Gift ideas

RobertK

RobertK

post tenebras lux
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I’ve been wanting to gift a friend a knife for going on half a year now. I’ve been having a very challenging time finding *the* right knife.

He’s not a knife guy like I am - read, obsessed. He does enjoy and always carry a knife. I think he’s got an older ZT0300 but does not often carry because it’s a boat anchor, and by nature of his profession, he’s often in slacks. He’s taken to carrying some junky knives that are thinner and lighter.

His preferences are conflicted. He likes assisted knives, but likes thumb openers, settling on flippers because I believe most assisted knives in the lower budget range are flippers.

I’m torn. I can’t in good conscience buy him an assisted knife. I want to expand his likes, so I’d rather something that is pleasing to open that’s not assisted.

Steel is relatively unimportant. He’s not a skilled sharpener. I’ll be volunteering to sharpen orb. It it will likely be bludgeoned until dull before he takes me up on it. A thin blade that will chip is not not ideal. H doesn’t pry open car doors but he doesn’t baby knives or consider their best interests in daily EAC.

I’m looking for something under $150ish give or take. Something easy to carry and in the 3-3.25 blade range.

Some ideas I’m considering even if they don’t fit exactly.

Spyderco chaparral frn
Spyderco Manix 2 lw
Spyderco Spydiechef
Spyderco Smock. (After handling one I think this may be a great fit, though when it lands...)
Benchmade 555-1
BM 940-2
ZT0770CF

Would value your suggestions. Sorry for any typos done on a phone.
 
Are you sure YOU’RE not trying to decide between a:

Benchmade 555-1
BM 940-2
ZT0770CF?

I just ask because your “friend” seems to have a lot of preferences for not being a knife guy:D
 
AlphaDog86 said:
Are you sure YOU’RE not trying to decide between a:

Benchmade 555-1
BM 940-2
ZT0770CF?

I just ask because your “friend” seems to have a lot of preferences for not being a knife guy:D
Click to expand...

I’ve had the top 2. I honestly don’t think the BM is his cup of tea, but it’s at the top of my list. I’m having a hard time balancing what I think are his preferences, what I think he’s like and doesn’t know it, and what I like and is clouding my judgement. ;)

AlphaDog86 said:
Because if your friend is not a knife guy I think that he’ll think any mid-range production knife is BADASS:)
Click to expand...

True. But that only expands the options. ;)

There are so many knives now, I can’t keep up. We live in the golden age of pocket knives and craft beer. Cheers.
 
RobertK said:
We live in the golden age of pocket knives and craft beer. Cheers.
Click to expand...
^You’re damn right about that and I’m lovin’ every minute of it! He should be grateful to have a friend that puts so much thought and effort into finding something he’ll like and shares his interests with him:thumbsup: I’ve been on a Reate binge as of late, you can be my friend:D
 
Theres a really nice assisted thumb opening benchmade,but the name is escaping me.

Edit: it was the emissary. I really liked it.
 
If he's gonna be carrying this knife at work, I'd recommend something that doesn't look "threatening" or "tactical", so I'd probably go for something like a Delica, or if you can get a good deal on one, a BM Valet MIGHT be what you're looking for
 
Hogue EX03 Buttonlock. Under budget, steel on par with BM, good warranty and F&F, and the buttonlock thumbstud will be a fun and intuitive locking system to use.
 
So if I understand correctly, you are looking for a non-assisted knife, that could be a flipper but preferably a thumb stud. AND you want to expand his knife world so the flipper and the thumb stud could be out too. o_O

So how about a traditional or modern slipjoint or a front flipper instead, possibly with more Gentleman knife leanings?
Kizer Feist - classy front flipper. No assist that I am aware of.
Lionsteel - Roundhead or Shuffler.
GEC has several options for a traditional in your price range.
Boker Plus Kwaiken is non-assisted flipper. BladeHQ has a new exclusive model out with Carbon fiber scales & Copper bolster.

On the way low end of the spectrum, Kershaw Atmos is a very smooth and non-assisted flipper. Less than $35.00 I was amazed at how good that knife is for the price. One of my main EDC's now.
 
Have you looked at the ZT0450? It's just outside the $150 but mine flips like a dream. I swapped the clip for a low ride style that shows much less of the knife when in my pocket.
 
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