs are fairly reasonably priced as well. Then there are the Cold Steel knives with the 'Triad' lock. It's a back lock design that Cold Steel claims is the strongest in the industry.
 
The new kershaw 3810 is a decent quality button lock for $65, its almost worth it just for the lock (if your into having different types of locks). Any benchmade is a great choice, im right handed but im big on my gear being ambi, I love the axis lock's. Do you own any of the BBL/CBBL spyderco's or a Sage 3 with its bolt lock, do you own a compression lock spyderco? I know you don't like liner/frame locks but the Sage series is a good collector set and with atleast two more in the works you could skip the Sage 1 (liner) and Sage 2 (frame) and still have a decent set (note the blue G10 version of the Sage 3 has just been disco'd and will soon be replaced with a carbon fiber version so that's just another piece of that family to get)

Dale's suggested BM's are all great, I would add the 710 or 707, if youre gonna get into BM's/axis locks the 710 was the first axis lock, the 707 is pretty much a smaller version of it (tho not exactly, there are several differences). Also the 840 and 940 are two other good ones and the axis version of the AFCK [now disco'd] is a very collectible and well loved knife.
 
Absolutely NOT a dumb question! I too, despise liner locks, you're basically closing the knife on your thumb, how dumb is that? I REALLY like the axis locks from BM, they are by far the best locks I've tried.

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Oh yea, the speedbump is a weird one, if your looking for a user tho be warned its pretty freakin hard to get the hang of the lock. Oh and it has a SUPER agressive recurve, but for having another lock type in your collection its quite the conversation piece.
 
I'd like to stick my oar in here, and suggest small fixed blades.

The CRKT/Krein Dogfish, Krein PSK by Boker, the Boker Gnome, or the CRKT/Ritter RSK Mk5 (whew!), are fixed blade goodness at a pocket-carry size.

Another suggestion would be to look at kiridashis. They're not for everyone, but they make an interesting alternative to more familiar styles of sharp tool.

Finally, consider friction folders: no lock at all!
 
Thank you all for the great ideas. It is nice to have so much feed back for a new guy like me. Thanks again.
Frank.
 
I will. I am going to wait till after the first of the year because the two stores I shop are pretty well picked over. Hopefully they will bring in new stock, and I will have some gift cash.
Thanks again for all the help, Frank.
 
We highly recommend buyin online, in store prices are ~40% higher than Internet retail. Try bladeHQ or any of the other site sponsoring vendors!
 
Cereal_killer said:
We highly recommend buyin online, in store prices are ~40% higher than Internet retail. Try bladeHQ or any of the other site sponsoring vendors!
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Thanks, I will look into it but being a small business owner myself I tend to shop local just because. That said I will give the Internet a look.
Frank.
 
Helderberg said:
Thank you all for the great ideas. It is nice to have so much feed back for a new guy like me. Thanks again.
Frank.
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Hey, I'm glad a youngster like you is here. Welcome. I'm a Spyderco nut, and love frame-locks primarily. Back-locks confuse me, and I cannot push the Cold Steel locks easily at all. The BenchMade 710 is a classic and cheap @ about $110 or so. I carried a BM for several years, although I'm pretty stuck on CRK...or perhaps Strider if I'm having a "tactical" Mall-ninja day.
 
Helderberg said:
Thank you all for the great ideas. It is nice to have so much feed back for a new guy like me. Thanks again.
Frank.
Click to expand...

I would also recommend not overlooking a well made liner lock. Kershaw JYD is a great knife, the Rake is another good one. Cold Steel makes some good folders, the Voyager, Hold Out, and American Lawman are nice. Buck makes some great folders, the Vantage series.
 
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