HD daily carry USA made, folder???

P

Plainsman

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Apr 5, 1999
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Hi guys,

I'm on the search for a good, heavy duty, daily carry folder that can be a general purpose knife for any task I may run into and find its the only knife on me at the moment. It would serve as a general cutter, possible woods carver, think fuzz sticks or trap triggers, deer dresser, self defense, etc. Since I spend good money on fixed blades that I carry less than daily, I decided I should upgrade my EDC folder beyond my $30 SAK! Besides wanting USA made, I'd like to keep the budget around $150 or less.

What would you recommend?

Thanks for any/all ideas!
 
I'd say, based solely on those parameters, that in the traditional world a Buck 110 would be your best bet. Possibly a Buck 112, if you want something a little smaller. If you're looking to fill your budget and get something a little nicer look at the liner lock GEC 23 as an upgraded 110 or liner lock 73 as an upgraded 112. The Queen Mountain Man is 110 sized and has a liner lock and D2 steel. The Bucks are going to be 420HC and the GECs are mostly going to be 1095, they do make their knives in 440C but they're much less common. Buck also has a custom shop that would allow you to choose different steels and still be under your budget.

Any of these knives should perform all of the duties you listed.
 
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I like the Buck 112. You can get the older ones pretty reasonable and in my opinion, the old ones with 440C are the way to go.
 
Among traditionals, you may have a tension between durabilty when doing hard cutting in wood and safety for stabbing cuts. Most lockbacks I've owned develop vertical play when used for hard wood cutting. They are fine for hunting.

I like Buck lockbacks but find the 110 and 112 too bulky and heavy for pocket carry. Much prefer the Buck 500. However, II think modern Bucks are not so good for feather sticking due to the thin hollow grind. Old 2 dot 110s had a different grind and did better with wood.

For hard work and giving up on self defense, I would look at large sodbusters or the French made Opinel #9
 
Cory Hess said:
I'd say, based solely on those parameters, that in the traditional world a Buck 110 would be your best bet. Possibly a Buck 112, if you want something a little smaller. If you're looking to fill your budget and get something a little nicer look at the liner lock GEC 23 as an upgraded 110 or liner lock 73 as an upgraded 112. The Queen Mountain Man is 110 sized and has a liner lock and D2 steel. The Bucks are going to be 420HC and the GECs are mostly going to be 1095, they do make their knives in 440C but they're much less common. Buck also has a custom shop that would allow you to choose different steels and still be under your budget.

Any of these knives should perform all of the duties you listed.
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I beg your pardon. The Queen Mountain man is a lockback. They also make a slipjoint model. I've never seen a liner lock Queen Mountain Man.

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knarfeng said:
I beg your pardon. The Queen Mountain man is a lockback. They also make a slipjoint model. I've never seen a liner lock Queen Mountain Man.
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I stand corrected. I've never owned one and didn't bother double checking myself. I know that the 23 is based on the Mountain Man, which in turn is based on the Remington 1306 (which upon further investigating is also a lockback) and assumed, based on that that knowledge, they'd have the same locking mechanism.

Either way, they'd all make fine knives for what the OP is describing. I wouldn't use any of them for self defense, and I'd be hesitant to call any traditional folder hard use, but they come as close as anything I can think of. Another interesting option would be the GEC 23 with the bull lock.
 
Buck 110 is unquestionably an important knife, but I don't care for them myself, too big, usually too much brass, very heavy in any pocket so you really need a sheath. Not for me thank you. Instead, consider GEC's 73 or the even bigger 23 models. You get a first-rate choice of handle options and some of them come with a very sturdy liner-lock in addition to the stout slipjoint backspring. A work-knife with elegance and great ageing potential gives the owner a lot of pride&satisfaction. Just take a loook at the numerous photos of these knives that abound on the forum.

Thanks, Will
 
willgoy said:
Buck 110 is unquestionably an important knife, but I don't care for them myself, too big, usually too much brass, very heavy in any pocket so you really need a sheath. Not for me thank you. Instead, consider GEC's 73 or the even bigger 23 models. You get a first-rate choice of handle options and some of them come with a very sturdy liner-lock in addition to the stout slipjoint backspring. A work-knife with elegance and great ageing potential gives the owner a lot of pride&satisfaction. Just take a loook at the numerous photos of these knives that abound on the forum.

Thanks, Will
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Buck 110 and the 112 for that matter isn't meant to be carried in pocket. I never heard of anyone carrying a 110 in their pocket.
 
I lost my old Buck 110 on a elk hunt a couple years back. I think I left it on the front bumper of my jeep and drove off . I often wonder who found it. They have no idea the story that goes along with that old knife.:(
 
Plainsman said:
Hi guys,

I'm on the search for a good, heavy duty, daily carry folder that can be a general purpose knife for any task I may run into and find its the only knife on me at the moment. It would serve as a general cutter, possible woods carver, think fuzz sticks or trap triggers, deer dresser, self defense, etc. Since I spend good money on fixed blades that I carry less than daily, I decided I should upgrade my EDC folder beyond my $30 SAK! Besides wanting USA made, I'd like to keep the budget around $150 or less.
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The thing that keeps not getting discussed and that I think is important here is blade grind.

IME, flat or convex is best for wood and hollow grind is best for game cleaning.

This said, I'd rather process meat with a flat ground blade than process wood with a hollow grind blade. That is, IME, a flat (or convex) blade is much more versatile and much more able to span the uses the OP is asking for.
 
GEC #42 Missouri Trader? Available in a huge assortment of handle materials, and either carbon or stainless.

20141118_124810_zpsh7u4tmvq.jpg
 
Plainsman said:
I have and carry one, Becker Necker! :)
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Do you have access to any hollow ground knives?

Suggest you do some side by each testing of your flat ground Becker Necker and whatever hollow ground knife you have by doing things like making feather/fuzz sticks.

This will help you decide for yourself if you have a strong preference in terms of blade grinds for the kind of tasks you want to do. If you find you have a strong preference one way or the other, then this will guide you. If you end up not having a strong preference, that also opens up choices.

I have a strong preference for flat or convex blades for wood but YMMV. Your hand alone determines this.
 
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