EDC folder for $50?

There is a lot of disagreement over how to rate steels, because they aren't just "better or worse", they have a lot of different properties and which ones are most important vary from person to person. Having said that, I think most people would agree with the following order...

High-End
CPM 440V: Spyderco Native
VG-10: current Spyderco Delica and Endura
154CM: Camillus EDC
ATS-55: older Spyderco Delica and Endura
Mid-Level
440C: Benchmade Griptilians
Entry-Level
AUS-6: CRKT Ryan Model 7
420: Kershaw Leek

Note that none of these are "bad" steels. The high-end tend to be the most resistant to wear and folding while the lower end are more resistant to rust and chipping. Each steel has its own set of tradeoffs, including cost, but cost is never the only issue.

--Bob Q
 
I'm with sticky on this one. You could not go wrong with any spydie or the mini-grip. either one of these and you will be a happy carver!!
dtsoll:D :D
 
BM Grips. I know it's heresy, but the Axis lock on my 551 is smoother and "snicks in" better the the Axis on my newer 710HS, even comparing both "out of box."...

I've even (heaven forfend) used my 551 to split off hardwood shims and wedges with a billet when the "correct" tools weren't avialable.

The ONLY problem with starting out with a Grip?

What are you going to move up to???
 
heh, thanks for all the comments :)

I believe the Benchmade 556 has won my heart this round. I'll go around and search for the lowest price, and hopefully 1sks.com will price match.

mwelch8404,
Yea I suppose after this 556, I'll be heading straight for that Sebenza, eh? :D But most likely not, I'll probably try out the other Spydies. And then maybe back to Benchmade. And then maybe the Sebenza :)

Dangit too many knives, too many choices, too little time (and money). I shoulda just stuck with my fixed knives.

Again, thanks for all the info guys,
Mak
 
not exactly a defensive knife, but an awesome cutter in a utility knife, and small to carry. The blade size though is perfect for even big cutting jobs.

camillus edc in 154cm
 
Another vote for the Griptilian series.

In my opinion these knives smoke the Spyderco Lightweights by a considerable margin.
 
wow page 20 for a week (or two) old thread...

anyway, I finally got the mini grip today and wanted to leave some impressions:

First, its a tad smaller than I expected. About half an inch shorter than my palm, but still it feels comfortable in the hand and a great grip to boot (hence the name :))

The blade was sharp, but not razor sharp. Placing the blade on my nail, the left side would bite, but the right side would slip. Grind is pretty good except near the tip where its a bit uneven.

The clip had a load of rust on it. I'm not sure if that was normal, but a touch of wd40 got rid it quick. I hope theres no rust in the screws.

This is my first AXIS lock folder and I must say that the action is very smooth. Opens very nicely one handed. Flicking is no problem either. The only dislike is when closing the blade it tends to snap back in. If I'm not too aware, I might get cut :(

Overall, I'm very pleased with the 556. It will be my EDC for sometime, but it might need a bigger companion...

Heres some pics:
5563.JPG

5564.JPG


btw, how does one keep the AXIS lock clean/lubed properly? Also, would constant flicking wear out the lock?

Mak
 
Out of the ones mentioned, you can't really go wrong with either the Spyderco Native, or the Benchmade Griptilian.
 
Shortly after finding this site I picked up a Kershaw Vapor as the first knife I actually carried day in and day out. It came highly recommended as a 'cheap' knife and I figured that once I got used to carrying and wouldn't misplace the thing I'd get something better.

After buying probably a dozen folders from the Exchange forum I find myself picking up the blue handled Delica over everything else. I just use it for cutting open boxes, envelopes, at Christmas it sliced sausage and cheese, I used to to cut the head off of a beaver a few weeks ago. I can't put my finger on why I like it better than everything else but there is no doubt that I do.
 
I suspect you'll NEVER wear out the axis lock bar, an omega spring may or may not snap once in a Blue moon, but it doesnt really matter as far as safety is concerned since they are redundant anyways. Think of how much pressure is applied on the lockback type mechanism..now, how many times have you actually worn out a lockback? There is virtually no pressure on the axis lockbar when it's being operated, and especially when you pull it back out of the way. VERY WEAR RESISTANT.
When an Omega spring snaps, or if it snaps, it'll still work fine, but this would give ample time to go ahead and send it in for fresh springs.
 
I just got a SS Dragonfly in a trade and it's a great knife...great size for an EDC.
Matt
 
I don't know when it was that I got taken with the Griptilian, but at some point I did and when I finally saw one (a Pre-production 555, no less, for a premium price) at a local shop I took it. I tend to mistakenly think of the Mini-Grip as an expensive knife but intellectually I know that it's only because I paid a small-shop price for a limited run knife. What the hell, it was tax-return money!

Thanks to Sergiusz for posting the pics of the guts of a Griptilian. I have never taken mine apart to see the workings of the spring (which I now know as an "omega spring" thanks to Sticky) and now have a confidence in the knife I had not had before, knowing as I do now just how reliable a design that spring seems to be. (I often worry about anything that contains a spring, "How long til the spring loses its springiness or simply breaks?" No more need to worry in the case of my 555.)

I am with Sticky on this one: the Mini-Griptilian is a great choice in an EDC knife. It's mine. Mine is part-serrated, too, because I like having the option. I also much prefer the opening hole to the thumb stud, for aesthetic reasons as well as simplicity. However, you won't end up using the stud or the hole no matter what you get, because a simple tug on the Axis lock lever lets the blade smoothly flow out of its nest with a gentle flick of the wrist. Enough practice and you can actually open the blade and lock it open very nearly *silently*.

Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
I'll recomend a $49.99 CRKT M16-12Z. Gotta love that carson flipper and that Aus6 steel takes a wicked edge. I might have to pick up another one just to keep as a shaver.
 
Stay away from the Spyderco's! Only kidding, but here's what happened to me.

I started with an Endura Lightweight - loved it, and it's a lightweight in name only, I give it a lot of heavy use and it performs flawlessly - but then I thought "maybe I'll go with something smaller". So I bought a Salsa PE - great little knife and it has that "good tool" feel in the hand that I can't really describe but everyone knows when they feel it; but I was intrigued by the Military and everything I read about G-10 handles and CPM 440V steel so I bought one. It also has a great feel, holds an edge, and is not as much of a chore to sharpen as I had been led to believe. Great knives, all of them, but I was thinking, "I really need something a little 'classier'", so I bought a Lum Chinese folder PE. This knife is like a work of art. Every component is manufactured and fitted to exacting specifications and the opening is smooth as butter with a solid click as it locks into the open position. I think I have spent more time admiring it than actually using it.

So now I have a 4-Spyderco EDC rotation. I am completely satisfied with all of them but my wife thinks I have gone nuts. I guess my favorites for actual EDC and use are the Salsa PE and Military CE. The Military and the Chinese folders might be out of your preferred price range for EDC, but I would have no hesitation recommending the Salsa ("small" knife) or the Endura ("big" knife) for a moderately priced good quality EDC.

Mike
 
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