First high end folder recommendations.

Good for the OP in working up to the ability to reward himself with an item he will enjoy and cherish. Let me tell you, I work two jobs and I like to acquire stuff that I will enjoy to use or just admire.

I was able to purchase a Chris Reeve Lisa's Pick of the month years ago. It was a large Sebenza that has a unique graphic on the handle. Beautiful knife and the cost was worth it. It is my only safe queen and I plan to pass it on to my daughter when the time comes along with my collectable firearms. I highly suggest finding a unique or semi-custom piece that will stand out in your collection. It will be well worth it. Good luck in finding your new knife and be safe.
 
Hermit_Knight said:
Thanks for all the replies I just learnt about a whole lot of knives I didn’t know about and now I want quite a few..I think I will go for the Inkosi and after reading a few posts I think I’ll edc it it’s usless in my safe as I probably wouldn’t want to sell it, it’s just hard seeing that first scratch/wear mark on something pricey! Thanks again I’m still open to more models as maybe one day I’ll be able to afford another high end blade.
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That's why you buy used off the exchange. Stratches are already there and the value doesn't change much if you use it and sell it.
 
Might be able to snag a zt0606cf for a little more on the secondary market. if it's gonna be a safe queen the 606cf is a beautiful knife with lots of detail and a great joy to flip
 
I'd go with a CRK or a Hinderer of some flavor. You won't be disappointed!
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I'll throw another one into the mix, a CRKT Hi Jinx, Blade Magazine Overall Knife of the Year in 2014. Designed by Ken Onion, it was made by Lion Steel Knives, an Italian company. Lion Steel Knives made the knives that have won the Blade Magazine Overall Knife of the Year for 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. They don't get enough press, IMHO.

 
anything from CRK are nice .
but its not worth it keeping it in safe, it will never gain value .
if knife used properly it will last you life time and you will enjoy it way more .
( just dont land it to friends)
 
Tankboyt said:
Might be able to snag a zt0606cf for a little more on the secondary market. if it's gonna be a safe queen the 606cf is a beautiful knife with lots of detail and a great joy to flip
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There is an 0600 on the exchange right now for $420 that would be a great safe queen.

Though I agree with everyone else, buy a knife you are going to use or whats the point. Zaan still gets my vote.

Even better advice: delete your BF account and run in the other direction. It will save you thousands and you already have enough knives to last you a lifetime ;)
 
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Hermit_Knight said:
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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Out of the ones you listed, I'd go with the CRK - I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about CRK, although I do not own one. I love Emersons, but their production knives are not "high end" or luxury or whatever (a custom or an XHD are outside your stated budget, and even then are not "fancy" knives). Not a fan of Hinderer.
 
While a CRK is always a strong go-to choice in cases like this, I would also recommend you take a look at the Olamic Wayfarer 247's, as I have seen many go for around your budget, and it's going to be an M390 bladed flipper with absolute perfection in fit and finish. It will be a knife that will also be showy enough to wow people when you take it out to show them. And, like the CRK, the Wayfarers are just as good at hard work.
 
Lapedog said:
I don’t know that they match crk tolerances. Just because they can make an impeccable knife doesn’t necessarily mean they are matching crk tolerances. I believe crk tolerances are quoted as being as thick as cigar smoke.

I’m just saying leaving the interior of the spine of the handle where your finger falls when flipping unchamfered was an oversight. It creates a sharp edge your finger falls on. When my friend spoke with Liong Mah and asked him why it was like that and if there was anything they can do about it Liong said he asked Reate to fix it and Liong was told there was nothing that Reate could do. It sounds like someone is BSing.

But for them to leave a sharp edge there left over from cncing right where your finger falls is definitely a nuissance that I feel should have been noticed and dealt with.

See the two sharp points here? This one is my friend’s he rounded the edges himself. But when he got it they were as sharp as a knife.

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I’m just saying that is a pretty big oversight for 400$ knife.
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I agree that this issue should’ve been dealt with. I’d consider that oversight an anomaly basing it on their entire catalogue of work, however. Once, I received a Sebenza with a very slightly off-centered blade. First and only time I’d ever seen that. Maybe it was just the grind. Either way, CRK is an excellent choice. So is Reate, WE, Olamic...
 
Fire Beard said:
I agree that this issue should’ve been dealt with. I’d consider that oversight an anomaly basing it on their entire catalogue of work, however. Once, I received a Sebenza with a very slightly off-centered blade. First and only time I’d ever seen that. Maybe it was just the grind. Either way, CRK is an excellent choice. So is Reate, WE, Olamic...
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I will say Reate is an excellent brand. So is WE. (Never handled an Olamic but I hear they are outstanding) Nothing I am saying is to disparage them. I just think from a technical standpoint there is something outstanding about CRKs that as of yet I have felt no other folder match. Many have come close and more get closer every day.

The CRK knives seem to be better built than even any custom I have handled. Though my experience with customs is limited. Unlike other conpanies who have many models it seems crk has elected to focus all attention on perfecting just a few. I’m not the only one who sees it. There is a reason they win the bladeshow award almost every year.

This is all my opinion though. I love CRKs but they are not my absolute favourite knife. (They are close though) There are so many more things that make a knife appealing than just anal construction tolerances.

As to yours coming off center, in anything that is manufactured there will be some that aren’t perfect. Was it one of the crks with a carbon fibre front scale? Those are known to have centring issues.
 
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Lapedog said:
I will say Reate is an excellent brand. So is WE. (Never handled an Olamic but I hear they are outstanding) Nothing I am saying is to disparage them. I just think from a technical standpoint there is something outstanding about CRKs that as of yet I have felt no other folder match. Many have come close and more get closer every day.

The CRK knives seem to be better built than even any custom I have handled. Though my experience with customs is limited. Unlike other conpanies who have many models it seems crk has elected to focus all attention on perfecting just a few. I’m not the only one who sees it. There is a reason they win the bladeshow award almost every year.

This is all my opinion though. I love CRKs but they are not my absolute favourite knife. (They are close though) There are so many more things that make a knife appealing than just anal construction tolerances.

As to yours coming off center, in anything that is manufactured there will be some that aren’t perfect. Was it one of the crks with a carbon fibre front scale? Those are known to have centring issues.
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Nope, it was just a plain jane. This was years ago and I sent it back immediately for an exchange. I’m not going to spend that kind of money and not be totally satisfied. Based on my experience with CRK, this was also just an anomaly. I tend to have the worst luck with knives. Maybe that’s why I’m so enamored with my Reate. It is absolutely perfect.

I agree with your point regarding CRK perfecting the few models they produce. I’ll probably buy that slipjoint they’re supposed to be producing. Looks amazing.

And since you mentioned it, what is your absolute favorite knife/manufacturer?
 
Fire Beard said:
Nope, it was just a plain jane. This was years ago and I sent it back immediately for an exchange. I’m not going to spend that kind of money and not be totally satisfied. Based on my experience with CRK, this was also just an anomaly. I tend to have the worst luck with knives. Maybe that’s why I’m so enamored with my Reate. It is absolutely perfect.

I agree with your point regarding CRK perfecting the few models they produce. I’ll probably buy that slipjoint they’re supposed to be producing. Looks amazing.

And since you mentioned it, what is your absolute favorite knife/manufacturer?
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Depends. I have different knives I enjoy for different roles. In terms of an edc knife it is probably my Gareth Bull Shamwari 3.25 inch. It just fits the gap between my large inkosi and small sebenza so perfectly despite its flaws.

My favourite self defense folder is my Spyderco Pikal.

That said if I had to pick one folding knife that I had to keep to do it all it would have to be my Emerson HD7. Unfortunately mine is the older version without a lockbar insert that all came with a foolishly late lockup and the lockup has gone all the way over and now there is lockrock. I would kill for one of the newer versions that has the lockbar insert but unfortunately that newer version has bearings and standoffs instead of washers and backspacer which I prefer.

That doesn’t mean Emerson is my favourite knife manufacturer. I would be hard for me to say X brand is my absolute favourite.
 
Lapedog said:
Depends. I have different knives I enjoy for different roles. In terms of an edc knife it is probably my Gareth Bull Shamwari 3.25 inch. It just fits the gap between my large inkosi and small sebenza so perfectly despite its flaws.

My favourite self defense folder is my Spyderco Pikal.

That said if I had to pick one folding knife that I had to keep to do it all it would have to be my Emerson HD7. Unfortunately mine is the older version without a lockbar insert that all came with a foolishly late lockup and the lockup has gone all the way over and now there is lockrock. I would kill for one of the newer versions that has the lockbar insert but unfortunately that newer version has bearings and standoffs instead of washers and backspacer which I prefer.

That doesn’t mean Emerson is my favourite knife manufacturer. I would be hard for me to say X brand is my absolute favourite.
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Big Emerson guy chiming in for a hot minute. If you send your HD-7 back to them, they will correct that. Maybe shoot them an email?
 
I would go with a Reate. The JACK looks amazing. Should be out soon.
 
Don't much believe in Safe Queens, if I don't use it I sell. However, Any chris reeve if you admire low tolerances. Hinderer are made for tools not safe queens, in my opinion. But ultimately I think you should a Koenig Arius. Beautiful action, super smooth, a lot of blade for the price. As you can tell by my pic easily my favorite knives.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/BK...hp-stonewashed-blade-blasted-titanium-handles

In fact, buy this one!!
 
I carry a Sebenza every day so that's my answer but I also don't think there is a wrong answer in that price range.
 
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