Hard Use Folder Suggestions

Leo Greer

Leo Greer

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Dec 30, 2021
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I’m looking for something on the higher-ish end ($150-$300), in a tough steel. So far, 3V, CruWear, 4V, and maybe Elmax have passed my muster for steels in the ranges I’m looking for.

Currently, I own more than enough folders that are in 20CV or M390, but I’m looking for something in a bit tougher steel, though not necessarily with a beefy blade. (Check out Latin Thomas’s work on thin edges and tough steel. Long story short, tough steel makes thin edges viable and increases overall wear resistance…)

Suggestions? Thoughts? Steels that I’m missing?
 
I've owned and used hundreds of folders over my 74 years on Earth and if you really mean HARD USE, then go with a Cold Steel 4 Max Scout in AUS 10. Of course, it's a bit big and heavy for most pockets.

For the best response, I suggest you set some parameters for size and weight and define what you mean by "hard use".
 
This is a little too big of a pill for me to swallow at the minute, but sounds too me like you're looking for a folder to do some hard core cutting. Not so much for prying and the strongest lock on the market, the thickest liners/frame and all that. I'm also currently pondering a similar situation. There's a lot of good folders for this. One that doesn't seem super popular but I really like and would like to get is the BM Bailout in M4. Nice thin slicey cutting geometry, M4 heat treated by Benchmade which has been proven to be good stuff, a nice durable but lightweight aluminum handle, a lock that you can use with gloves on if you wanted. I think it seems like a fantastic knife. I really like M4 for this type of stuff too. There's also an M4 Bugout if you prefer. Then there's all the awesome Spydercos. You can get pretty much any of their popular knives in most steels now days if you do some searching.
 
LimpCroissant said:
This is a little too big of a pill for me to swallow at the minute, but sounds too me like you're looking for a folder to do some hard core cutting. Not so much for prying and the strongest lock on the market, the thickest liners/frame and all that. I'm also currently pondering a similar situation. There's a lot of good folders for this. One that doesn't seem super popular but I really like and would like to get is the BM Bailout in M4. Nice thin slicey cutting geometry, M4 heat treated by Benchmade which has been proven to be good stuff, a nice durable but lightweight aluminum handle, a lock that you can use with gloves on if you wanted. I think it seems like a fantastic knife. I really like M4 for this type of stuff too. There's also an M4 Bugout if you prefer. Then there's all the awesome Spydercos. You can get pretty much any of their popular knives in most steels now days if you do some searching.
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You’d be correct about that; I want a real cutter, not a hammer-proof brick knife. 😂

The Bailout has made it onto my larger list of potentials, but the tanto blade kinda throws me off, as well as the blade size…

To answer Murindo; I’m looking for something in between 3.5 and 4” (preferably closer to 4”) in blade size, and with a thinner blade. Good ergos, and it can’t act super delicate. I’m shying away from the really expensive handle materials in favor of micarta and such.

For a sort of template, I own a Real Steel Megalodon in M390, with a micarta show side scale and a titanium frame lock for the off side. It’s almost 4”, and super slicey. If it were in a tougher, not chippy steel, it would be perfect. (Check it out; for $150 it’s an amazing folder…)
 
Leo Greer said:
I’m currently considering a PM2 in Cru-Carta, or the BM Adamas/Mini…
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There is a big difference in the ultimate strength of these 2 models. The PM2 is great for normal use and I have 4 of them, but I wouldn't consider it for hard use. The Adamas should be good for reasonably hard use. The ZT 0200 and 0561 that I had seemed to be pretty tough. Hinderer are supposed to be tough, as well as some Cold Steel models.
Personally I carry a Spyderco Manix 2 in M4 or Rex45 for use in my workshop. I don't consider that really hard use but it is harder use than what I will subject my PM2 to. If I anticipate needing a hard use knife I carry a fixed blade.
 
Hard use? From "a source close to the subject", I have heard that many Special Ops guys go for the Chris Reeve folders. Now these guys are tough guys, and another school of thought among them is that (and here I must paraphrase) ". . . a folding knife is just a broken sheath knife" or something like that but with NSFW wording.
 
Leo Greer said:
You’d be correct about that; I want a real cutter, not a hammer-proof brick knife. 😂

The Bailout has made it onto my larger list of potentials, but the tanto blade kinda throws me off, as well as the blade size…

To answer Murindo; I’m looking for something in between 3.5 and 4” (preferably closer to 4”) in blade size, and with a thinner blade. Good ergos, and it can’t act super delicate. I’m shying away from the really expensive handle materials in favor of micarta and such.

For a sort of template, I own a Real Steel Megalodon in M390, with a micarta show side scale and a titanium frame lock for the off side. It’s almost 4”, and super slicey. If it were in a tougher, not chippy steel, it would be perfect. (Check it out; for $150 it’s an amazing folder…)
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Oh ok, you're one of those big blade fellas. I mainly pay attention to folders in the 'as close to 3.3 as possible'. I do agree with the above mention of the Spyderco Shaman. They made the M4 version you could find if you really wanted to. One that's about to come out that you might be interested in is the new Magnacut Hogue Deka. It has a polymer handle so not a fancy handle material like you said, however it's not micarta or g10 either (unfortunately). Oh, one more. I just ordered a Cold Steel Code 4 last night. I've never been into Cold Steels and this will be my first besides my real old school SRK that I got from a friend years ago. 3.5" S30v blade, and a nice roomy aluminum handle. It looks like it's going to be a nice hard use type cutter. Again, not a pryer and what not, but that's not what were talking about here.
 
3v: hard to find on production folders
CRUWEAR: harder to find on production folders
4v: even harder to find on production folders
Elmax: you get the idea.

Edit: let me clarify: in your price bracket

Not impossible of course... Adamas is CRUWEAR now, but I read some bad articles about their performance so havent bought one yet. Also, s*** tends to get stuck in axis locks especially dust and stuff, making them not my first choice for "hard use".

Based on your choices, it seems you want a small-medium hard user with an exotic steel with a decent toughness? Did I get that right?

Try the Spyderco Native, especially one of the sprints in Rex45, LC200N, M4, Magnacut (wink wink). If you want larger, go Native Chef (misspelling on purpose).

Spyderco Endela, Endura also comes to mind. The new Straight Stretch in K390 is my 2021 favorite release from them, AWESOME knife. FFG means awesome slicers, and K390 in my family use, has more than enough toughness as a folder.

Shaman works too, but I think you might find it a bit big, heavy, and underwhelming.

ZT also makes some great light hard users.

Sounds like a CS American Lawman or similar is perfect for you. AUS10a is tougher than S35VN in my experience, just FYI.

Some of my thoughts about "hard use":
Dergyll order of operation
1 - get a fixed blade
2 - backlock (I count triad lock in here)
3 - framelock
4 - everything else

Say no to assists, springs, etc anything that complicates a knife mechanism. I've rusted my fair share of knife internals. Also, some of the best hard users, are not always the prettiest.

Thanks for reading my brain dump!
 
VorpelSword said:
Hard use? From "a source close to the subject", I have heard that many Special Ops guys go for the Chris Reeve folders. Now these guys are tough guys, and another school of thought among them is that (and here I must paraphrase) ". . . a folding knife is just a broken sheath knife" or something like that but with NSFW wording.
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If any SpecOps guys carry a knife, it'd probably be a Benchmade that they got at the PX/BX.
As for "hard use", I suppose it'd be to open an MRE or two.
 
Leo Greer said:
You’d be correct about that; I want a real cutter, not a hammer-proof brick knife. 😂

The Bailout has made it onto my larger list of potentials, but the tanto blade kinda throws me off, as well as the blade size…

To answer Murindo; I’m looking for something in between 3.5 and 4” (preferably closer to 4”) in blade size, and with a thinner blade. Good ergos, and it can’t act super delicate. I’m shying away from the really expensive handle materials in favor of micarta and such.

For a sort of template, I own a Real Steel Megalodon in M390, with a micarta show side scale and a titanium frame lock for the off side. It’s almost 4”, and super slicey. If it were in a tougher, not chippy steel, it would be perfect. (Check it out; for $150 it’s an amazing folder…)
Click to expand...

Seems like the cold steel spartan should meet all your requirements.
 
Give you an idea what I generally turn to:
Screenshot_20220128-214734_Gallery.jpg
I know I'm missing a few classics, but that's what I current have nearby.

The Carribbean is actually one of my favorites, despite it being a compression lock. It's got Ti hardware, so I dont feel bad cleaning it with (sometimes salt) water.

Hope this helps, good luck Leo
 
Zt has made quite a few 3.5-4” folders over the years in Elmax (0620, 0801, 0566, 0770) but they’re not super thin blades.
Spyderco is the king of steel options tho, and those are usually thinner, lighter knives than ZTs, so long as you don’t mind the hole.
 
Spyderco Tuff DLT Exclusive in CruWear. You’re welcome! 😁
Seriously though, it’s a great knife. I also have a large and small Adamas. Great choices as well. I wouldn’t be afraid to push my CRK Inkosi or Umnumzaan either.
 
Yep, second the other fellow who recommend Cold Steel Max Scout. For your price range you could by 2-3 of them and come out looking mighty fine. When opened there is really no difference between it and a fixed blade. You could straight up build a cabin with the knife and yet still slice vegetables for dinner. :thumbsup:
 
Spyderco GB2 in M4
Manix and Native I have Rex45, Spy27 (or wait for the ones in Magnacut?)
Caribbean (wharnie or leaf) or the Spydiechef in LC200N

I like longer blades for a lot of cutting, so the Millie and the Chief are always in the rotation.

edit: If you will cut natural or man made fibers, consider a serrated blade, maybe even a hawkbill.
 
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kobold said:
Spyderco GB2 in M4
Manix and Native I have Rex45, Spy27 (or wait for the ones in Magnacut?)
Caribbean (wharnie or leaf) or the Spydiechef in LC200N

I like longer blades for a lot of cutting, so the Millie and the Chief are always in the rotation.
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Right here.
Don't need to look much further down the list, just grab the GB2...or a GB1 if you can find one in your range.
 
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