Help, Looking For a New Side Folder???

[umc]

First post here, HI. I've been bitten by the blade bug recently and am in the market for something new and I would like a little guidance on this one. I would like to pick up a new side folder but have some pretty specific criteria and am not sure if there is such a knife out there.

Here goes.

I was carrying a CRKT M16 type knife and like it for a cheap knife but don't like it's liner lock at all, I do like the "Carson flipper" on this as I can open it better than the thumb stud for some reason.

So a Carson flipper would be nice

Assisted opening may take care of the Carson deal, I never had an assisted opener so I wouldn't mind trying one out. I can't have an auto opener here so they're out.

I would like an "axis" type lock or a liner lock that has the button on the side of the knife to close it. I have a Gerber Hinderer and it has this and I find it super easy to close.

I think the S30V is good steel so I've been looking at knives with this, I would like one partially serrated as well.

Blade length in the 3.5" range, with a 8.5" over all open

Pocket clip

100 dollar range

Not sure if I'm missing anything but if so I'll add it in if/when I think of it. I'm not sure if there is such a thing out there but your help will be appreciated. I like the looks of the Benchmade Mini Rukus but am not sure on how it opens, if it has an assist or not. This knife will possibly be used for self defense but mainly for just everyday cutting of everything and anything.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sevorius]

check out a Kershaw Blur in s30v, they run about $80, they don't have a carson flipper but they do have kershaw's speedsafe assisted opening, and they have a 3-3/8" blade, 7-3/4" overall. a very comfortable knife to carry, not overly bulky and only weighs 4 oz. this knife is however a liner lock, albeit a high quality one in my experience.

edit: kershaw's s30v leek is a wicked little framelock with a thumb stud, a flipper, and assisted opening. it has a 3" blade and goes for about $75-80 as well.

 

[Deadhead Archer]

I have one blade that immediately came to mind, (cost, flipper w/AO, torsion-bar lock, within your size limits) but the steel is Sandvik 13c26 instead of S30V...the Kershaw Speed Bump. The Sandvik 13c26 is comparable to 440A but has a much finer grain structure to it that it can get wicked sharp; and is easy to sharpen. I got one in December and it's been a favorite EDC since.

If you could look past the torsion-bar lock, another great model would be the Kershaw Junkyard Dog II. It has a liner lock; but is definitely a better quality liner than the one I have on my CRKT M21. Same steel as the Speed Bump, but without the recurved edge that the Speed Bump has. The textured G10 handle gives you a lot of knife for under $65. This one does not have AO but has a flipper.

 

[Confederate]

I don't like linerlocks meself. There are a number of great knives that open very quickly and lock open decisively. The Kershaw Blur would be a better choice, though the shape of the blade is a bit odd; however, you should find it very sleek, quick, well built and discreet. Another decent choice is the Cold Steel Recon 1 or any of the Benchmades with axis locks. I have an M16, too, but trust it as long as the LAWKS is engaged. Do you have a reason for not trusting it? The AutoLAWKS will even turn it on automatically when you flip open the knife.

 

[umc]

I don't like linerlocks meself. There are a number of great knives that open very quickly and lock open decisively. The Kershaw Blur would be a better choice, though the shape of the blade is a bit odd; however, you should find it very sleek, quick, well built and discreet. Another decent choice is the Cold Steel Recon 1 or any of the Benchmades with axis locks. I have an M16, too, but trust it as long as the LAWKS is engaged. Do you have a reason for not trusting it? The AutoLAWKS will even turn it on automatically when you flip open the knife.

It's not that I don't trust it, I just don't like it's liner lock. If I'm using the knife hard the liner lock on it (m16) jams in there really hard and it's tough to "un-do" it.


I was looking at a Kershaw Blur in the s30v as an option and well but that is a liner lock right? I'm not against liner locks but as I mentioned I fell in love with the axis type.

 

[dtownknifekid]

You can't go wrong with the mini ruckus it is my favorite knife bar none as of yet, that might change when i get my G10 s30v leek. The miini-ruckus does not have an AO mechanism or a flipper but is extremely easy to open with the stud. If you dont want to use the stud and you aren't too worried about gravity knife classification you could just pull back on the axis bar and flick your wrist. Personally i dont do that because i'm too worried about it being classified as a gravity knife so i tighten the pivot a little still opens easily with the stud though. Hope this helps i'll post my reviw of the leek when i get it.

 

[umc]

If you dont want to use the stud and you aren't too worried about gravity knife classification you could just pull back on the axis bar and flick your wrist.

Good to know, that definitely will sway my opinion and I'm leaning more and more toward the mini rukus.