EDC for my father

B

Bl@deNoob

Joined
Nov 18, 2015
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First Post, and I'm just now doing the research on blade materials for knives, due to my fascination about knife companies with demascus blades (which from what I've read are just for looks and aren't of great quality), so I've learned about C30V, C90V, and ZDP-189, and those are the classifications of steel that have caught my attention.

Anyway on to my recommendation request. My dad is hard to impress...especially with gifts. He hunts, he fishes, and he works in the oil field. I work in IT, so we are about as different as night and day.

Ever since I can remember, he's always had an EDC pocket knife on him. He's had Buck Knives, Sogs, Kershaw, and Gerber from what I remember.

His current preferences are: no serrated edge, no pocket clip (he likes the knife to be in his pocket and not clipped to it), 2-3.5 inch blade, and I assume he prefers a light weight pocket knife since he doesn't carry it on his belt or clipped to his pocket.

He's done a lot for me this past year, and I wanted to get him a new pocket knife of the best quality I can afford this year for Christmas. My budget is $350 max. I've been looking at Boker and Benchmade knives the most, I've looked at spyderco, seen a few ZT and CRKT knives as well. I just want to get him something that holds an edge for a long time, is durable enough to withstand his lifestyle, and comes sharp enough to shave the hair off his arm (that's how sharp he likes his knives), but I wanted to get a few recommendations before making my decision.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
 
My top choice, (and hopefully my next purchase, and first >$200 knife) would be the wilson tactical rrxxl made by Fox;
with ELMAX blade and cocobolo inlay, (simply remove the clip).
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Wilson-Tactical-Combat-RRX-Rapid--22736

If he likes a bottle of wine from time to time;
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Boker-2014-Annual-Damascus--23806
Something nice about owning limited editions, and Damascus isn't necessarily "less" quality, if done by quality makers it's actually quite nice looks and performance-wise... (They have some nice options in their 145th anniversary collection as well)

If not a wine guy, another nice collector edition is the Cold Steel ranch boss in s35v;
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Cold-Steel-Ranch-Boss-Stockman--29095

Mcusta Tokugawa Is a nice lower cost option, leaving room in the budget for a nice knife and.........
 
Since he wants it in his pocket and it will see possible hard use, I'd go with a ZT. The ZT 808, 900 and possibly if it's not to big the ZT562cf. USA MADE BLADE (a site sponsor) has some trick ZT anodized blades in these models for the same MAP as others. Simply take the clip off the knife. S35VN sharpens pretty easily, IMO; but I am in no way as knowledgeable as most of these guys for edge retention. I'm a big fan of Elmax and M390. One thing about a ZT, they're extremely tough. I've never had a ZT fail in the field. Need to add the ZT450 as well.
 
strategy9 said:
My top choice, (and hopefully my next purchase, and first >$200 knife) would be the wilson tactical rrxxl made by Fox;
with ELMAX blade and cocobolo inlay, (simply remove the clip).
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Wilson-Tactical-Combat-RRX-Rapid--22736

If he likes a bottle of wine from time to time;
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Boker-2014-Annual-Damascus--23806
Something nice about owning limited editions, and Damascus isn't necessarily "less" quality, if done by quality makers it's actually quite nice looks and performance-wise... (They have some nice options in their 145th anniversary collection as well)

If not a wine guy, another nice collector edition is the Cold Steel ranch boss in s35v;
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Cold-Steel-Ranch-Boss-Stockman--29095

Mcusta Tokugawa Is a nice lower cost option, leaving room in the budget for a nice knife and.........
Click to expand...

Ah I forgot to mention single blades only. My fault. And I realize I can take the clips off if need be.

I just couldn't find any detailed reviews on boker damascus knives and all the places I've read about the steel give me mixed thoughts. I am a fan of the look though.
 
Small Sebenza. He'll know real soon that he has the best.

Or would he appreciate a flipper? Something probably new to him. A lot of nice ones out there right now.
 
$350 basically takes you straight to the top-tier production knives, and the vast majority of knives you can simply remove the clip, so there's no lack of options. A few options I can think of would be the Lionsteel TRE, Kizer Gemini, Spyderco Paramilitary2 (Basic version shown here, but for your budget you can hunt down a wide variety of runs in different high-end steels) Spyderco Manix2LW in S110V, Spyderco Domino (G10/CTS-204p version) and Benchmade 940-1. Here they are from left to right (sorry for the poor image quality):
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Ki4crPe.jpg


A couple of other notable options are the ZT0562 and the venerable Sebenza 21.
 
Check out the LionSteel Exclusive MINI 8200D-FC in Damascus and Carbon Fiber. I don't know if Knife Art is a supporting member so I can't post a link. At $250 it's in your budget, damascus and has a classic old fashioned feel your Dad might like. The clip is easily removable and then just replace the clip screws into the bolster holes. I don't own it but it just looks really cool and like it would translate well as a clipless pocket knife.
View attachment 593781
 
+1 on the small sebenza, but it would help to know how he uses his knives. If he beats on them all say in the field or opens letters and cuts fruit.
 
I forgot to mention single blades only. That's my fault.

I know I can remove the clips. I'm not so worried about that aspect.

I can't find any detailed reviews on damascus knives and everything I've read about damascus in general leaves me with mixed thoughts on it. I am a fan of the look though.

I don't think he would go for a flipper. Then again, he's never had one, so I don't know.

One knife I've had my eye on is the Benchmade 482 Megumi.

I'd like to get him something with exotic wood in the handle. I guess a classy modern knife is what I'm looking for.
 
Also he uses it for everything from cutting rope, twigs, fishing line, fish, packages, boxes, and whittling. Basically anything he'd need a knife for he uses his pocket knife for with the exception of eating unless it's wild fruit.
 
Perhaps look at the Falkniven folders. They are high quality and come with nice handles.

I know you want to choose something he will use daily or at least has the option of carrying it regularly. I never really got into Benchmade knives although I know they are of good quality. I think the ZT are good. My ZT 0770CF is a favorite, but it is assisted. The Spyderco Native 5 (S35VN) is a great knife and one of my favorites. You open it and you know it is a good knife.

I'm a fan of traditional folders. Stuff made by Great Eastern is typically very good. I like the bigger ones like the #42 (one or two bladed versions) or the Northwoods Madison Barlow (either one or two bladed versions). I don't know if there are any of the one blade Madison's left at KSF. But they are a real nice knife. They were available in mammoth ivory which is real classy.
 
I own a Benchmade Megumi as suggested above. It is a great knife and I love it, I carry it often, but is more of a "gentleman's knife". It is on the smaller size and I don't think I would recommend it for heavy work applications.
 
It sounds like your dad is a working guy, uses his outdoors a lot, and doesn't require a high end to get the job done based on his previous user knives. If you get him something to fancy you may be giving him what you want to give and not what he wants to receive.

Take him out for a beer, pull up a few knives, talk them over, and buy the one he likes.

He may want to keep it simple and enjoy the time spent with his son more than the knife. Plus the knife would remind you both of the time.
 
I would say go classy with a crk mnandi, benchmade valet, small crk insingo. Since he works the oilfields I wouldn't go too dainty which would be William Henry territory. The mnandi are stunners though. For great all around small pocket knife it's hard to beat a crk. Which is not I repeat a crkt.
 
KBA said:
It sounds like your dad is a working guy, uses his outdoors a lot, and doesn't require a high end to get the job done based on his previous user knives. If you get him something to fancy you may be giving him what you want to give and not what he wants to receive.

Take him out for a beer, pull up a few knives, talk them over, and buy the one he likes.

He may want to keep it simple and enjoy the time spent with his son more than the knife. Plus the knife would remind you both of the time.
Click to expand...

+1 for the idea. I like that.
 
EChoil said:
Small Sebenza. He'll know real soon that he has the best.

Or would he appreciate a flipper? Something probably new to him. A lot of nice ones out there right now.
Click to expand...

THIS. Small Sebenza (Chris Reeve Knives) with the clip removed and the titanium insert in its place. It's at the top of his budget but it is absolutely worth every penny.
 
Have a look at Spyderco's Gayle Bradley. The M4 steel is great, don't worry about it not being stainless, it's not a problem. As long as your dad is O.k. with the size, it's a fantastic blade up to any tough work yet still a great slicer. If you think He'd like a smaller more traditional knife look at KSF's Northwoods lineup. I'm partial to camel bone and the newest Michigan knife is a beauty!
 
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