Hard to choose the right one

E

Evandre

Joined
Jun 4, 2019
Messages
1
Hey,

I am french, I don't know if it's that important, but it may come in play considering price( a benchmade 940 is 240€ here and 140 dollars there...) and warranty (i may not benefit from it as you guys from the US). + some models are hard or impossible to find here.

So, i am looking for a good edc knife. I won't abuse it, but i'd like to get the sturdiest one i can. It will mostly be for office work, maybe light camp usage, and cooking usage too.
I'll add that looks are quite important for me. In that regards, i really dislike the spyderco ones, as their blades are 'fat' and have an hole to open them.

I looked at the 940, but it may a bit expensive to get here tbh. The griptilian seems to be nice, but I don't get that excitement i think i should have when looking at it.

TLDR : good edc knife, not too expensive (like under 200-250 dollars), not spyderco, good steel (but not too hard to sharpen as i'm not that skilled), examples that i like looks-wise : benchmade 940 - buck marksman - buck vantage - sog spec arc - sog pent arc - kinda the rat 2 - zero tolerance 0566 - benchmade vallation - benchmade presidio

Thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions, and sorry if my post is in the wrong category of the forum
 
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Not spyderco? You're missing out. I guarantee if you get a paramilitary 2 or para 3 in your hands you would think differently. But if not a spydie...

Zero Tolerance. 0770cf is a good, lightweight knife. Assisted open though, don't know if that matters. I don't mind it.
 
There must be some sweet local blades over there you could score at better prices.

I'll think about your preferences, and try to add a proper response at a later time if I think of one.
 
I was thinking the same thing - Le Thiers makes some really nice folding knives, and I imagine they are lower cost for you.

how much is this Laguiole Honoré Durand cost for you? It's $400+ here, but maybe much less for you?
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Evandre said:
The griptilian seems to be nice, but I don't get that excitement i think i should have when looking at it.
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It's not about looking at it. It looks like a toad to me.
In hand though . . . using it . . . oooooh La La !
I was carrying my Mini Griptillian today. The Mini has a heft and a feel like it is all business. No other knife feels like it. I disregarded the Mini until I happened to be handed one at work. It is so good I couldn't get that feeling out of my head and ended up buying one.

The full size Griptillian I love but would not recommend for office carry.
And
it feels quite different than the Mini. Where as the Mini has heft (from full steel liners) the full size Griptillian goes in another direction. It is a largish, tough work knife but it feels light like a fine sports car or a butterfly or a fine bicycle. Some peoples take on this is that it feels "cheep" or "plastic". It feels that way because it has hollow handles that are kind of fat and has partial steel liners to keep the weight down. The handles are plenty strong because of the sophisticated fiber reinforced material they are made from. It is a superior design for carrying and use. It DOES NOT have that good solid-iron bulldozer like feel that say . . . a Buck 110 has.

For your use, even if it winds up being silly expensive, I can recommend the 940-1.
Carbon Fiber handle. S90V blade steel. Tres chic blue anodized post spacers between the Carbon Fiber scales. Mine has the best pivot action of all the knives I own. It is a perfect knife build wise.
 
Evandre said:
good steel (but not too hard to sharpen
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With diamond grit sharpening stones NOTHING is hard to sharpen.
The S90V in the 940-1 requires diamonds unless you are content with toothy coarse edges then Norton Crystolon stones will work.
Nothing satisfies visually like a mirror edge on a knife carried in the office or for dress though.

I use the DMT Aligner Diamond stones and they even have an 8,000 diamond stone that gets the sharpening bevels very mirror like. A very small kit, easy to ship, use and store.
 
Take a look at CK Knives. Mike has some exclusive to CK LionSteel knives that might fit the bill. Perfect size for office/EDC, yet big enough to accomplish camp and cooking chores. And since they're made in Italy, the warranty should not be an issue. Traditionals made with M390 blades, fantastic fit and finish. Love the two I have, and may have to get a couple more...
l9sCnLC.jpg
 
I would look at Lion Steel stuff which should be priced reasonably in France. I like the small opera, but the blade is a little thick in my opinion for such a small knife.
 
I don’t mean to be that guy but €240 is like $270 usd, and that’s WAY to much for a 940, especially given the poor QC that comes with Benchmade. It’s a nice knife, but not $270 nice. Look at the Zt 0450, 0566, 0470, and the Ontario Rat series.

I know you don’t like the look of Spyderco knives but functionally they beat pretty much every brand I can think of in that price range. The Manix 2 is in my top 3 knives of all time, up there with the Seb 21.
 
The buck vantage is a great knife. I have had one for about 6 months and it looms like it is a couple years old. Ive used it to death. It holds a good edge and is easy to sharpen. The rat 2 is also an excellent knife. The aus 8 rat 2 or the vantage 420hc will be easy to sharpen without having diamond stone.
 
stevekolt said:
Take a look at CK Knives. Mike has some exclusive to CK LionSteel knives that might fit the bill. Perfect size for office/EDC, yet big enough to accomplish camp and cooking chores. And since they're made in Italy, the warranty should not be an issue. Traditionals made with M390 blades, fantastic fit and finish. Love the two I have, and may have to get a couple more...
l9sCnLC.jpg
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22-rimfire said:
I would look at Lion Steel stuff which should be priced reasonably in France. I like the small opera, but the blade is a little thick in my opinion for such a small knife.
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I'd agree with what these folks are telling you; LionSteel has a wide variety of knives that might work for you. Also look at Fox knives coming from Italy or some of the original Boker Tree brand from Solingen, Germany. Being fellow EU nations, you might find the pricing more competitive.
 
Lionsteel makes real good knives and it just depends on what you like and would carry in your situation. I doubt the special orders by Collector Knives would be available in France unless you purchased through them in the US and shipped to you. I own one Fox knife and quite pleased with it overall. These are the Italian manufacturers.
 
Evandre said:
Hey,

I am french, I don't know if it's that important, but it may come in play considering price( a benchmade 940 is 240€ here and 140 dollars there...) and warranty (i may not benefit from it as you guys from the US). + some models are hard or impossible to find here.

So, i am looking for a good edc knife. I won't abuse it, but i'd like to get the sturdiest one i can. It will mostly be for office work, maybe light camp usage, and cooking usage too.
I'll add that looks are quite important for me. In that regards, i really dislike the spyderco ones, as their blades are 'fat' and have an hole to open them.

I looked at the 940, but it may a bit expensive to get here tbh. The griptilian seems to be nice, but I don't get that excitement i think i should have when looking at it.

TLDR : good edc knife, not too expensive (like under 200-250 dollars), not spyderco, good steel (but not too hard to sharpen as i'm not that skilled), examples that i like looks-wise : benchmade 940 - buck marksman - buck vantage - sog spec arc - sog pent arc - kinda the rat 2 - zero tolerance 0566 - benchmade vallation - benchmade presidio

Thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions, and sorry if my post is in the wrong category of the forum
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Get the knife that excites you or you will end up buying both.

Benchmade is very good about customer service and I believe they will send spare parts internationally if you pay the shipping. I don’t know if you ever repair your own knives but you could message me or watch many Youtube videos if you need help.

Here are some that may be helpful. (Since Benchmade is overseas I wouldn’t recommend taking the knife apart unless you have to do a repair.)



I would also recommend you ask whoever you buy it from to make sure the blade does not wiggle side to side or especially up and down when the knife is locked open.

Bon chance
 
As 22-r says above the CK exclusives would have to be ordered direct from CK. In any case let us know what you decide to do, and pictures once it's done :cool:
 
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