Grail knife search

N

NoPanama!

Joined
Oct 31, 2011
Messages
5
I apologize if I posted in the wrong forum.
Hello!
I am looking for my “grail” knife. I have a long list of features I am looking for, I don’t mean to be OCD or a bore, but any help would be greatly appreciated. I apologize in advance for rambling, and if I say anything incorrect. I’m new to knives.

This knife will be carried primarily for self defense, but (hopefully) used primarily for heavy-duty EDC/outdoors stuff.

For the handle, I would like it to:
Be larger, hand-filling (I have big hands)
Have a deep choil and thumb ramp, preferably with sharp jimping
Let you comfortably use the saber, hammer, reverse, and edge-in reverse grips
Balance at the choil
Be slightly curved so that the blade is aligned with forearm (making the blade and arm a straight line). If the blade is curved or tilted so that this affect is achieved with a straighter handle that’s fine too.
Be steel lined
Have flow-through/pillar construction
Have thick, strong pivot and handle screws and stop pin
Some type of point or pommel that could be used as a glass breaker
Blade centered in the handle. Doesn’t need to be perfect.


I’m not picky about if the scales are FRN/G10/steel/anodized aluminum as long as the handle is ergonomic and strong. Aggressive texturing of some sort would be nice, but I also don’t want my pants ripped up.

I’d prefer a longer pocket clip that holds the knife to the pocket by spring pressure rather than by clamping it the way short stubby clips seem to (if you understand what I mean), and that holds the knife securely but still allows for fast deployment.
I’d prefer a blackened or dark colored clip that is fairly discrete, and is flat so it won’t catch on things.

For the deployment I would like it to:
Have very fast one-handed opening (spring assist is nice, but not necessary)
Be fully ambidextrous in deployment
I don’t know much about the Emerson wave feature, I wouldn’t say no to it but I’m not looking for it.
Have phosphor bronze bushings
I really like index flippers but they (comparatively) are uncommon on knives, and if the knife does not have one it isn’t a deal breaker
Solid lock up, like a bank vault not to sound cliché.
NO bladeplay

For the lock:
I would prefer an Axis-style (Spyderco CBBL/Benchmade Axis/SOG Arc/Kershaw Hawk/Gerber Cross-bolt/etc/etc) lock that provides extremely strong lock up, doesn’t loosen up over time, or risks me losing my fingers. This will be a hard-use (but not abused) knife. I’ve never had one fail on me, but I’m leery of liner and frame locks, and I’ve heard of (and seen) lockbacks loosen up over time. I also would like three points of connection with the blade, and I don’t believe those three types of lock provide that.

For the blade I would like it to:
Have a good heat/cryo treat
Be full flat or hollow ground
Have a good full curve, but also have a pointy, streamlined tip
Have a clip or drop point (with swedge). Reverse tanto could be ok too, depending on the abruptness of the tip. I might consider a wharncliff.
Preferably in length be between 4” and 3.5”, but at most no larger than 4” and no smaller than 3.25”
Preferably fully plain edge, partially serrated is ok, but I do not want a fully serrated edge

I’m not too picky about the steel, as long as it’s got a decent amount of corrosion resistance (I live in a humid climate). Of course,

I’m not picky about blade coatings or finishes either (I dislike bead blasting though, if the rumors are true that it decreases corrosion resistance and promotes rust).

I’m not picky about weight, as long as it isn’t half a pound or something.

I would like to stay around $100, preferably less. I know I’m asking a lot and have very exacting criteria, but I would appreciate any help I can get. If someone knows a “cheaper” (as long as it isn’t too crappy) knife like a Gerber or something that fits my criteria, I still will look into it.

Thanks!
 
Not to be a fun sponge, but I think you will be lucky to find a knife with a third of your criteria. I was going to suggest a custom knife but then you would need to up your limit about 5 times. The KaBar TDI is one of the few knives I have seen with the angled blade and thats just one criteria point.

Good luck in your search and hopefully someone will have some suggestions.
 
Check out the Zero Tolerance 0350. It seems to meet a good deal of your specifications, so it'd be worth checking out. I have one and I really like it so far!

Also the ZT 0780. It isnt out yet, but still may be worth a look

One last suggestion: The Kershaw Tilt
 
Last edited:
The Benchmade Bedlam 860 comes very close to fitting all of your criteria. Except for one... probably run you about $200-$250 NIB.

Good luck! :)
 
ZT0200 would fit the bill. Angled blade, deep balance choil, and the straight or partial serreated edge, length, bronze bushings, 154CM steel, black coated blade, flipper and thumbstud, but its a liner lock and lacks a glass break.

Some models of the ZT0350 and ZT0500 have a glass break, but the ZT0500 lacks jimping on the spine and a flipper, and the ZT0350 is A/O, but has a flipper, jimping, and choil.

As you can tell, I'm a ZT fan... :D The ZT0200 fits your criteria closest IMO, and is around $120. Members here rave about it once they get it so it won't be a dissappointment
 
That's quite a list. I don't think you'll find something with everything, but there are a few knives that meet most of your criteria, like the Spyderco Manix 2, Benchmade Bedlam, ZT 0200, and ZT 0350. For something much cheaper, you could look at the Enlan EL-01A.
 
I'm not sure how most of those come close to his list of criteria but maybe he will like one.

And MSRP on the Bedlam is $220. It can be found for $140 brand new from certain stores. However, I think the blade is going in the opposite direction that he wants if I understand his post correctly.
 
The Bedlam comes assisted and non-assisted, prob why the huge price differances. I think ZT's line of knives comes closest to what your asking for. I too have a 0350 and it's a great knife, i have complete faith in it's liner lock. While reading your post, the 0350 came to my mind several times. You cant go wrong with any of the ZT's but the 0350 also comes closest to your price point.
 
Spyderco Paramilitary 2? Strong lock, S30V, great ergos for larger hands. You`d just have to do without the glass breaker.
 
Yeah, that order is hard to come by for 100.00. And as posted above about the bedlam, there is a auto and manual causing high price fluctuations.
 
Doh. I kept thinking as I read...find a maker and order a custom knife....until I saw the budget ...:eek:

Spyderco Manix 2 is my choice off the top of my head. It meets a good chunk of your criteria and around $70ish. No flipper/assist tho.
 
NoPanama! said:
I apologize if I posted in the wrong forum.
Hello!
I am looking for my “grail” knife. I have a long list of features I am looking for, I don’t mean to be OCD or a bore, but any help would be greatly appreciated. I apologize in advance for rambling, and if I say anything incorrect. I’m new to knives.

This knife will be carried primarily for self defense, but (hopefully) used primarily for heavy-duty EDC/outdoors stuff.

For the handle, I would like it to:
Be larger, hand-filling (I have big hands)
Have a deep choil and thumb ramp, preferably with sharp jimping
Let you comfortably use the saber, hammer, reverse, and edge-in reverse grips
Balance at the choil
Be slightly curved so that the blade is aligned with forearm (making the blade and arm a straight line). If the blade is curved or tilted so that this affect is achieved with a straighter handle that’s fine too.
Be steel lined
Have flow-through/pillar construction
Have thick, strong pivot and handle screws and stop pin
Some type of point or pommel that could be used as a glass breaker
Blade centered in the handle. Doesn’t need to be perfect.


I’m not picky about if the scales are FRN/G10/steel/anodized aluminum as long as the handle is ergonomic and strong. Aggressive texturing of some sort would be nice, but I also don’t want my pants ripped up.

I’d prefer a longer pocket clip that holds the knife to the pocket by spring pressure rather than by clamping it the way short stubby clips seem to (if you understand what I mean), and that holds the knife securely but still allows for fast deployment.
I’d prefer a blackened or dark colored clip that is fairly discrete, and is flat so it won’t catch on things.

For the deployment I would like it to:
Have very fast one-handed opening (spring assist is nice, but not necessary)
Be fully ambidextrous in deployment
I don’t know much about the Emerson wave feature, I wouldn’t say no to it but I’m not looking for it.
Have phosphor bronze bushings
I really like index flippers but they (comparatively) are uncommon on knives, and if the knife does not have one it isn’t a deal breaker
Solid lock up, like a bank vault not to sound cliché.
NO bladeplay

For the lock:
I would prefer an Axis-style (Spyderco CBBL/Benchmade Axis/SOG Arc/Kershaw Hawk/Gerber Cross-bolt/etc/etc) lock that provides extremely strong lock up, doesn’t loosen up over time, or risks me losing my fingers. This will be a hard-use (but not abused) knife. I’ve never had one fail on me, but I’m leery of liner and frame locks, and I’ve heard of (and seen) lockbacks loosen up over time. I also would like three points of connection with the blade, and I don’t believe those three types of lock provide that.

For the blade I would like it to:
Have a good heat/cryo treat
Be full flat or hollow ground
Have a good full curve, but also have a pointy, streamlined tip
Have a clip or drop point (with swedge). Reverse tanto could be ok too, depending on the abruptness of the tip. I might consider a wharncliff.
Preferably in length be between 4” and 3.5”, but at most no larger than 4” and no smaller than 3.25”
Preferably fully plain edge, partially serrated is ok, but I do not want a fully serrated edge

I’m not too picky about the steel, as long as it’s got a decent amount of corrosion resistance (I live in a humid climate). Of course,

I’m not picky about blade coatings or finishes either (I dislike bead blasting though, if the rumors are true that it decreases corrosion resistance and promotes rust).

I’m not picky about weight, as long as it isn’t half a pound or something.

I would like to stay around $100, preferably less. I know I’m asking a lot and have very exacting criteria, but I would appreciate any help I can get. If someone knows a “cheaper” (as long as it isn’t too crappy) knife like a Gerber or something that fits my criteria, I still will look into it.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Can you draw what this knife would look like? I'd like to see it.
 
+1 Zero Tolerance 0200 or 0350. Excellent choices, close to the OPs price point.
I have both and they are great knives. The 200 is probably closest to the specs.

+1 Spyderco Para-Military2 would be another, and right at the $100 specified.

Hogue EX-01 would be another option, but thats getting closer to $150 mark.
 
I apologize, I should have made clearer in my original post that I recognize that my list isn't very realistic. :) But one can dream, haha. All of your suggestions are very good, I appreciate the input.
 
DSCN1647.jpg
 
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