Folder in M4 recommendations

Cow51

Cow51

Joined
May 6, 2016
Messages
662
Hello Knife Nuts!

I really want a folder in M4, Because it's a high performance steel that'll take a patina. So I've been mulling over my options, but can't really get behind one. The knife will be well used, and this will(hopefully) be the full time carry, use it for almost everything type of knife. Food prep, opening packages, cardboard, landscaping tasks(bags, string, erosion matting) etc.

Somethings to note, I prefer special locking mechanisms(AXIS, Compression, BB) over frames and liners. Robust blade profiles, and about 3.25'' blade length, but would rather it be longer then shorter then that.

Spyderco GB 1 Or 2; The most favorable out of all. Although I don't much like hollow grinds and liner locks, but maybe could warm up to them. The blade is a bit long but manageable. (I'm looking at GB940Rookie to sway me here:D)

Spyderco Mantra 1; Blade length, frame lock and bearings are appealing, but doesn't strike me as a hard use folder.

Spyderco PM2; love the idea of the compression lock, overall the knife looks good, but, the down fall is the cutting edge to overall length (3.04'' to 8.24''). It's just too little blade on a big knife, and I feel a finger choil on a knife with a nearly 5'' handle is unnecessary.

Benchmade Ritter Grip or regular Grip; I'd much rather have the Ritter, but that is discontinued and rather expensive. Also, the factory scales are rather bulky, so I would want some slimmer scales, further upping the price. Overall it's kind of on the expensive side. Also have to remove the DLC coating, which isn't a big deal if it's possible.

I'm obviously lost and thinking out loud. So I'd love to hear some opinions and any other recommendations.
 
GB1 for sure if you want a folder you can really put to work. It's discontinued but still easy to find and probably will be readily available for another year or so if I had to guess. PM2 will continue to be released in a wide variety of sprints and exclusives. The M4 variants aren't the cheapest. You might as well get a GB1 for much cheaper and insane build quality. The compression lock is awesome, but why not get a different steel or wait for the maxamet production and pick up a GB1 now? The blade on my GB1 hasn't stained at all, but I keep mine well oiled and live in a non-corrosive environment. It will readily take a patina if you'd like, though. I also disliked liner locks before picking up a GB, put my perspective is totally changed now. The hallow grind blade is amazing and cuts like a champ. The action on a GB is crazy smooth and a real joy to open.

Edit: A lot of people make a fuss about the GB2 having thinner liners. I don't personally have a GB2 (yet) but the liners aren't necessarily thin from what I've seen. I would be really surprised to hear how many people have pushed a GB2 to the limit that wouldn't otherwise compromise the integrity of the GB1. I don't think the Mantra is a chump either.
 
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It doesn't seem to tick the right boxes for you; but there's the KSF exclusive ZT0770. Blade is 3.25"; but it's DLC coated & a liner lock.
There's also the Advocate.
Sounds like the best option would be getting your hands on the Manix2; though they don't seem to pop up very often.
 
Good to hear, how thick is the liners on the GB 1?

I'm not familiar with maxamet(or cru-wear and elmax for that matter)
 
hhmoore said:
It doesn't seem to tick the right boxes for you; but there's the KSF exclusive ZT0770. Blade is 3.25"; but it's DLC coated & a liner lock.
There's also the Advocate.
Sounds like the best option would be getting your hands on the Manix2; though they don't seem to pop up very often.
Click to expand...

I like that ZT offers intermediate blade lengths often like that. However, I don't like the blade profile much.

I think the Advocate is out of the budget.

I wasn't aware they made a Manix2 in M4?
 
Michael Christy has a video where he has a comparison of the liners on the Gayle Bradley 1 + 2. He has a lot of great videos. Google "Spyderco Bradley 2 Folder Michael Christy." I don't have a number to give you on the liners, but you can see in the video that the GB1 has stupid thick liners. My lockup hasn't moved since I bought the knife like 8 months ago.
 
Cow51 said:
I wasn't aware they made a Manix2 in M4?
Click to expand...
You are now :thumbsup:
View attachment 755042

FWIW, I was never a fan of the GB1 (the only thing I liked about it was the CPM-M4. I know...that isn't a sentiment often expressed). I've been tempted to try a GB2; but I'm afraid I'll find that it doesn't improve on the things I disliked.
I like the Mantra 2 a lot...but I have a hard time considering it a work knife because it is so small in hand.
 
Did someone say GB?:D

I have been known to suggest those from time to time.
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But I think at the end of the day a man or woman has to make up his or her own mind about what's right for them.
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But if you need me to twist your arm a little. Consider it twisted.:)
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In all seriousness, the Manix 2 m4 seems like another no brainer and it has a lock that you might prefer.

Happy Hunting.:cool:

Wanted to add. Look in the Spyderco forum for the "Gayle Bradley hard use"
thread. Pretty impressive if you haven't seen it.
 
I found the ergos on the GB1 great, but if you can find one at a decent price, get a manix 2 (first). The mantra is not a hard work knife though it does work well for its size.
As for the contego, never handled one, but some people here on the forum had to mod the handle to avoid hot spots during work use.
 
Spyderco has several models or sprints in m4. they are all excellent. i need to get a GB1 or 2 but my pm2 in peel ply carbon fiber and m4 steel is ohh so excellent. gotta oil the blade but im cool with that. not a fan of benchmade, but i wonder how different there m4 is to spyderco (as in the heat treatment, m4 on spyderco is good but not as great as the blade sports guys who use it in competition, for obvious reasons).
 
Thanks everyone!

The Contego doesn't look very ergonomic.

Awesome pics GB940!

Now I got to think about GB 1 vs 2 vs Manix2 vs Grip. I like the size of the GB1 but the profile of the GB2. I've heard the Manix has melt in hands ergos, but is a pocket hog. I'll have to think about this, maybe some time down the road get to a knife store and handle them.
 
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Cow51 said:
Thanks everyone!

The Contego doesn't look very ergonomic.

Awesome pics GB940!

Now I got to think about GB 1 vs 2 vs Manix2 vs Grip. I like the size of the GB1 but the profile of the GB2. I've heard the Manix has melt in hands ergos, but is a pocket hog. I'll have to think about this, maybe some time down the road get to a knife store and handle them.
Click to expand...
None of those are going to be small. GB2 might be best in pocket. Not sure how it compares to the Grip.

All good knives, no lose situation.
 
while i like my manix2 i dont tend to carry it unless i know im doing work with it. as it takes up my pocket and i have lots of stuff in my pockets. its a great knife otherwise.
 
There's also the Military in M4. It's another liner lock. But that and the GB1 are definitely two of the most loved/respected production liner locks ever made I would think. I just got my 204p Millie in today and it's amazing. It really disappears in the pocket, especially for how big it is. But I feel like both of those knives really need to be handled/used to truly appreciate how wonderful the designs truly are. Either of these knives would probably give you a whole new perspective on quality liner locks.
 
I can't recommend the GB1 enough. It is such an amazing and hard working knife. Something about its hollow grind plus its steel this thing just cuts like a friggin' laz0r. The GB2 looks to be very promising as well.

I love M4, it responds amazingly well to touch ups with my sharpmaker rods and a few freehand strokes.
 
GB2 it is my go to knife when I need a robust knife. The only problem for me was that it is a little hard to close and not fun to play with. I sent it out to have the thumb choil enlarged a little and know it is one of my favorite hard use knife. the liners are not thin on GB2 it's just that the liners were overbuilt and it made it very difficult to close.
 
Cow51 said:
I don't much like hollow grinds and liner locks, but maybe could warm up to them
Click to expand...

I didn't think I did either. One thing to know about the GB One is the hollow grind is minimal and the spine isn't too thick. The blade shape just looked too weird to me for a long time and I didn't pay attention to the knife.
That was a bad decision on my part. I love my GB One ! ! ! !
The liner lock is a bit hidden and a little bit inaccessible for some one who wants to play with the knife all the time but if you just want to take the knife out, use it and put it away there is no problem. It is accessible enough and the advantage of it being like it is is that the handle is more filled in and has better ergos for actually using it which is always my first preference.

The other one I was going to recommend until I read your post is the Spyderco Military in M4 and natural G10 but that is a BIG knife. Sounds like it would be much longer than you want. Makes a great camping / cooking knife though good length for that and so much more. I really like mine. Glad I bought it. Be aware they won't always be available; they are a limited production but still available as of a few days ago anyway.

Benchmade . . . knife stores . . . exclusives . . . isn't it time for a 940 in M4 ? ! ? !
YES . . . I think it is.
 
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