Hard Use Folder?

[Confederate]

Nobody has continued to ignore the OP's question and recommended a Sebenza? Gee.

For the price of a Sebenza, I'd get a handgun and a Cold Steel
Voyager XL. The XL has a 5-inch blade and will take plenty of hard use. A
Gunsite II with a 5-inch blade should give you a strong tip, and the partially
serrated blade will cut just about anything you need cutting.

 

[3Guardsmen]

3 guardsman are you serious?

Very!

You start off raggin somebody else reminding them that the OP asked for additional suggestions beyond his list.

No. I started off raggin' on someone who was foolish enough to think he could criticize the character of people here because he wasn't careful enough to really read the OP's post, which did in fact ask for other suggestions. Kinda like how I'll be ragging on you in the next paragraph for saying I said something I didn't! I then ragged on him for dismissing as a 'crap knife,' a knife with a lock that would outlast the knife he claimed was the superior choice.

The you make a comment about the axis lock being able to "outlast" a frame lock, nothing to do with lock strength or load handling but pure lifespan or durability. Then you go on to say a post or two later that you were trying to point out that the axis lock could handle the same load a framelock could? Before you respond may I suggest you go back and read over your own post.

"Outlast," meaning it would fail at a much higher load than a frame lock. If you don't believe me, talk to forumite STR, Benchmade, and Spyderco. I never said an Axis lock could handle the "same load" a frame lock could, I said it "could handle a bigger load" (my exact words) than a frame lock could! I take it that accuracy in quoting someone isn't a priority of yours.

So which is it man, is the axis lock more durable i.e. greater life span, last longer, handle being opened, engaged, locked, disengaged, closed than a frame lock or is the axis lock able to handle greater loads?

The Axis lock will handle greater loads!

For the record I think the AXIS lock is going to fail before the framelock as a direct result of the complexity and increased number of moving parts, increase both of those things and the statistical probability that one of the parts will eventually break and fail (for whatever reason) increases exponentially over a mechanism that essentially has one moving part.

I'm not a fan of having more moving parts in a knife either, but the Axis lock has been demonstrated to be stronger (can handle a greater load) than a frame lock, like it or not.

Regards,
3G

 

[batosai117]

I object!!!

You all have it wrong, the Caged Ball Lock from Spyderco will outlast all of your crap locks

On a serious note, for outdoor/rugged use, I'd also suggest a frame lock, liner lock, and a lockback. Spyderco uses a lockback on their H-1 line of knives which are intended for salt water use. With salt water comes lots of (not just salt) SAND!!! It gets everywhere, and with a flick of a wrist and a splash through water it's clean

Most frame and liner locked knives will have an open build design so that they are usually easier to clean by simply blowing a puff of air through them or by using a Q-tip/twig/shirt to clean them out.

 

[Native Justice]

The best of the best from my experience are:

Blade Tech Rijbac
Spyderco Manix
Spyderco Para-Military
Spyderco Military
Spyderco Endura
M2 BM 710 HS
M2 BM Ritter Grip

I've used these knives very hard and have never had one fail. The best of the best is the Blade Tech Rijbac, it's basically the most bomb proof production blade for the money I've come across.

 

[Ankerson]

My defintion of a hard use folder is something with a strong lock up, strong blade, usually large and will take whatever I throw at it (in general knife use)
I am a marine technician and carry a knife all the time. When I am looking for a knife I want it to be able to do all the things I might come across on a daily basis. I use my knives at work, camping, boating, hunting and just about anytime I need it. I will be using it for chopping small trees, batoning wood, stripping wires, cutting wire ties, scraping fiberglass, a screwdriver if I have to and whatever else I need it to do. I understand that there is a line between "hard use" and abuse, but if I need my knife to do something I want it to be able to do it. I have been using a Benchmade Griptilian on the job and it works ok, but I have broken the tip off twice now. Once cutting a wire tie against a piece of metal and the other cutting a rubber hose off a metal niple. I do not think of this as abuse, but normal use. I feel that having a stronger knife such as a strider or something this would not have happened.
Also the list that I made were just some of the folders I was looking at, to add a few more here they are.
1. Chris Reeve Umnumzaan
2. Hinderer XM-18 (If I can find one)

If you are going to doing all of that with your knife then a CS Large Espada would be the knife for you (That's what this knife was built for). IF you are tired of broken knives look into CS, if you like having the tips re-ground keep buying the other stuff. That's OK though if you want to buy another 5-10 knives before moving to CS.

Now before anyone comments read what the OP needs to use the knife for, he isn't just picking his fingernails or cutting tape with them.

 

[elclintor]

I have a ZT0302. It handles everything I put in its way.. and I am not nice to it..

 

[pilote]

for me it's the ZT200...i just can't envision that folder failing me...

 

[Stavrou0]

I have been wanting a Strider SNG for quite some time, even a ZT300's are pretty damn hardcore. I have read many posts about there durabilty.

My advise goes for the bang for the buck. I have a Spydie Para. This little guy is pretty tough. I put in a window for my daughter last week. I was able to notch holes in the nailing fin of a window with the knife. The nailing fin was made of hardened vinyl. After that, I scored drywall and shaved some of the siding and 2x4s to allow for better access of the window entry.

After all that, this little guy was still adequately sharp. Now, it wasnt hair poppin' sharp. It wasnt even cut paper super smooth ooo ahhh sharp. But the D2 on the Para did not chip and it would still cut. The handle is fullsize and has great blade lockup. I love the compression lock. You could also get 3 Para's for the price of 1 Strider. (Just a thought if you are tight on cash)

Good luck on your search.

 

[waveman]

Al Mar SERE 2000.

 

[knifenut848]

You could also get 3 Para's for the price of 1 Strider. (Just a thought if you are tight on cash)

Thanks for the info, I am willing to spend a large amount of money on a knife if I can justify the extra cost. If it is stronger, uses better materials, ect....
I honestly don't really like the way the Para Military looks, to me it looks like the handle is too large for the blade. And to reply to some other posts, I have had cold steel knives and broke every one of them doing exactly what I do with my Emerson CQC8 every day. The only reason I am wanting another knife is because my Emerson's lock has failed on me twice while using it, if you have ever had a knife's lock fail on you then you know how disappointing it really is.
The first time I thought maybe I had somehow disengadged the lock, but when it happened the second time and I cut myself. I contacted Emerson and got a buch of bs saying that I must have been abusing the knife to make it do that. They also told me I could send it in and pay to have it fixed, but I said screw you I am not giving you another dime. That is when I decided it was time for a better knife. I know for ultimate strength I need a fixed blade, but it is just not practical carrying a fixed blade on my side all day. I know there are alot of sebenza fans here on this forum, but I personaly do not like the looks of this knife. I do like the Umnumzaan and am considering it for my nest purchase. The SMF looks like it would do the job, but I can't justify the 500+ dollars for it. If I can get the same performance out of a ZT or a Umnumzaan, why pay more? The ZT knives look awesome and I'm sure they would be great, but if I can get the same kind of strength out of a Umnumzaan with out the extra 3-4 ounces of weight I think it's price is justified. Please let me know if you think I have it right. Thanks guys.

 

[J.Mattson]

I honestly don't really like the way the Para Military looks, to me it looks like the handle is too large for the blade.

For what its worth I think the Para is very un-photogenic. I thought it was butt ugly till I actually got one. However along those same lines as long as your willing to spend what it takes for quality you might want to consider taking a look at the new Spyderco Manix 2. Its about $80 and as strong as an ox. You could pick up an SNG or an Umnumzaan and the like used and grab a the Manix 2 also.

 

[Ankerson]

I have had cold steel knives and broke every one of them doing exactly what I do with my Emerson CQC8 every day.

Interesting because I have broken every other knife brand I have ever owned EXCEPT CS (Folding knives).

That's either the blades or the lock and I have owned a lot of folding knives over the years. (at least 50)

Don't even get me started on fixed blades... LOL

 

[Stavrou0]

My defintion of a hard use folder is something with a strong lock up, strong blade, usually large and will take whatever I throw at it (in general knife use)
I am a marine technician and carry a knife all the time. When I am looking for a knife I want it to be able to do all the things I might come across on a daily basis. I use my knives at work, camping, boating, hunting and just about anytime I need it. I will be using it for chopping small trees, batoning wood, stripping wires, cutting wire ties, scraping fiberglass, a screwdriver if I have to and whatever else I need it to do. I understand that there is a line between "hard use" and abuse, but if I need my knife to do something I want it to be able to do it. I have been using a Benchmade Griptilian on the job and it works ok, but I have broken the tip off twice now. Once cutting a wire tie against a piece of metal and the other cutting a rubber hose off a metal niple. I do not think of this as abuse, but normal use. I feel that having a stronger knife such as a strider or something this would not have happened.
Also the list that I made were just some of the folders I was looking at, to add a few more here they are.
1. Chris Reeve Umnumzaan
2. Hinderer XM-18 (If I can find one)

Knifenut,

I understand now, how and why a Paramili might not be the best knife for your intended work. One thing you need to do is figure out how most you use your knife. A ZT will excell more at hunting/skinning than say the Umnumzaan , due to its big belly. (I am splittin' hairs here, they are both great knives.) I would think the overall design of the Umnumzaan is better suited to what you are looking for in a knife. Go with that. You wont be disappointed.

 

[batosai117]

Ah, okay. I'd say from personal experience and having owned just about everything you mentioned, the SMF would be your best bet. I loved that knife when I had it, foolishly traded it off and nothing has been the same since.

For chopping, you just have to hold it in the "normal" handle position. If you need to do fine work, then choke up on the choil and use that. It is a beast of a folder and I've never owned anything tougher. You can find some used on the exchange for about $400.

I hope this helps, J.

 

[sno1983]

Don't overlook the Strider AR or GB. I have an AR as well as a ZT0300 and an Umnumzaan. If you are looking for something to twist/pry with, I'd advise against the Umnumzaan bc of the hollow ground blade and the fact that you can't re-tighten the pivot. The ZT is a great knife and will handle anything you throw at it, but it's a pain to resharpen bc of the recurve (atleast for me). The AR does have a very thick blade for a folder, so you give up some slicing ability, but I defy you to do any real damage that thing.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

I like the lockup on 0300, no blade play whatsoever, excellent F+F, great ergos and I don't say that lightly as handles, balance, and maneuverability are big deals with me. After an Al Mar SERE 2000, Extrema Ratio MPC and a Lone Wolf T3 all of which are great, this is the one I think I will be EDCing most for what I need a knife to do.

 

[Stainz]

Confederate,

Gads - you know a large Sebenza starts around $385, don't you? Please, place your standards for a handgun a little higher. If you are going to throw that CS in there, too - for the price - you're going to be stuck with a used Rossi! Barf!

And - a big thank you to you spoilers for reminding me of the frailty of the AXIS Lock... right AFTER I bought a BM 610 RUKUS as a 'bushcraft' pocket knife, of course.

My only suggestion re the best choice for a 'tactical' folder... get whichever you want... whichever one catches your eye. Then, get a CCL and a proper, ie, louder, CCW. And... a proper holster, so it can - and will - be carried 24/7.

Stainz

 

[hardheart]

Some multi from Victorinox, Wenger, SOG, Leatherman, Gerber or such. The ones with wire strippers, spare blades, screwdrivers, saws, scrapers, and a lot of other stuff.

 

[shaving sharp]

I have a ZT 0500.Super heavy knife and the pivot assembly is sealed to keep out dirt.

 

[Ankerson]

How about some photos of all these hard use knives that have been really used hard and SHOW IT instead if looking like they have lived in a drawer.

How can people recommend a knife for hard use and never used it that way is beyond me.....

I won't hold my breath on that one.

OMG!!!!! Here are photos of a knife that has been used for over 5 years and used hard..... Notice it has wear on the blade and handle...wear marks, yeah that's what they look like..... OMG!!!!!!!