Gold standard CRK and Hinderer, what are other options

[bear1889]

I am looking for an EDC option other than a Chris Reeve or Hinderer knife. Price range $250-$350. Can be foreign made. Any suggestions?

 

[Dadpool]

WE and Reate are both fantastic and in that price range.

 

[tony281sc2]

ZTs are made just as well as Hinderers IMO, not always as “overbuilt” but the QC is there. The better (bearing) full-size models are priced around $250-350

 

[Alberta Ed]

Benchmade, Spyderco, Cold Steel offer excellent knives in that range. Ragweed Forge also offers some interesting possibilities.

 

[zippifish]

These are 2 that I have that even with aftermarket upgrades are still under $350, they are both excellent carries.

GB2 has SDK Micarta scales and MXG clip, ZT has a SDK insert, MXG clip and rides on skiffs. Also used to have ZT 0562 and 0393 but they were bulkier than I like to carry both were great though.

 

[MrStabby7]

I wouldn't call it the gold standard but all three of my Southern Grind Spider Monkeys have been perfect.

 

[sixplymaple]

Zero Tolerance and Reate would be similar and in that price range.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

This is the Kizer Begleiter Mini (you might prefer the regular). M390 blade, linerlock, full Titanium frag scales, and a milled 3 D Ti clip. And fit and finish are similar to a Sebenza. At $139 from Amazon or wherever you buy knives. Ignore the watch and the Strider PT.

 

[Hashishiin]

Spyderco just released another M4 Shaman in DLC on BladeHQ. That knife is kind of like a reasonable version of a Medford or Strider, in my eyes. Nice, contoured comfortable grip, easy one hand operation, fine, fine steel. It is a thick knife that feels llike a small As others have posted, the Gayle Bradley 2 is another one that it just seems hard to go wrong with.

I would recommend you a Police 4, but I see that you're trying to go higher-end. You can always get some sweet aftermarket scales for a Police 4 in K390, or a PM2 with some custom scales.

I have a nonsensical prejudice against ZT that is not rooted in experience, so... I don't know what to say about those, but a lot of people seem to like them. Do ya specifically want any materials, or blade shape?

 

[Hashishiin]

These are 2 that I have that even with aftermarket upgrades are still under $350, they are both excellent carries.

GB2 has SDK Micarta scales and MXG clip, ZT has a SDK insert, MXG clip and rides on skiffs. Also used to have ZT 0562 and 0393 but they were bulkier than I like to carry both were great though.

I really like that (burlap?) micarta. That's even sweeter than the CF, gives the knife a "warmer" feel.
I wonder how long I will be able to resist one of those. Hopefully not long.

 

[pholder]

Spyderco GB2 gets my vote. Fit and finish are on par with my Sebenza .

 

[jjg6319]

The spyderco swayback is a nice titanium handle knife, but you have to like the wharcliffe blade and handle shape. Those can be had on the exchange forum for around $220 if you are patient.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/swayback-instant-classic.1737976/page-6#post-21106419

 

[Ajack60]

Viper knives, Collectorknives has them and are a supporting member.

 

[Bob Denman]

You can't throw a rock hard enough; or far enough: to get it over the countless knives that should fit the bill for you.
Happy shopping!

 

[LimpCroissant]

In my opinion there's very few knife companies that I would say are the gold standard. I'm looking at it at a point of view of strictly fit and finish and close tolerances though. There are MANY amazing knives in the 100-350 price range that may have better designs than the top of the line in said aspects though. The companies that I think of first when I hear gold standard in that price range would be CRK and Reate out of the knives I've owned. However, there are many knives in the 100-250 dollar range that are getting very close to the fit and finish level on a CRK. I have a Kizer here in front of me that looks pretty dang similar when you take a very close look at all the smoothly finished chamfers and notice that there are hardly any even fine milling marks on the Ti under the bead blast. The difference between a CRK's fit and finish and a 150-250 dollar chinese framelock made by a few companies is getting less and less very quickly. The only thing I often wonder about is how close of tolerances some of these other companies are able to produce on the innards of their knives. CRK machines to a thousandth of an inch, or is it ten thousandth? (I always think it's a thousandth but believe it's a ten thousandth). With that close of tolerances it's getting as close to perfect as we can get I believe. As in, you can take the knife apart and put it exactly back together exactly the same every time. For example, I a few months ago I noticed my Sebenza pivot was about to fall out (you still have to loctite pretty much all knives unless you get lucky), the knife still functioned perfectly and i didn't notice any change in the action or lockup.

Anyway, that's a long way of saying there's a lot to choose from now days that have exceptional fit and finish, we're lucky to be knife junkies during this time in history.

 

[bear1889]

Thanks for the input, I narrowed it down to 2 knives a Chavez Ultramar Liberation and the Arcane Design Abyss. Of those I chose the Abyss. Both are made by Reate.