Finally ready for my first QUALITY folder

[UDIVER]

"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."


For $375, get a larger Emerson and pocket the rest.

And if you're going to be cutting rope and boxes a lot you might want to consider a full serrated blade or (as I said) you can get an Emerson with a combo edge blade.

You can pickup a Roadhouse with a combo edge to work well on the rope and boxes and its a larger blade for hard use + EKI has about the best warranty in the biz.

They run about $250ish new and they breakdown and clean extremely easy and take a beating well + 154 CM is really easy to resharpen and maintain.

Just my two cents, good luck!

 

[Colorodo]

Have one made by a KnifeMaker here at BF.

 

[RX-79G]

That's not in his price range

It's $380. Are you arguing about $5, or did you expect that it was more? There are a lot of nice customs available for mid tech prices.

 

[AdamFuzzyballs]

It's $380. Are you arguing about $5, or did you expect that it was more? There are a lot of nice customs available for mid tech prices.

No that's my bad, I looked at it earlier and I swear it said alot more than that.

 

[JDX]

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.

bad word choice I guess. Rather than quality, I should have said upper class. By quality I meant higher quality materials that come with a price. Sure my Ontario rat 1 is a quality budget edc. But you can't get Elmax for under $100. Carbon fiber scales? Etc. sorry for the miscommunication

 

[JDX]

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.

Thank you for the info. I agree on the "quality" debate that seems to have risen. I meant upper class / exotic and luxury materials. And I think you provided some really good information for me. Thanks

 

[JDX]

And the ones you already own aren't quality ?

is everyone going to bust my balls for this? By "quality" I meant upper class. In terms of materials mostly. Sure the knives I already have are quality. But you can't get m4 for $150. I'm not saying that's what I'm looking for. But that's what I meant by quality. Better steels, general materials and quality of workmanship.

 

[JDX]

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

I like having variety. I wouldn't say I'm a collector because I do use the knives I buy. But I wouldn't say my knives are just for cutting things. Otherwise I'd never spend over $25 on a knife. I'm somewhere in between. Some people collect shoes, like those Nike fanatics. They have hundreds of pairs of those shoes. They wear them. But by your logic, you really only need a pair of converse, not $300 Nikes.

I'm only 22. I'm paying my way through college, paying bills, and don't have many luxuries. That's why I have so many knives. Besides the ones I have so far all get used differently. The rat 1 is usually around the house and I seriously beat the crap out of it. The buck 110 goes in my tackle box when I'm fishing. The ZT is when I'm at work. The pm2 is when I feel like carrying an edc that's better than my rat 1. Etc

 

[link2derek]

Just get a Small Sebenza:

 

[353]

The Insingo is fine, but I would get the small plane-jane Sebenza if I were you. I really love mine!

 

[hfdcowboy]

I like having variety. I wouldn't say I'm a collector because I do use the knives I buy. But I wouldn't say my knives are just for cutting things. Otherwise I'd never spend over $25 on a knife. I'm somewhere in between. Some people collect shoes, like those Nike fanatics. They have hundreds of pairs of those shoes. They wear them. But by your logic, you really only need a pair of converse, not $300 Nikes.

I'm only 22. I'm paying my way through college, paying bills, and don't have many luxuries. That's why I have so many knives. Besides the ones I have so far all get used differently. The rat 1 is usually around the house and I seriously beat the crap out of it. The buck 110 goes in my tackle box when I'm fishing. The ZT is when I'm at work. The pm2 is when I feel like carrying an edc that's better than my rat 1. Etc

Im not saying don't own knives, look at what website we are on. I own 7ish busse knives, however those are fixed blade and they all serve a specific purpose (one being my personal steak knife ). don't get me wrong I use every knife I own. I was specifically speaking of EDC folders.

If its my edc I want best in the world, my current rotation is a hinderer XM18, Mcgizmo Haiku, Hinderer xtreme duty pen, Tag Heuer Aquaracer crono, and a Glock 21. Trust me, I understand the sickness.

 

[T.K.C.]

CRK Inkosi!!

 

[abbazaba]

is everyone going to bust my balls for this? By "quality" I meant upper class. In terms of materials mostly. Sure the knives I already have are quality. But you can't get m4 for $150. I'm not saying that's what I'm looking for. But that's what I meant by quality. Better steels, general materials and quality of workmanship.

Gayle Bradley 2 is M4 and as classy as they get IMO, under $150.

 

[JDX]

Im not saying don't own knives, look at what website we are on. I own 7ish busse knives, however those are fixed blade and they all serve a specific purpose (one being my personal steak knife ). don't get me wrong I use every knife I own. I was specifically speaking of EDC folders.

If its my edc I want best in the world, my current rotation is a hinderer XM18, Mcgizmo Haiku, Hinderer xtreme duty pen, Tag Heuer Aquaracer crono, and a Glock 21. Trust me, I understand the sickness.

Thank you for clarifying! I understand what you mean. I like the look of that hinderer, I'll definitely look into it, thanks!

 

[whitty]

Thank you for clarifying! I understand what you mean. I like the look of that hinderer, I'll definitely look into it, thanks!

Hinderer Knives are awesome. A little above your budget if you want new. I know they often pop up used at places around and even under your price range.