Hello to Blade Forums! Also... I need your help...

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GreytGem

Joined
Sep 8, 2014
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I'll try to keep it brief...

I'm here to ask for advice on what to get my husband for his birthday. If this is the wrong forum to post this kind of thing please let me know. I've been taking notes as he talks about stuff for a while but when you really start looking into stuff it gets overwhelming for a newbie like me. I've been researching for hours and I have found one or two that I think will work but I'm not confident I'm knowledgeable enough to get him something great.

These are the things he is looking for in a new knife.

  • Folder
  • 3 to 3.5 inch blade
  • Handle of wood or bone
  • Premium steel
  • Reversible for lefty
  • Drop point

He mentions brands like Benchmade, Kershaw and Spyderco but I don't think I'm limited to those.

I'm willing to spend up to $200 or so but I can go a little more in the right circumstance. He wants it as an everyday carry but he wants something 'pretty' to be able to have at work and have it look nice. It won't be a workhorse type knife as he works in an office.

Any help or advice you can provide will be GREATLY appreciated and put to good use.

Thanks for any help in advance!!
 
Welcome! Sounds like your husband is a lucky man! I would take a look at Mcusta and Viper, as they both produce some very handsome, wood handled modern folders.

Another idea would be a Northwoods Knives Indian River Jack. It's a traditional design, no pocket clip or one hand opening, but it's an exceptional little knife with good steel and fantastic looks. Good hunting!
 
My suggestion would be the Spyderco Native or Mannix2 in S30V or S35VN. I have a Native in S35VN. They seem to be hard to find in this steel. The Native has a blade length of 3" and the Mannix just a little longer. The Native with the G10 handles is one of my favorites. I don't own a Mannix but I have handled them. The standard steel is VG-10, so the mentioned steels are a step up.

If you think he would like an assisted opener, I really like the ZT 0770CF which has a blade length of 3.25" (I believe) and premium Elmax steel. They run in the $140-180 area depending on where you buy.
 
22-rimfire said:
My suggestion would be the Spyderco Native or Mannix2 in S30V or S35VN. I have a Native in S35VN. They seem to be hard to find in this steel. The Native has a blade length of 3" and the Mannix just a little longer. The Native with the G10 handles is one of my favorites. I don't own a Mannix but I have handled them. The standard steel is VG-10, so the mentioned steels are a step up.

If you think he would like an assisted opener, I really like the ZT 0770CF which has a blade length of 3.25" (I believe) and premium Elmax steel. They run in the $140-180 area depending on where you buy.
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I agree with this.
 
Good recommendations above.. But for the office, 3" is plenty. I feel a Manix 2 is a bit large for that setting. I recommend a Spyderco Sage 3 with CPM S30V Steel and Carbon Fiber handle (Around $150). Totally sleek, classy, and perfect for the office. Make sure to get the Sage 3 or 4 (Sage 4 has Wood in the Handle as you requested) as they are the only ones that are truly Ambidextrous. My second choice would be the Spyderco Caly 3 with ZDP-189 Steel and Carbon Fiber scales.

Below is the Sage 3. LUCKY GUY!!

 
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GlockandBalls said:
Make sure to get the Sage 3 or 4 (Sage 4 has Wood in the Handle as you requested) as they are the only ones that are truly Ambidextrous.
Click to expand...


That was one of the few I found that I thought would work out! Glad to know I was on the right track...



I can say that the Viper knives are too distracting, I got lost down a rabbit hole looking at those beautiful things forever. None would work, but they're fun to look at! I'm sure the ZT and the Spyderco are great quality blades but the handles aren't offered in anything very exciting. Some of the others look great but I know he wants specific stuff and they don't seem to be fitting, I'm sure he'd be thrilled with it either way but I'll leave the technical purchases to him - I'll handle the fancy stuff.
 
Some of the other guys on here may be able to elaborate but I think I remember seeing a Spyderco Delica (amazing EDC) with a jigged bone handle and possibly Damascus steel?? Could've swore I saw that somewhere and it wasn't someone's custom. I could be wrong though and even if I'm right idk if that model is ambidextrous
 
PE_Blood_Orange_Jigged_Bone_Damascus_Delica.jpg


$240 at BBS. First time attempting to post pic from phone so may not work if not just follow url. Still don't know if it fits what you're looking for bit I have the most basic Delica and its amazing
 
Is this limited to modern folders? There are plenty of traditionals that can have a thumb ramp attached to make one hand opening work, and are lockbacks. Canal Street uses D2 and 14-4crmo. Queen sometimes uses D2 and ATS-34. It's very easy to find bone, wood, stag, and horn materials in traditionals.

Otherwise, you might be able to find a bone collector axis in walnut. It features D2 tool steel.
 
Thanks!

That is a beautiful knife, from what I can find all the other models ( the ones without the bone and damascus) look ambidextrous. I can't find any pictures of this one with a clip and it doesn't have holes for reversing. Unless maybe the clip is different entirely on this one from the others.
 
If the only problem with a given knife is the handle material, you can get new scales. I've done that with a few knives and it made a huge difference. It adds to the expense; but the result is something that stands apart from the crowd.
As an example: A Zero Tolerance 0350 (with M390 blade) - before and after
View attachment 471427View attachment 471428
 
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Benchmade Barrage (just a hair over 3.5" blade), or mini-barrage (just shy of a 3" blade), with a set of custom scales by Keyman should be around the $200 mark total. It'll be unique, and checks off all the boxes in your criteria.
 
Its not a one hand opener and doesn't have a pocket clip, but the LionSteel Opera (and Big Opera) is a beautiful knife with several types of wood available for the handles. D2 Steel. Opera blade length is 2.91 so a little under the size you want, and the Big Opera has a 3.54 blade length. Here's a picture of mine in Cocobolo (along with my Manix 2 sprint).





BTW, BladeHQ has the big opera in cocobolo for $89 so you could get him something else as well (like a manix 2 or para military 2) to go with it.
 
GreytGem said:
Thanks!

That is a beautiful knife, from what I can find all the other models ( the ones without the bone and damascus) look ambidextrous. I can't find any pictures of this one with a clip and it doesn't have holes for reversing. Unless maybe the clip is different entirely on this one from the others.
Click to expand...

This particular Delica does not have a clip at all.

From the Spyderco details page:
"The C11JBOP is clipless and comes in a padded zipper pouch. "
 
You should also check out A G Russell's web site. He has a couple of one handed locking folders in high-end steels that come with stag or bone, may have some wood scales also.
 
If you can find one, maybe he would like the new ZT0562CF. They are very very nice looking blades. They can be had for around $199-$240 from what I'm seeing. The ZT0770CF is also a good choice if he would be interested in an assisted knife.
 
dynamicmoves said:
Is this limited to modern folders? There are plenty of traditionals that can have a thumb ramp attached to make one hand opening work, and are lockbacks. Canal Street uses D2 and 14-4crmo. Queen sometimes uses D2 and ATS-34. It's very easy to find bone, wood, stag, and horn materials in traditionals.

Otherwise, you might be able to find a bone collector axis in walnut. It features D2 tool steel.
Click to expand...

This was my thoughts also. I suggest "kniveshipfree" I would look at this site and you can narrow the knives down to what you would think he would like. Camel bone is beautiful. Look at northwoods knives come in a variety of wood and bone antler handles with great steel.
 
I would like to second/third the suggestion of the Sage 4. You'd be hard-pressed to find another knife that so perfectly fits the criteria. The price is high enough that it's gift-y, but not so high that one wouldn't use it. The knife is handsome and functional, made to exacting tolerances, and backed by a great warranty from a great company. The steel is arguably the most versatile out of the steels you're likely to find in that price range, as it holds an edge well and resists corrosion decently while still having good toughness and reasonable maintenance requirements (it can be stropped and hand-sharpened fairly easily, by comparison to some powder metallurgy steels like M390 or CTS-XHP).

It's also non-threatening, light, and the pocket clip is reminiscent of a pen's clip. Unassuming in and out of the hand.

dynamicmoves said:
Otherwise, you might be able to find a bone collector axis in walnut. It features D2 tool steel.
Click to expand...

Oh, and these. Very handsome knives indeed. I don't recall if they have reversible pocket clips though. I almost plugged my own sale ad before I realized that the knife I'm selling that fits the other criteria is not lefty-oriented.
 
hhmoore said:
If the only problem with a given knife is the handle material, you can get new scales. I've done that with a few knives and it made a huge difference. It adds to the expense; but the result is something that stands apart from the crowd.
As an example: A Zero Tolerance 0350 (with M390 blade) - before and after
View attachment 471427View attachment 471428
Click to expand...


That's a great idea, except I've only got a month to get it figured out. Maybe I can get him one of the others and point him in the direction of someplace that can do the custom scales... that's an idea.

I've learned more about knives in the last few days then I'll ever need but my ignorance led me to believe that a nice new pocket knife would be an easy purchase...
 
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