EDC Knife/s Recommendation

C

capt512

Joined
Dec 20, 2009
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12
So I'm sure everyone and thier mother has asked this question but I figured I would ask it anyways, as each person has different needs.

So I have never really been a "huge" knife guy though I've always appreciated a durable, sharp, good looking knife. Up til this point all but 1 of my knifes have been Schrade, or Gerber (the kinds you just happen to see at Home Depo, etc and get).

Years ago my uncle bought me a Kerhsaw Boa with assisted opening. I really liked the knife size, sharpness, lockup, assist, etc with that knife but it was stolen a few years ago and I never replaced it. For the past 3-4 years or so I have been carrying more EDC items to include an XD45c, Nitecore Extreme, Palm Defender, Gerber AR 3.5, etc etc etc

http://www.rockynational.com/1069_05871_Gerber_AR_350_Series_BBS_Black_Blade_Serrated.html#reviews
Had the Gerber for a while and its nothing amazing but works pretty well. Not doing any major cutting, etc, just use it for day to day tasks. Like the feel of the gerber but the liner lock is starting to funk up some. Lockup is still great with no play, etc.

However I am looking to replace it with a medium sized (larger than the gerber), assisted opening, durable, sharp, tight, edc knife, in less than the $150 range preferably. Not a big fan of Spiderco, but otherwise am kinda open to suggestions. Have been looking at the ZT0350 assist but unsure if it would be too big or not.....? I'm not a big guy (5'10", 170lb) and don't wear baggy clothing.
Don't have anywhere locally to look at any nicer blades really, so my purchase will most likely be from an online vendor then shipped to door.

Thanks for your suggestions!
 
maybe a kershaw blur in S30V. that is a good knife, has about the same length as the ZT, it is assisted opening, and has a great steel that will hold an edge a long time.
 
What do you use your knives for? If you want a new assisted opener I would get the SOG flash II. If you want to try something different I would look at a benchmade griptillian. I would consider that to be a medium sized knife.
 
I like my ZT350 alot, great bang for buck.. that said I find my Sng occupies my pocket more, as it feels just as strong but is much lighter... also for the money the BM710 is pretty sweet...

Oh - and if you scroll through the review section, I wrote up a review on both, as I too had to buy without trying first...
 
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Just curious - have you ever owned a Spyderco? Just wondering, as I felt the same as you until I finally decided to see what the hype was about and bought a Dragonfly. I now own about 30 different Spyderco knives - Some models may look a little odd but they have great steel, come screaming sharp, and are very well made. The Delica can be had for less than 50 bucks on the net and it's a great medium sized EDC.

Spyderco-Delica-4-016.jpg
 
Yeah i'd go for a Endura instead of a Delica though. I like having a little more room on the handles so it allows me to get a better grip on the knife but if you can't carry a big knife then go with a Delica or something from Spyderco's little big knives line.
 
The blur is nice looking, only thing I wish it had was the tang on the blade, as I loved that part of the boa. Still not bad though...
This knife will be used for light/rare cutting duty, cutting open boxes, cutting zip ties every once in a while, etc. However I want a very sturdy knife just in case it needs to be used for something more trying.
I like the way some of the benchmades look, but wonder how different the axis lock system would be vs. a frame lock.
The BM710 is very sexy for sure, but does it come in an assist? I know assist isn't the end all of everything as I have been without assist for some time now and can easily quickly open a knife one handed, I just was kinda wanting that feature.
I have not owned a Sypderco, though have played with a friends a few years back. While I agree they always came razor sharp and seemed to be great knives, my biggest turn off was always no thumbstuds. While I'm sure the blade was easy opening with the large hole I always kinda liked thumb studs more. I may see if I can find a spyderco locally though and look at it as well.

Forgot to mention I can go up to a 4" blade length here legally on a folder so length is not too big of a problem.
 
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If you like Benchmades and assists, then try the Nitrous Stryker or Mini Stryker. I mostly EDC a few customs knives in the 400.00 range and like the Stryker very much. I got mine on this forum lightly used for 70.00 shipped.:)

Also, it depends on your co workers. I've converted half the guys in my shop to carrying a knife every day, but it you are around a bunch of sheple, then the assist really fires the blade on the Nortous and draws looks.
 
If you want assist the ZT350 is a good choice, but bad for using around sheeple...

I will say that the assist feature means little when compared to an axis lock, which can easily be opened just as fast... infact I have come to prefer knives without the assisted opening.. as once the cool factor fades, you are left with a blade that is very hard to close with one hand... and very hard to open slowly in front of sheeple as to not scare them...
 
I'd recommend trying a fixed blade knife. You don't have to worry about moving/working parts getting gunked up or failing, one solid piece of a high quality steel you can always rely on. Check out the RAT HEST or Izula, both extremely well made, comfortable to use, lifetime unlimited warranty and small enough to wear in a front jeans pocket without showing any kind of profile.
 
I would take an AXIS lock over an assisted opener. AXIS can be opened just as quickly and easily, plus it's easier to close. I've never liked closing an assisted opener.
 
Do people even read posts or just the headers? He said he's not a fan of Spyderco. I'd recommend a large Cyclone (but they have recently been disco'd and may be hard to find) for around $60 give or take. A Blur would fit your criteria and price range as well. A well made flipper works as well as AO and you can get a Kershaw Lahar with 3.75" VG10 blade and G10 handle for a screaming deal online.
 
Kersahw Skyline is excllent EDC knife roughly $ 30. I recently got Mini-cyclone for under $28 and that has been excellent knife. Bit heavy for EDC but excellent lock-up and feels good in hand.
 
demtek9 said:
If you like Benchmades and assists, then try the Nitrous Stryker or Mini Stryker.
Click to expand...
oh yeah !
Strykers are one of the greatest Benchmades ever
D2 steel hardened by guys from Oregon cut like a laser...
and You know: titanium liners , G-10, best quality, fit & finish...
just a little bit expencive for me

no, I'm not a Benchmade dealer
just only little, poor BM-fan :p

710 ?
I have got it for 2 years
it was my EDC, but now I've got a Griptilian [small and lightweight, that's why I like it]
710 good kitchen folding knife :D
and 4 inches blade scares a people ...
if You have an Axis Lock you dont need an assisted opening
i'ts really fast deployment knife without it
pretty close to "The Perfect Knife" in my opinion
but handle is not comfortable for me...




(Sorry for my bad English)
 
I would have to say that the blur is prolly your best bet for assisted, its an outanding knife!

But i gotta throw in some other recommendations for the BM 710 and the Spyderco Endura... both are excelent knives
 
I second the Kershaw Skyline! It is my number 1 EDC knife in my rotation of 5-6 knives. Super light weight but good size and steel. It is non-assisted but flips like it was.

I say go to WalMart and check out the Skyline plus the Kershaw OD-1, the black tanto combo-edge Kershaw Blur, Kershaw Barrage and Kershaw Leek. All would make great EDC knives and all are made in the US if that matters to you. The Leek and Blur are assisted. The others are just as fast opening.

There are also different options for the knives above from different colors to different steels to suit you taste.

I also have a Kershaw Blur w/ ZDP-189 and Sandvik 14C28N composite blade. ZDP is on the edge and is great on wear resistance and edge holding. It was a sterile blem from kershawguy here on BF.

Blur ZDP-189/Sandvik
IMG_3599.JPG


Skyline
IMG_2070.JPG


Barrage
IMG_3672.JPG


OD-1
IMG_4083.JPG


Leek
IMG_3756.JPG
 
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