Finally ready for my first QUALITY folder

J

JDX

Joined
Mar 2, 2014
Messages
923
So I got a new job that pays double what my old job paid, so I finally have decent money to spend. I'm. It familiar with steels greater than s30v, so I'm hoping you can all point me in the right direction.
A few specifications:
BUDGET: Less than $375
-Not looking for tactical at all, but not completely utilitarian either (helpful I know)
-Manual folder, I just really dislike assisted knives
-Less than 4 inches, preferably 3 inches, give or take half an inch
-no recurves
-no tanto, or clip point
-preferably frame lock, but it's not important

This would be a work knife for me, so it needs to handle abrasive materials and hard use. I cut through rope constantly, breaking down cardboard boxes is part of my job, and the rest is just random edc, if a knife will make the job easier, I'll use it. I feel my current edc rotation varies tremendously, so I believe it will be inevitable for your recommendation to have similarities to my other knives. I maintain my knives weekly, so it doesn't have to be super corrosive resistant.

My current rotation includes:
-Cold Steel Recon 1 (gifted to me..not a huge fan)
-Buck 110
-Ontario Rat 1
-Kershaw Leek
-Kershaw Blur S30V
-Spyderco Delica 4 FFG
-Spyderco Paramilitary 2
-Zero Tolerance 0350

Thank you for your time
 
So many options here.

Spyderco Slysz Bowie - Amazing knife that is an absolute joy to use HARD and checks your boxes. Fit and finish is arguably better than my Sebenza with better action and lockup as well. Carries small, feels big. CTS XHP is underrated IMO and a great user that is easy to keep razor sharp.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley Folder - I'm a huge fan of the GB1 and it is my go to hard use knife. M4 might be the best steel I have ever had the pleasure to use and sharpen. GB2 is great as well, but not as work orientated.

ZT 0560, 561, 562 - If you like flippers, you won't be disappointed as these are great workers. Elmax may require slightly more touching up.

Not quite what you're probably thinking, but S110v is awesome and Spyderco is absolutely killing it right now with the Colorado models. Seeing as how you don't own a Manix2, I recommend picking up a LW or G10 version ASAP :)
 
A big factor here.. do you care about weight or bulkyness of the knife? Nothing worse than carrying a brick in your pocket all day if you don't need?

What @Whitty posted is a real bute'. I'd also recommend keeping you eye on the exchange. If you are going to get a real user.. get one already broken in.. but 90% of the used stuff there is NIB at a huge discount.
I'd say a used Sebenza in flavor of choice from the Exchange. When it gets beat up, send it in for a spa treatment to look like new. And they hold their value. Just my .02.
If you do lots of rope, maybe a Spyderco Pacific Salt Full Serrated in H1. Those keep a serrated edge forever and rip through just about anything. Super light and durable.
 
JDX said:
So I got a new job that pays double what my old job paid, so I finally have decent money to spend. I'm. It familiar with steels greater than s30v, so I'm hoping you can all point me in the right direction.
A few specifications:
BUDGET: Less than $375
-Not looking for tactical at all, but not completely utilitarian either (helpful I know)
-Manual folder, I just really dislike assisted knives
-Less than 4 inches, preferably 3 inches, give or take half an inch
-no recurves
-no tanto, or clip point
-preferably frame lock, but it's not important

This would be a work knife for me, so it needs to handle abrasive materials and hard use. I cut through rope constantly, breaking down cardboard boxes is part of my job, and the rest is just random edc, if a knife will make the job easier, I'll use it. I feel my current edc rotation varies tremendously, so I believe it will be inevitable for your recommendation to have similarities to my other knives. I maintain my knives weekly, so it doesn't have to be super corrosive resistant.

My current rotation includes:
-Cold Steel Recon 1 (gifted to me..not a huge fan)
-Buck 110
-Ontario Rat 1
-Kershaw Leek
-Kershaw Blur S30V
-Spyderco Delica 4 FFG
-Spyderco Paramilitary 2
-Zero Tolerance 0350

Thank you for your time
Click to expand...

Well looks like it will be your first folder over 150, but definately not gunna be your first quality folder as there are plenty on yiur list[emoji1] Congrats on the new job, sorry I don't have a recommendation.
 
I honestly don't think your $375 budget has anything to do with "quality". A knife at that price will certainly be nicely made, but it won't necessarily open, lock or cut in a way that is superior to a $100 knife, or even some $40 knives.

If you want to spend that much on a knife, I would think about this more creatively, and think less about the utility. What is aesthetically exciting? What higher end brand holds its value well? What special steel really offers different and better performance from more common steels like S30V or VG10? How common is the knife, and would you like something that is different from the rest? Does it matter where it was made, and by whom?

"Mid tech" is a phrase that suggests middle of the road, but $375 is ten times more than you need to spend to get a high quality pocket knife, so you really are talking about a luxury item. Just like there are other watches besides Rolex, there are a lot of knives in this price range.
 
Historically, or maybe this is just my way of looking at things, the original "step up" folders where/are:

CRK
Strider
Hinderer

I know that we now have a ton of "mid-techs" on the market, as well as much higher end knives from traditional high production manufactures that have really opened up options.

Regardless, I still think that one of those three is the way to go when you feel the need to "step up" from large prouction knives.

The one thing about all three of those brands is that they are all very unique in terms of ergonomics and have a ton of personality that I find missing from many production knives.

I personally still find those three brands the best three knives (Seb./SMF/SnG/XM) on the market for any amount of money.

*This is just my personal opinion!

Oh, and the "quality" question.....

There is something called prominence/percieved quality/small batch manufacturing/a million other intangibles, and some tangible arguments that can be made. These are all arguable as to whether they have real value or not, but if they didn't, we would all be carrying nothing more expensive than a Grip or a PM2, and this hobby and website would not exist.
 
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It sounds like you are positioned to buy your Sebenza. I'd go ahead and get it out of the way...it's all downhill from there.
 
Zt IMO has the best knife for the money right now .

Spyderco domino excellent knife ,great ergos,great steel very nice thin grind.

Spyderco southard .

375 budget there are many possibilities
 
JDX said:
So I got a new job that pays double what my old job paid, so I finally have decent money to spend. I'm. It familiar with steels greater than s30v, so I'm hoping you can all point me in the right direction.
A few specifications:
BUDGET: Less than $375
-Not looking for tactical at all, but not completely utilitarian either (helpful I know)
-Manual folder, I just really dislike assisted knives
-Less than 4 inches, preferably 3 inches, give or take half an inch
-no recurves
-no tanto, or clip point
-preferably frame lock, but it's not important

This would be a work knife for me, so it needs to handle abrasive materials and hard use. I cut through rope constantly, breaking down cardboard boxes is part of my job, and the rest is just random edc, if a knife will make the job easier, I'll use it. I feel my current edc rotation varies tremendously, so I believe it will be inevitable for your recommendation to have similarities to my other knives. I maintain my knives weekly, so it doesn't have to be super corrosive resistant.

My current rotation includes:
-Cold Steel Recon 1 (gifted to me..not a huge fan)
-Buck 110
-Ontario Rat 1
-Kershaw Leek
-Kershaw Blur S30V
-Spyderco Delica 4 FFG
-Spyderco Paramilitary 2
-Zero Tolerance 0350

Thank you for your time
Click to expand...

And the ones you already own aren't quality ?
 
Hawk45 said:
A big factor here.. do you care about weight or bulkyness of the knife? Nothing worse than carrying a brick in your pocket all day if you don't need?

What @Whitty posted is a real bute'. I'd also recommend keeping you eye on the exchange. If you are going to get a real user.. get one already broken in.. but 90% of the used stuff there is NIB at a huge discount.
I'd say a used Sebenza in flavor of choice from the Exchange. When it gets beat up, send it in for a spa treatment to look like new. And they hold their value. Just my .02.
If you do lots of rope, maybe a Spyderco Pacific Salt Full Serrated in H1. Those keep a serrated edge forever and rip through just about anything. Super light and durable.
Click to expand...

Yup. Small CRK off the exchange. For all ^these reasons.
 
Lol he's looking for the people's approval ( not a bad thing many do )

But I think he knows what he wants just wants to see what peeps think.

He has some quality knives already so it isn't out of necessity.

With your price range you can get some nice stuff (used)
Like Strider and CRK which is what you Wana hear?
You basically described a Chris reeve knife lol



Lol I'm not a jerk just letting you know you can buy what you want
 
JDX,

Are you aware of what you can get as a custom knife for that amount of money?
12916754_10206039717018872_6580194654946169778_o.jpg


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1386986-Linerlock-black-G10-and-damascus

One of many custom, handmade folders available from BF makers in your price range.
 
I have owned a lot of the big "names" ae Medford, CRK,Strider,ZT, ETC. I have settled on a Hinderer Xm18, I bought it for right at the top of your budget. I would also not disregard a modern strider SNG.

Buy what calls to you. If you don't like it, Sell or trade it for something else. Its also worth noting 8 EDC knives never made sense to me. One is none and two is one, so three quality knives tops. Sell some of your excess. IMO
 
The answer is plain and simple: get a Hinderer, CRK, or a better ZT (e.g. 0562cf + custom Ti hardware, or 0392 (sell your 0350 if money is short)).
 
If i had $375 to spend, i might spend $250 on the knife and then do custome scales to make it my own. Or look to get a used hinderer or something on that level
 
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