EDC for college student

The zt0350 is imo is pretty beffy in appearance. The s30v leek looks promising but I have yet to experience a G10 handle, reviews on amazon say it's hard on clothes. How true is that? And the knife in general?

The ZT 0350 has grippier G10 than the G10 leek. They are patterned differently. The leek's G10 is less aggressive. If you only wear one pair of pants and clip the knife in the same spot it might wear out your pocket a little, but if you wear different pants it's not going to abrade them all sufficiently to make a huge impact. I think people overstate how much G10 abrades their clothing, unless they are constantly pulling the knife out of their pocket and putting it back in.

This statement perplexes me. College students don't need knives because they are on campus? As if that's the only place they are for their whole college career...

And I suppose the hordes of office workers here on BFC really need their knives huh?

Most people have no need for a knife. Scissors or a cheap box cutter can accomplish most office-related tasks. You can try to argue with this but the fact is that there isn't much use for a knife aside from a limited number of tasks or specialized uses in an office or on a college campus. Yes, there are times when an EDC knife is useful, but you can't use a knife if there's nothing to cut. If your job is to sit at a desk there isn't much to cut on a daily basis. Students are going to class, taking notes, studying, using computers, eating, and then going home. Where are they going and what are they doing that requires an assisted opening knife? I certainly had no need for one when I was in class taking notes. I didn't need one when I was teaching a class either.

There's no point carrying around a ZT0350 if it's never going to get used for anything. Plus it's completely overkill for opening letters or cutting fruit. I carried a SAK in my backpack and later on a G10 leek in my pocket and very rarely was there ever a use for it. If you're at home you might find a need for a knife, but more often than not there's still not much use for a folding knife in an apartment. If I had to cut wires I'd get a utility knife and a bunch of blades. I wouldn't want to wear out a nice knife cutting abrasive wires. A SAK would probably do fine for this task but wire isn't exactly the best thing for a knife to cut.

Again, I spent 6 years living near a college campus and going to class. Looking back I can't think of a single instance when I actually needed a knife on campus. Now a bottle opener & corkscrew on the other hand.....those would've come in handy on so many occasions...off campus of course. I still argue that a Vic Tourist or Waiter or any SAK with corkscrew + bottle opener will be infinitely more useful to the average college student, like for instance opening bottles of tasty beer and saving the damsels in distress by opening their wine bottle because no one around has a corkscrew at the party.

To the OP, what is the knife going to be used to cut? Ask yourself that question before blowing money on pocket jewelry. Yes, collecting and carrying knives is a fun hobby, but unless you've got a lot of extra money to burn you should save it for food and other college-related expenses. College is very expensive. Extraneous items are simply that: unnecessary. I suggest you get a $20 Vic Tourist and carry it around. If you need something more, then get the ZT 0350 or whatever knife tickles your fancy.
 
So of you haven't been to college lately. Or at least to an SEC school. I carried a strider SnG and then a Sebenza. Never had a bit of trouble. Hell most friends CC'd on campus.
 
So of you haven't been to college lately. Or at least to an SEC school. I carried a strider SnG and then a Sebenza. Never had a bit of trouble. Hell most friends CC'd on campus.

Yes, but is this campus policy, or you're just not disclosing? Big difference between the two.
 
I assumed some mods similar to those would be needed. They won't be a problem to accomplish. But they won't matter if the spring breaks like justsomedude said in his experiences with them.

I can understand your concern, following justsomedude's comment about broken assist springs. However, in my experience with several models of Leeks, and with other models in the Kershaw SpeedSafe line (including Chives, Scallions, Shallots, Blurs, and Centofantes), I've never had an assist spring break. Most of these have seen regular EDC duty and have handled tasks way beyond their intended purpose. This is not to say it can't happen.

Before you discard the Leek as an option, since it seems to fit your specs quite well, it would be good to find out more about the conditions under which the assist springs broke, from justsomedude or other readers who can post if they've had similar experiences.

As justsomedude said:"Leek is nice but all the ones i've handled had broken assist springs." It would be interesting, and important, to know if the springs broke on HIS knives as he handled them, on someone's knife he was handling, or if the spring was already broken when he handled someone else's knife. It wouldn't hurt to know what kind of use and possible abuse the Leeks with the broken spring had experienced before the damage happened.

I hope justsomedude is follwing this thead and can provide a bit more background on the broken assist springs, and his experience with them. I personally would like to know, so I can excercise careful handling to prevent that kind of damage on the Kershaw SpeedSafe knives I already have.
 
Dude- Get a Spyderco. The Hole and the Pocket Clip are essential for college kids.
 
I've spent approx 20 yrs on campuses and find knives as useful there as off campus. Sure, you can get by without a knife as I did for a lot of the time... You can get by without a flashlight or a cell phone, or a watch, but life is easier and much more efficient with them. It also depends on your course of study or type of employment. I would imagine that someone studying Architecture, or Graphic Design or Art, or Ag. would have more use for a knife than say an English or Political Science major. I've sent all three of my children to college with knives, which they have found useful and never caught any grief from friends, faculty or security.
 
Sure, you can get by without a knife as I did for a lot of the time... You can get by without a flashlight or a cell phone, or a watch, but life is easier and much more efficient with them.

Exactly.:)
 
Cant go wrong with a cold steel espada XL.

:cool: I see what you did there!

EDIT: Spyderco Delicas and Benchmade Mini-Grips would be just fine. Any SAK or multitool would be good too. A Spyderco Caly 3 would be cool, too. Personally, I'd stay sub-3" to keep it sheeple friendly.
 
I say get a Delica. Or a new clip for your Native.
If you want a better Native - Get a Native 5.

I live in the city and I'm pretty sure if I carried at school I would get it confiscated and I'd be arrested.
For a small cheap knife that will get the job done - Get a Boker Subcom(you can get this in a Ti Frame Lock like I have). Or you can get the Boker Wharcom - I also have that one. It will do any job you need it to do at school without raising panic. I would also get an SAK like said before.

If you're insistent on carrying a 3" knife, you can't go wrong with the Delica, Native, or a Kershaw Leek(G-10 or Composite would be my choice).
 
Most people have no need for a knife. Scissors or a cheap box cutter can accomplish most office-related tasks. You can try to argue with this but the fact is that there isn't much use for a knife aside from a limited number of tasks or specialized uses in an office or on a college campus. Yes, there are times when an EDC knife is useful, but you can't use a knife if there's nothing to cut. If your job is to sit at a desk there isn't much to cut on a daily basis. Students are going to class, taking notes, studying, using computers, eating, and then going home. Where are they going and what are they doing that requires an assisted opening knife? I certainly had no need for one when I was in class taking notes. I didn't need one when I was teaching a class either.

There's no point carrying around a ZT0350 if it's never going to get used for anything. Plus it's completely overkill for opening letters or cutting fruit. I carried a SAK in my backpack and later on a G10 leek in my pocket and very rarely was there ever a use for it. If you're at home you might find a need for a knife, but more often than not there's still not much use for a folding knife in an apartment. If I had to cut wires I'd get a utility knife and a bunch of blades. I wouldn't want to wear out a nice knife cutting abrasive wires. A SAK would probably do fine for this task but wire isn't exactly the best thing for a knife to cut.

Again, I spent 6 years living near a college campus and going to class. Looking back I can't think of a single instance when I actually needed a knife on campus. Now a bottle opener & corkscrew on the other hand.....those would've come in handy on so many occasions...off campus of course. I still argue that a Vic Tourist or Waiter or any SAK with corkscrew + bottle opener will be infinitely more useful to the average college student, like for instance opening bottles of tasty beer and saving the damsels in distress by opening their wine bottle because no one around has a corkscrew at the party.

My point was the fact that the majority of people here on Bladeforums don't have lives that really require them to use or have a knife, but they have knives anyways because, well we all love them! But when Johnny Office Worker asks for a blade suggestions people give the normal suggestions (PM2, Grip, ZT's etc.) But when a college student asks for a suggestions it turns to "ohh you don't need a knife you're in college...". My question is what is so different about a college student's life to that of an office worker's? Why do office workers get big locking folder suggestions but college students get SAK suggestions or "you don't even need a knife"?
 
I've spent approx 20 yrs on campuses and find knives as useful there as off campus. Sure, you can get by without a knife as I did for a lot of the time... You can get by without a flashlight or a cell phone, or a watch, but life is easier and much more efficient with them. It also depends on your course of study or type of employment. I would imagine that someone studying Architecture, or Graphic Design or Art, or Ag. would have more use for a knife than say an English or Political Science major. I've sent all three of my children to college with knives, which they have found useful and never caught any grief from friends, faculty or security.

+1 on all of DoctaD's comments. This is one of the few times I have nothing else to add...
 
The G10 is indeed a quite grippy material, which is the main reason to choose it for scales in a knife you want to handle securely for any cutting task. I have a Leek with G10 scales that has never caused any damage on my pockets, but I don't carry it all the time because I rotate it with other folders. I can see how it could wear out your pocket if it's going to be your EDC blade.

The main problems would probably be the edges of the scales - acting as a file to abrade the pocket material - and the pressure of the clip pushing the fabric against the scale. The 1st problem you can eliminate by judicious smoothing of the scale edges. I'm sure you or someone else at your tech school can find the tools and proper technique to handle that task. The second problem can probably be handled by carefully (keyword) adjusting the clip tension to slightly lessen the pressure on your pocket's fabric, and also using care when pulling it out of your pocket. You need extreme care to carry out both mods, and should work up incrementally to the desired condition of scale edge smoothness and spring tension. However, I suggest that if you do get the G10-scaled Leek, it's best to carry and handle it for a while (maybe a couple of weeks) before you decide if the mods are necessary.

I use to have (before I lost it) a POLISHED G-10 Leek. Very Nice in the pocket. A bit slippery with wet hands, but otherwise comfortable and functional.
 
I just ordered it the S30V Leek for $64. Haven't heard about the spring breaking from anyone else and Kershaw seems to have better cs than spyderco IMO so I am not going to worry. Also they are local so I can actually take it in if I have warranty issues.
 
My point was the fact that the majority of people here on Bladeforums don't have lives that really require them to use or have a knife, but they have knives anyways because, well we all love them! But when Johnny Office Worker asks for a blade suggestions people give the normal suggestions (PM2, Grip, ZT's etc.) But when a college student asks for a suggestions it turns to "ohh you don't need a knife you're in college...". My question is what is so different about a college student's life to that of an office worker's? Why do office workers get big locking folder suggestions but college students get SAK suggestions or "you don't even need a knife"?

Office workers don't need fancy knives either, but having a steady job = more disposable income.
 
I just ordered it the S30V Leek for $64. Haven't heard about the spring breaking from anyone else and Kershaw seems to have better cs than spyderco IMO so I am not going to worry. Also they are local so I can actually take it in if I have warranty issues.

Congrats on your purchase. I bet you're going to really enjoy it. If the spring breaks, I'm sure Kershaw will replace it for free, if not, I'll send you one.
I would be interested in hearing your feed back after you've had it a while and Let us know what uses you find for it on your campus.
 
I just ordered it the S30V Leek for $64. Haven't heard about the spring breaking from anyone else and Kershaw seems to have better cs than spyderco IMO so I am not going to worry. Also they are local so I can actually take it in if I have warranty issues.

I think you made a good choice. I hope it serves you well, and that it effectively fills up a niche in your quiver of tools and blades.
 
I'm currently a college student. I carry Kershaws, Spydercos, Bucks, and the occasional Cold Steel. But there was a time when I carried only a Kershaw Leek every day, and it filled any need I encountered on campus just fine. Could I have have survived without the knife? Yeah. Did I find the knife useful to have around on occasion? Also yeah. But I lived some distance away rather than staying on campus, so I didn't have the option of running back to my dorm room to grab or borrow any tool I needed. Thus, I carried everything I might need over the course of a day in my backpack or on my person, and having a knife around was useful. I never really had any use for a multitool. But I don't drink, so I didn't need a corkscrew/bottle opener.

As for the torsion spring thing, I did break one spring after about a year of carrying the knife every day. But it was my first nice knife, my first flipper knife, and my first AO knife. So I played with it constantly and just wore it out. I put another spring in fairly easily (got it free from kershaw), and it's still going strong a couple years later. If you're really that worried about breaking a spring, I have 2 Blurs and a Shallot that have never broken a spring. In fact, they don't seem to have weakened at all. So you might try one of those models. I don't know if Shallots are available with upgraded steel though.

In closing, I wouldn't recommend a SAK, but that's just because I don't like them :p. No real reasoning there lol. Don't get too mad at me guys :D.

EDIT: I was too late!!! It's pretty obvious from my post, but I think you made a good choice. That's a sweet knife, enjoy it :).
 
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