Folders that Have Grown on You

C

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It's incredible how fickle I've become since getting into knives. I thought i'd be able to get by on just a few, but it wasn't long before those "few" began growing.

One I got just because I found it for an exceptional price (and, in fact, I bought seven). It was the CRKT S-2, a flat titanium-handled frame lock knife with a 3.84" ATS-34 blade. Got alll seven of them for $25 apiece, free shipping.

I knew it was a great knife at an exceptional price, but I just didn't like it much and apparently not many other people did, either. After all, it was going for only twenty-five bucks!

For the most part, one of them sat in a drawer for months. Then, on a whim, I decided to carry it with me for a few days and my entire perception changed. I found it was comfortable to carry, cut well and was easy to open and close. Now I've been carrying it much more often.

I've also bought knives I've thought would make great EDCs, only to subsequently discover that they were uncomfortabe, didn't hold an edge well, and had problems opening and closing.

So I wondered if anyone else had any love-hate (or hate love) experiences they'd like to relate. You know, great disappointments -- underestimating or overestimating a particular folder? And what did you do about it? (Return the knife, sell it, give it away, throw it back in your drawer or in a tool or tackle box?)

Finally, were any of the knives gifts?

Thanks!
 
One knife comes to mind, my Spyderco Military. I bought one simple because I did not have one. Fast forward to the day of arrival, this thing is huge, too big for EDC I thought. Weeks went by before I rotated it into EDC, bumping my beloved Endura out. I have come to really like the Millie, just a powerhouse of a cutter, comfortable in hand, light in weight, melts in my pocket. I no longer see it as a big folder. This knife has indeed grown on me:)
 
On the one hand, my Spyderco Caly 3s have somehow slipped into my pocket as EDC and woods knives. I've started carrying my CF ZDP Caly 3 for "the usual stuff" day in and day out, and I've set aside my RSK / mini-RSK combo for camping and hiking (sorry, Doug) and gone to my G10 Caly 3 / mini-Manix combo. I have really gotten to like the flat ground, leaf-shaped blades on these two knives and I'm rediscovering my old warm, fuzzy feeling for the backlock as a simple, dependable system.

Both of these knives were "spur of the moment" purchases w/o having much thought or research put into them. I handled the Caly 3 by accident in a B&M in FL and had to have it. I saw the mini version of the Manix online and my credit card just jumped outta my wallet and spilled its guts to the man on the phone.

OTOH, the H&K14210 that I planned for and waited for and bought as an EDC and have carried for a while has proven to be a bit less than what I like in an EDC. The blade steel is fine, it gets very sharp, and the F&F is excellent, just what I'd expect from BM. But I have never gotten used to the blade recurve, slight though it is, and the G10 scales are so smooth that they are slippery, at least to me. I've dropped that knife more than once. I've also had trouble finding the thumb studs and getting the blade open at times, usually when I want it quickly.

So maybe I should forego planning and just stick to the dart board method of picking my next knife to buy... :p
 
One knife I like to fool with, but hate to carry or use is the Kershaw Storm II. It's a great knife, but I just can't comfortably handle it. Doesn't feel right, and the blade's so curvey it has lost much of its appeal. Still, I like the overall build and craftsmanship. One day, I imagine, all this wiill change. It, too, was a spontaneous purchase.

Other knives that have ended up souring me are a number of Cold Steel folders. The thumb studs are useless for opening the large Gunsite I have. Once it's open, it's great, but the thumb studs on it are a bit pointy and difficult to grasp. Another that is difficult to open is the Night Force. Knives have to open easily or they can't be counted on. One CS that opens quickly and feels great is the discontinued black Pro-Lite.
 
Byrd Crow bought it on a whim nice little knife just a little heavy with the aluminum scales but supposed to be a G-10 Version coming out.
 
I think one that surprized me quite a bit was the boker trance. Just got it cause I thought it looked intersting...super cheap for what a good knife it is. I find myself carrying it quite a bit.
 
When I first got my SS Spyderco Police, I couldn't believe how darn big the knife was. I was a little disappointed because it seemed impractical for EDC. But then I started carrying it around, first IWB and then in my pocket and it basically disappeared. The slim profile made it a great carry.

Now, it's easily one of my favorite folders. I'm going to have the handle engraved sometime soon as well.
 
Got my first Spyderco a little over a year ago. C78 Native III with Plain Edge VG-10. The looks and the in the hand feel were right on the money for me. Love that knife. Bought some more Spydies, Captain, D'Allara Drop Point, Delica, etc., etc., they all wound up in the drawer except the Native III. There's something about that blade profile/grind that draws me to to it. I've since bought 15 more Natives in different variations. I'm hooked. I've also bought some expensive knives as well, 6 different Sebenza's. Those too stayed in the drawer until about 2 weeks ago, I chose two and I now carry them off and on while still rotating with the Native III. I've also moved up a little and purchased two custom handmade folders. They stay in the drawer as well. I now have 50 different knives from the medium to high price range but I always come back to the first Native III I bought over a year ago. I just can't put that one away.
 
I bought a large Ka-Bar Dozier last spring as soon as I found out about it. I had several of the smaller versions and had put them into best bang for the buck beater category, but this one is a step above. I'm a working golf course greenskeeper and this knife has been with me every day at work since I got it. The only thing I hesitate to do with it is stick it into the dirt and I carry a slipback Barlow for that.

It's cheap enough so you don't mind abusing it or experimenting with it. I've used it to practice reprofiling with my new belt sander and it came out better than new. I used it today when I had picked up a big armful of window blinds heading to the dumpster and some of the cords were caught. Here was a genuine situation where easy retrieval from the pocket clip and easy one hand opening were necessary. I didn't have to saw the cords to free them, just more or less touched them. That's how it's supposed to be in a real life situation.

I don't carry this knife other than at work. I don't play with it, I don't particularly like to look at it, it's Functional with a capital "F". I've got a Spyderco Native III that I carry sometimes when I get out of my work clothes. Also a Kershaw Junkyard Doggie, and maybe a few other middling knives that would serve as a work knife, but I would be a little nervous carrying them at work. Too much opportunity to have them fall out of my pocket or be left behind in a moment of forgetfulness or get gouged substituting as a pry bar.

If I lost or wrecked the Ka-Bar, it would not be an emotional loss nor a big financial loss. I would just buy another one and it would be just as good as the last one, maybe needing a session with the belt sander but not anything personal.

Maybe that's the number one quality of this Ka-Bar Dozier. Many knives take on a personal quality so that replacing one of them is perhaps not as traumatic as replacing a wife, for example, but still something requiring attention, if not sensitivity.

This big ol' Dozier is a worker and not one that you have to baby or be overly protective of. The handle doesn't merge with your hand like the soft curves of a woman pressing up against you, but it works. You can hang on to it and it cuts stuff.

After work I might play with my latest infatuation, but so far this Ka-Bar is handling the tough everyday situations with dependability and solidity.
 
The mini griptilian 556 that showed up with the shop order wasn't expected, so I started using it myself. It takes a ride in my pocket every day since. I have some pretty sweet folders, but the little benchmade does a great job for me.

I scored an old Wostenholm I XL slipjoint with a spear point and two little tiny blades. The whole thing is about three inches long, with stag slabs and nickel silver bolsters. That knife also stays with me every day. It's a beautiful little knife which I fondle:oregularly. It keeps my fingernails clean.

Finally, if I'm wearing a belt my benchmade activator will be on it. At first I was really disappointed in this knife. The edge was way to fat to be useful on this particular small design. Weeks went by before I finally took the diamonds to it and shaved the bevel down, then convexed the remaining to a zero edge using wet/dry and a foam backing. Wow! Lazer beam. It vaporizes zip tie and envelope molecules. A very well designed tool. Except for the edge...

So, ya. There it is.
 
Buck Striders, the 880/881 and the 889. Kept trading and selling them off, then one day out of the blue decided I rather liked them so I bought and traded to get those models back. Won't be tradin or sellin these off any time soon.

Matador-
 
I recently had to reassess my view of the Cold Steel Recon 1 after having some problems sharpening a couple of CRKT chisel grind knives. Now this is the pre-2006 model, but I have to say I like it better than the G-10 paneled model. Anyway, it opens quickly, has a great lock-up, is comfortable to carry and to hold, and is wicked sharp.

As far as knife steel, sure, I'd rather have AUS8 than 440A, but the 440A is fine for my needs. If I ever need to replace it, I'll get the new model, but I really prefer the zytel frame to the G-10 panels, though G-10 is deemed an improvement.

I also like the clip point.
 
A couple years ago I got an Opinel 8. Then I got the craze of quick opening knives which repeled me away from using it. Recently I rediscovered it. Now I appreciate the thin slicing qualities it has. Consequently I don't leave the house without it.

Great thread by the way!
 
I bought a little Kershaw Ken Onion Chive with black Boron coating. I loved this little knife for work EDC. I liked it so much I bought a rainbow Leek and a green anodized aluminum Scallion.

Then, after carrying the Chive some, I found it often opened in my pocket, and the safety lock to prevent this kind of ruined the whole easy-opening idea of the knife. And then, I got tired of sharpening the thing. All my other EDCs were premium steels. The low-budget blade on the Chive did not hold an edge at all like the others. All three of the Kershaws now sit in a drawer.

To replace the Chive for work, I tried a Spyderco Cricket. At first, I didn't like the blade shape a whole lot. But that knife is growing on me and I'll probably buy a back-up just in case. You know how things go... when you find something you really like and use for years, when it finally gets lost/stolen/destroyed, you find out they have been discontinued. Stock up on what you like!

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Older model Mel Pardue BM 350 in ATS34. Bought the knife on sale but never really carried it until I took the pocket clip off, as I like to carry a smaller (<= 3" blade) knife in my back pocket.
It has a very slim profile for back pocket carry, stays sharp, good lock up, combo edge, opens & closes easily, does everything I need in a smaller pocket knife. I've been carrying the 350 in my back pocket for 5/6 years, & probably will continue to do so until I lose it or it breaks.
 
My surprise is the CRKT Falcon in plain edge non auto lawks. This has the bright blade that I assume is AUS6a before they moved to aus4a. The knife is extremely well made. Scales aren't the best handle materials in my opinion,zytel, but they are very ergonomic. The interframe construction is s.s. very well done again. No over runs over the top of the scales, no sharp edges, just spot on machining. Now to the blade. Like I said it is aus6a so not the best. But the grinds are absolutely stunning. Very sharp and crisp. Not an uneven line where there shouldn't be one. Even the thumb ramp is perfect. Just a slight curve to it so your thumb falls naturally into place.

I have used this knife a ton and it still looks great. Never really had to resharpen it much actually. Not as much as I thought would have to. I like the bowie style blade kind of like a folding Randal mod 1 only 4" long and in a folder. Also the hardware is highly polished out, pocket clip, mounting screws and pivot screw. If you look at the thumb disk the knurling on it is perfect and it is an absolute flush fit between the thumb disk and the way it mounts on top of the blade. It is actually milled out in a curve on top of the blade for the roundness of the thumb disk to fit into. This knife just seems to have a superior attention to detail. Hey paid about 30 bucks for it here on the BF's and proabably the best 30 dollar cheap folder I have ever bought.

All this being said I rotate the carry of this one with a couple of old BM 970's pe., a old Commander that I rebuilt, which again this one just seems to be of superior build quality and last but not least a new CQC7a pe. keepem sharp
 
Over the past year I've found myself getting rid of all the knives I never carry and keeping those that go in my edc rotation. So far five (5) knives have grown on me. They include;

-Strider AR (I modified it for easier pocket carry)
-ZT0200 (best knife for the money I've seen)
-BM 610 Rukus (ivory micarta handles & polished frame)
-Protech TR-3 (LE w/hardened steel handles)
-Case Barlow (ALWAYS in my left hand pocket)

I have two more on my radar that I hope will work out for me. One is a custom folder from Jeff Hall (large Bounty Hunter) that I will receive at the beginning of December. It is intended at a Christmas gift from me to me for being such a good boy this year!!:eek::D The other knife I'm looking at is the Blade-Tech Rijbak. I can pretty much tell immediately if a knife is going to grow on me or if it will head to the -bay. As I said, I do hope both of these end up growing on me.:D:)
 
mmmotorcycle said:
A couple years ago I got an Opinel 8. Then I got the craze of quick opening knives which repeled me away from using it. Recently I rediscovered it. Now I appreciate the thin slicing qualities it has. Consequently I don't leave the house without it.

Great thread by the way!
Click to expand...

mmm, you beat me to the punch line! I have a #6 modded to a wharncliff and a #8 garden knife (had 2, gave one away) in wharnie style and I never leave home without one. Ditto on great thread!

About 2 years ogo, I bought a Kershaw #1500 Mini Task at a gun show. Carried it awhile and the torsion bar broke. I put it up thinking I'd get to it someday. Took out the bar, drilled a detent in the blade, and now I have my favorite knife again!
 
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