First high end folder recommendations.

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Hermit_Knight

Joined
Mar 19, 2018
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Hello I have about 7 folders all cold steel or Spyderco and I think my most pricey one is my Ronin 2. I have been working hard and doing a lot of night shifts now I can finally afford a high end folder that will admittedly just sit in my safe. I have been looking at Emerson, Chris Reeve and Hinderer knives but just want to ask all you fine folk what you would recommend on a $450 USD budget for a safe queen! Thank you.
 
I've had a ton of Spyderco...I'm a real fan, and I've settled on the Slysz Bowie. They are discon, but you can find them "as new" on the Exchange quite often...in the $300 range. I have two...just in case.
The blade-steel CTS-XHP is excellent, and it's a wonderful design.
Of course, I've also owned many CRK's and have not a bad word about them. I have always carried the large Sebbie 21 in the Classic or Regular models...just plain slab-sided titanium for carry. The fancy scales are just for show, and I've never carried one, although I love to look at beautiful wood inlays...
My last Zaan and my Regular are lovely, but these days they sit in the safe, and my Slysz Bowie goes with me.
Take your pick; you can't go wrong with either one. Just make sure, with a Sebbie that you get the large size if that's what you need. I cannot hold onto the smalls.
BTW, I have NEVER purchased a new Sebbie from the factory...in fact, 98% of all of my knives has been purchased on the Exchange. Very happy with that method.
 
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Hermit_Knight said:
Hello I have about 7 folders all cold steel or Spyderco and I think my most pricey one is my Ronin 2. I have been working hard and doing a lot of night shifts now I can finally afford a high end folder that will admittedly just sit in my safe. I have been looking at Emerson, Chris Reeve and Hinderer knives but just want to ask all you fine folk what you would recommend on a $450 USD budget for a safe queen! Thank you.
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I love Emersons but I would cross them off your list. They are pretty overpriced for what you get.

Both Hinderer and Reeve are good knives but if someone is going for for the best expensive knife for the money it is the Reeve hands down imho. It is objectively a better built knife and arguably the finest production knife ever built. They are also alot more comfortable in your pocket because of their more sleek slim shape. The Inkosi is very tough and so is the Sebenza, but the Inkosi more so.

Now, one could say that Hinderers are overall tougher knives and that is debatable, particularly vs the Inkosi. They are also excellent quality but virtually no one is on Chris Reeve level. So to say Hinderers aren’t quite isn’t any bash on them, they are still excellent. Some people think Hinderers tend to have better ergos in hand but that again may vary person to person. One thing that can’t he argued is that pocket knives spend most their lives in your pocket and the crks are more comfortable to carry. Hinderer has recently released the Firetac model which will be more comparable to a crk in pocket. If you like Hinderers styling better I don’t think you will feel unfulfilled with one at all.

So ask yourself what is more important. For the absolute best bang for your buck in terms of how the knife is built CRK is the winner imho. It is also arguably the more comfortable and better edc knife.

For a knife that is more “overbuilt”, might have better in hand ergos and might be percieved to be tougher overall choose Hinderer. However I honestly think that perception is largely your brain being fooled by the “overbuilt” construction when in truth a knife doesn’t have to be a titanium brick to be tough.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I've had a ton of Spyderco...I'm a real fan, and I've settled on the Slysz Bowie. They are discon, but you can find them "as new" on the Exchange quite often...in the $300 range. I have two...just in case.
The blade-steel CTS-XHP is excellent, and it's a wonderful design.
Of course, I've also owned many CRK's and have not a bad word about them. I have always carried the large Sebbie 21 in the Classic or Regular models...just plain slab-sided titanium for carry. The fancy scales are just for show, and I've never carried one, although I love to look at beautiful wood inlays...
My last Zaan and my Regular are lovely, but these days they sit in the safe, and my Slysz Bowie goes with me.
Take your pick; you can't go wrong with either one. Just make sure, with a Sebbie that you get the large size is that's what you need. I cannot hold onto the smalls.
BTW, I have NEVER purchased a new Sebbie from the factory...in fact, 98% of all of my knives has been purchased on the Exchange. Very happy with that method.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately alot of used Slyz Bowies are going for huge markup. I think it is a great knife at about 350$ tops, but at the 350$ mark a used CRK becomes a better choice. Just my opinion.
 
For a great all around user get a Chris Reeve large Inkosi insingo. The blade shape is great for so many tasks from sharpening a pencil to slicing fruit. Also, knives (especially CRK's) belong in your pocket not the safe!
 
I’ve handled Hinderers, CRKs, etc. The most impressive knife I’ve handled under $500 (or up, really) is a Koenig Arius. I’d take one over a Hinderer or CRK, no question. Those are great brands, but the Arius is incredible. Fit & finish, action, design detail (example: the chamfers on the inside of the frame where your finger falls to rest after flipping)... it oozes quality. I handled four samples, in different configurations, and was amazed at the consistent precision across the board. Even the lock bar tension on each was indistinguishable from the others.

Having said this, you really can’t go wrong with a CRK.
 
If I were going to spend that much I would be looking at WE knives. They are not my thing for a user but they look good and are well made. They have the artistic touch I fail to see in most other brands. From a user stand point I go thin 4inch blade with a fat roundish handle. Fat blades are just awful in use and add a bunch of cut outs (WE) to collect garbage and I'm looking else where. Since all but one of my knives are users I haven't bought a WE . . . yet.
 
The new Hinderer Gen 6 XM is just flat out awesome.
But, those Keonig Arius.......super smooth.
 
Reate. Unbelievable overall quality in F&F, action, design...you can’t go wrong. All of the CRK suggestions are warranted, as the Sebenza is incredible. But having had a few CRKs and now my first Reate, I’m giving the nod to them.
 
If you're going to buy a safe queen, look for the best resale value down the road. Don't know about a lot of the brands already mentioned, but, CRK has been proven to hold it's value and not beat you up when you decide to sell it.
It's a great idea to have a safe queen, but, unless you're a collector, it will not set in the safe too long. Besides, which ever knife you buy, you will be doing an injustice to the knife unless you use it. That's why they get built.
 
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If Hell froze over, and I decided to purchase a $450 knife (safe Queen) it would definitely be a large Sebenza. I have read hundreds of great reviews over the years. The quality control is supposed to be amazing.........every time. I love 'perfect from the factory' knives.
 
Hermit_Knight said:
Hello I have about 7 folders all cold steel or Spyderco and I think my most pricey one is my Ronin 2. I have been working hard and doing a lot of night shifts now I can finally afford a high end folder that will admittedly just sit in my safe. I have been looking at Emerson, Chris Reeve and Hinderer knives but just want to ask all you fine folk what you would recommend on a $450 USD budget for a safe queen! Thank you.
Click to expand...

Congrats on the hard work that has got you to a point to purchase a luxury. Since it will be a safe queen then get some kind of limited edition, spirit run or rare steel,color, scale edition. Get a manufacturer that is well known. If you have to explain to someone why your reate knife is fantastic then it will not bring you as much satisfaction as owning any of the three manufacturers you mentioned.

Look at the for sale by individuals section on this site. There is a separate area just for CRK knives, they are top notch and always sell quickly and people don’t have to explain why they are great. Collectors and buyers already know so no explanation needed.

All three knife makers you mention are high quality and hard use capable. I get it if you want to keep the knife looking new but they are all built to be used. Good luck in your search, there are many to choose from.
 
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