"Gateway" knife for each brand?

Spyderco - Delica
Kershaw - Blur
ZT - 0350BW
Benchmade - Mini-Reflex Auto (almost 20 years ago)
 
Recently, the Horizon C got me hooked on Reate.

Years ago I bought a CRKT M16, and it caused me to try a few others back when I was first into knives.
 
Peanut or Sod Buster is the typical gateway into Case

Right now the Link looks like the new gateway to Kershaw.

Tenacious OR Delica - Spyderco

Mini grip/grip is without doubt the standard Benchmade gateway

I think an iconic 112 or 110 is the "gateway" knife for most folks into Buck; a gateway isn't always the cheapest remember, but rather the first one most people handle that opens the door to association with a particular brand, and I think more people remember grandpa's 112 or 110, and were handed one down or given one as a first (Buck) knife then any other.

I think a lot of times there is the brand overlap for gateways even, like;
Byrd being a gateway to Spyderco
Kershaw being the gateway to ZT
($30 Chinese kershaw's being the gateway to the US made ones)
Rough Rider traditionals leafing to Böker to Case to GEC and Queen
MidTech's being the gateway to Customs
Mora being a gateway to fixed blades

Definitely not many "clear cut" lines...
 
jaypowell0185 said:
Spyderco- Tenacious
Benchmade- Griptilian
Emerson - CQC7
Cold Steel- Recon 1
SAK- Cadet
Kershaw- leek
Buck- USA made bantam series
SOG- Flash 1
Click to expand...

+1 on all of these.

Spyderco could say Delica as well
Kershaw has many in the same price point. Cryo is a good one.
ZT 566 or 450
CRKT M16
 
So these were my gateway knives.
Buck - 119
Spyderco - Endura
Becker - BK9
Kershaw - Leek
Ontario - RAT 1
Mora - Bushcraft Black
ESEE - Izula

Now that I look at it, seems I like them on the bigger side, Izula and Leek being the exceptions.
 
ugaarguy said:
I essentially agree, but the Thermite was the gateway for me, and with it's longer blade that even has a Spanto grind I think it's even more representative of ZTs and Hinderers. The Thermite lead to me buying a ZT 0801 and a ZT 0562CF.

I also think the Kershaw China produced Emerson designs are the gateway to the ZT produced Emerson designs and Emerson's own production knives.

Last, the Mini Tuff Lite is the knife that brought Cold Steel back to my attention. I've not bought anything higher end from them, but the Code 4 and American Lawman are temptations I can barely fight off at times.
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I have no experience with the Code 4, but I like the design. I own an American Lawman, and cannot recommend it enough. Excellent knife with excellent ergonomics, versatile and useful blade shape and overall design, tough as nails, and an outstanding value IMHO.
 
Spyderco-Tenacious or Delica/Endura(I keep seeing people say PM2, I dunno, I doubt the average person STARTS with a PM2, I figure most of them start with the Tenacious, or maybe a little higher with the Endura/Delica, then maybe move up to the PM2, or Manix 2, or whatever)

Kershaw-their budget line, most likely, for the upper levels, probably the Leek

ZT-0350

Buck-110

Kabar-USMC Fighting/Utility Knife

Ontario-Rat 1

Victorinox-Classic

Cold Steel-Recon 1
 
DShiflet said:
Spyderco-Tenacious or Delica/Endura(I keep seeing people say PM2, I dunno, I doubt the average person STARTS with a PM2, I figure most of them start with the Tenacious, or maybe a little higher with the Endura/Delica, then maybe move up to the PM2, or Manix 2, or whatever)

Kershaw-their budget line, most likely, for the upper levels, probably the Leek

ZT-0350

Buck-110

Kabar-USMC Fighting/Utility Knife

Ontario-Rat 1

Victorinox-Classic

Cold Steel-Recon 1
Click to expand...

I would agree. I actually started with a Byrd Cara Cara 2 in G10, then a Tenacious.
 
zt -- 0562cf

Lion steel -- sr01

Benchmade -- grip

Spyderco -- endura

Byrd -- cara cara g10

Sog -- flash II or flashback

Tops -- bob

Ontario -- rat 1

Gerber (gulp :) ) -- gator with the 154cm

Kershaw -- piston

CS -- voyager
 
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Buck - 110 Hunter
Spyderco-Endura
Kershaw-Blur
ZT-615 Rukus
Bark River-Bravo I
Becker - BK2
 
Hmm, maybe I suggest that some knives in the traditional arena are a gateway into more high end traditionals. Like buying a Mora for 13 bones has got me eyeing the same style of knife from high end makers for 100 amd up, even though I have no problems with the Mora.
Traditionals will be tough to choose but I like this idea.

Connor
 
Spyderco: Budget line (Ambitious, Tenacious, etc) or Dragonfly
Boker: Urban Trapper
ZT: 0770
CRKT: M16, Ripple
Cold Steel: (Mini) Tuff-Lite
 
Kershaw- skyline
Spyderco- endura
Ontario- rat1
Buck- 110
Victorinox- classic
Gerber- torch2
 
Great topic. For me the Kershaw scallion was a good one. Bought the olive green one at a local shop on sale for $39.99 and ever since its been a downward spiral which was followed up shortly after by a Cryo. For spyderco it was the persistence which led to to ordering the tenacious which led me to the delica 4 which took me to the para military 2. Next was Benchmade which was a mini grip, which led me to buy the full size grip a few days later. Crkt M16 in the 3" version is a great one that was added to the collection as well. Between edc flashlights and knives it's been an expensive last 12 months, but I love it.
 
My choices for Gateway Knives, followed by the ones that actually sucked me in, if different.

Al Mar: Eagle Lightweight (Eagle Classic)
Benchmade: Any Griptilian (BM-940, not my first BM but the first one I bonded with)
Buck: 110 or 102 (105, actually)
Case: Fisherman's Knife
Emerson: CQC-7 (Mini A-100)
ESEE: Izula
Gerber: I just want to forget ...
GEC: A #15 pattern of some sort (#63 Mako)
Kershaw: Leek or Leek or Leek
Schrade: Sharpfinger - perhaps one of the most underrated knives of all time?
Spyderco: Delica
Victorinox: Spartan
ZT: 0350
 
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