General purpose utility knife

if we are voting:) i would go with the mini griptillian. i have a lot more expensive knives i could carry, HOWEVER, the "grip" is just the right size, not expensive, VERY smooth, fast action, dual thumb studs, reversable/removable pocket clip, good warranty, axis-lock, good blade(440C) and a variety of blade types and handle colors. what more could you ask for???
 
Nice, I definitely like the small Sebenza (though I must say it's a tad bit pricy). Just wondering, what exactly makes the sebenza so expensive?? The lock looks about the same as the one on my $30 Smith & Wesson S.W.A.T. knife (that breaks all the time) and the blade material is stainless steel... I'm probably missing something, but given the Sebenza's popularity it doesn't seem to be that rare, so what's with the price tag? Just wondering.
 
I could echo all Calyth said adding my $0.02.
This is the knife what is able to do much more than it seems at first look. The handle fits the palm very securely, the compression lock is strong and reliable and wide flat ground blade with thin high performance edge cuts like crazy. It is really hard to find better cutter and stronger construction in sub-3-inche dimensions.
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Here is my Ti-Salsa and I can recommend it with clear conscience.

As to Microtech Vector and Kestrel – I would abstain to call them as general purpose utility knives anyway... If you have so tight knife limitations that even-slightly-over-3-inched blade could be confiscated you could have pretty hard task explaining what exactly utility purposes for you carry so oddly looking (especially Vector) blade...
I bet you wouldn’t have such problems with Salsa.

Edited to add: it is also hard to find more cost-efficient knife than Salsa. It is Taiwan-made what reduces cost noticeably, however the execution level of mine is flawless.
 
If you definitely do not like SPYDERCO knives (I also do not like how most of them look, however I like a lot how most of them work) maybe this one could appeal to you?
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It is CRKT S-2 with pretty strong and reliable frame lock, titanium handle and sub-3-inche blade. Mine has ATS-34 blade but the latest edition was equipped with AUS-118 (Acuto 440) ones. They are discontinued now but you probably still could find one for very affordable price.
 
Thanks Serg, I appreciate the info. I like that titanium salsa a lot more than the colorful ones I saw on the website; I might hafta give it a second chance. The CRKT is also very beautiful and I think it would serve me very well, I'm about to go check out prices on Ebay right now (I'm sure it'll beat the Sebenza, ouch!! :eek: )

Just to clarify, as far as the Vector goes, that would be meant as a completely separate knife, used almost exclusively for show... I would have absolutely no intention of brandishing that beast anywhere NEAR campus safety, that's for sure, lol :) In fact, if there were a bigger size, i'd want that kind; it'd be a great self defence piece ('specially 'cause it'll probably scare the piss out of anyone I somehow needed to fight just looking at it) I'd keep the Vector on the lockdown and use whatever I finally choose as my EDC for... well, EDC.

By the way, i'm thinking about doing an actual vote, there are SO MANY good knives to choose from, I don't think I trust myself to do it alone, especially over so many people who own and have experience with these knives. How exactly do I go about doing that though? I guess I'll have to narrow it to a few choices and do some kinda poll. I dunno, whatever. I'll figure it out somehow.
 
You'll have to upgrade your membership from basic. That's a good thing as you'll get more specific information and you'll help bladeforums.com move towards the new server that seems desperately needed.

You asked about what makes the Sebenza worth so much more than something like a CRKT. In my opinion it is attention to detail. Each Chris Reeve knife is made to within .0002 of the design standad. I used to be a machinist (advanced apprentice) and those are darn tight tolerances. The materials are not just good, but the best that are available at the time. Chris has evolved from ATS-34 to BG42 and now CPM-S30V as better steels have become available. The Sebenza is not just a classic design, but a reference point. They are so consistant and reliable that you can use them as a gauge for other knives. Often when looking at another knife I think," Is it prettier than a Sebenza? Does it lock up like a Sebenza? Does it seem as sharp as a Sebenza?".

I found another knife today that might fit your criteria. It's a Benchmade 773 BC1. It's basically a 770, but with sculpted aluminum handles instead of the carbon fiber on the normal 770. It also has the Boron Carbide coating on the 154CM blade. I paid about $110.00

It's funny, in the Benchmade 94X series, I prefer the carbon fiber handle and use one as an EDC (941D2CF). In the 770, I definitely prefer the aluminum handles. It seems like a whole different knife than the 770 w/ CF to me. I've decided to give one of these to my boss instead of the 705 I had bought for him. If you decide on a 705, I have one NIB plain edge satin blade, never carried or used that is looking for a home. Email me if interested (this is OK if I'm a premium right?).

jmx
 
In fact, if there were a bigger size, i'd want that kind; it'd be a great self defence piece ('specially 'cause it'll probably scare the piss out of anyone I somehow needed to fight just looking at it) I'd keep the Vector on the lockdown and use whatever I finally choose as my EDC for... well, EDC
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At the beginning of this thread you have asked for advice about “general purpose utility knife”, so Vector presence in this thread have looked pretty strangely...
Believe me, the trial to scare out someone just drawing your knife is more than poor idea. This might work and equally probably could do not work at all. Quite inversely, sometimes this could provoke your opponent to behave much more violently than he initially intended. What are you going to do in this case?

Just to explain one important thing what pretty frequently is mixed by young people. The knife is not a toy. It is deadly weapon from both law and common sense standpoint. It use causes irreversible results and opponent killing or heavy injury is the natural result of knife use against him.

Never draw your knife if the situation does not justify opponent’s killing or hard injury! And your life more than likely will be long, happy and free...
 
in a "real" defensive situation, your attacker should NEVER even see the knife or know that one is in your hand. if he can not see it/doesn't know you have it, there will be no defence for it and the outcome will be in your favor.
 
Yeah Serg, I guess i did get a little off-topic there, I mentioned the Vector sort of as a side note at first, but in retrospect I believe I probably should've created a separate thread for that question. My bad there. Don't wanna make excuses but I am very new to online forums and although I read a lot on Bladeforums.com before I posted, I am still very much a rookie. Not that that's an excuse though, merely an apology.

I also want to apologize for what may have seemed like a poor idea as far as self defense goes... I should have made it more clear that I was definitely joking in that case, and that I am fully aware that drawing a knife on somebody is, in most cases, a very foolish thing to do. I definitely want to make it understood that I would never even think of using a knife on someone unless I wholeheartedly believed that my life or someone else's life was in imminent peril. Even then, I know that I would have to be very VERY careful, because especially when one has very little knife training, drawing a knife can easily make things worse. I realize this and am sorry for appearing to make light of a very serious subject.

On a happier note, I did win my first Vector last night on Ebay (2:30 in the morning, sheesh!!) and I can't wait to play with it (and again, Yes I know it is not a toy, I am merely expressing my joy at finally obtaining what I have long desired)
 
rbarber, you'll really like the Vector. I just got one in a trade and it's an extremely well made little folder. It's not my idea of a utility knife either, but I did use mine to peel an apple and it worked rather well. :D Anyway, it's a bit on the small side, but in the hands of a trained individual, it can make a formidable last ditch defence tool. The fit/finish and tight tolerances on this futuristic folder say "MICROTECH" all the way. It's the kind of knife that grows on you more and more. It may not be high on the EDC/Utility category, but it is very high on the sharp & cool factor.
 
I went through a similar decision a couple of months age. After some research and advice from this forum I ended up with the BM 705. Very happy! A mini-griptilian may find it's way into my pocket in the near future though.
 
thanks El Cid, it's nice to hear some good vibes about the Vector. I can't wait to get mine! Now, all i really hafta worry about is Campus Safety... :)
 
i went to school in a crappy part of philly. i carried a spyderco delica. small, classy and unobtrusive, yet i felt comfortable that i could defend myself with it if i got jumped walking back from the bus station. my .02 for everyday carry around campus.
 
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