Help me Bladeforums, you're my only hope! (to find the perfect edc)

burf151 said:
Hello all,

I haven't been paying attention to the knife game for quite awhile. We just got autos legalized here, so I got sucked back in. I'm trying to find a pair of EDC knives that meet my desires. There is so much new stuff that my eyes are going crossed. I'm trying to replace my top EDC pair of all time. My Al Mar SERE 2000 and Mini SERE 2000. I foolishly let them go for newer and "better" 10 years ago or so, but nothing has gotten the pocket time those two did. The new Chinese SERE 2020's are ok beaters but they are meh and they are assisted. Help me fill my top tier manual folders slot! Here are my impossible criteria:

There must be a very similar large and small models with the large being around 3.5" and the small being around 3". Multiple sizes is my knife fetish lol.
Not assisted.
No front flipper only but front flipper is fine if it has studs or a hole or something to supplement.
One hand open and close without crazy gyrations.
G10 preferred, a frame lock with G10 show side would be very appealing but liner lock is fine. Maybe micarta would be ok too.
Beefy with some heft, but not crazy Medford heft. 5 oz for the big one is a nice spot.
Deep carry clip. The SERE2K was stout, but carried super well.
Under $300 for each would be nice, but the budget could be expanded for the right knives.

The hard part is the aesthetic. Simple and clean lines! Like:
S2K,
Terrain Invictus,
Hinderer XM-18,
Fallkniven PXL,
Emerson A-100,
Bradley Alias (yes I'm old),
Benchmade Stryker, Ares,
Bad Monkey/Spider Monkey,
Terzuola designs,
Laconico designs,
Harsey designs.
Petrified Fish Beluga
The old "regular" Sebenzas


That should give an idea of what I like. I should just buy a pair of XM-18's but dang they are hard to find and expensive! Help me out!!!
Click to expand...
Hard to beat a Spyderco, either an Endela, Native or Endura if you want a longer blade
 
Just buy hinderer xm-18s If you like the model. Arguably the best framelock ti flippers under $450.
 
If you like Hinderer knives, buy Hinderer styles from other makers.

Your large could be a full Ti ZT0562 for right around $300. It’ll scratch the XM itch.
View attachment 2035836

For the small, check out the Viper Storm, a Hinderer design with elements of the Full Track/Half Track/Eklipse. These go for the low $200s
View attachment 2035841

Both are currently available at multiple outlets and the ZT and Viper are nice knives.

Good luck.
 
get the new spyderco leaf jumper, a near perfect edc
spyderco-c262pbk-leafjumper-folding-knife-3-09-vg10-satin-leaf-shaped-usa-north-river-outdoors-2_695x378.jpg
 
burf151 said:
Native Chief, Native 5, and Lil Native have been on my radar for awhile. Does the Native without liners feel too light? Or does it feel substantial? Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I had a couple of the original Paramilitary, including a green G10 with D2 when such things were state of the art. Great knives, but I just never loved the look. Doesn't mean they are out of the running though, especially with a comp lock Military coming. 3 different sizes is 50% better than 2 different sizes. Manix 2 and XL are on the radar as well, but backlock isn't ideal. I had an original Manix and a Manix 83MM. In the olden days lol.
Click to expand...
The Native 5 LW, as pictured above, is JUST the perfect balance of not too light, as someone who dislikes things like the Bugout as too light. The FRN is quite servicable with no flex. The Native Chief is also linerless, just solid G10. I was gonna mention the Manix and the XL, but have never owned one.
CPM-D2? Do you mean the original Paramilitary, not the 2? That is AWESOME!
Also, just for the sake of mentioning... the Michael Janich Wharncliffe and Reverse-S styles come in many sizes
20221216_143352.jpg

20221221_133953.jpg
 
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burf151 said:
Hello all,

I haven't been paying attention to the knife game for quite awhile. We just got autos legalized here, so I got sucked back in. I'm trying to find a pair of EDC knives that meet my desires. There is so much new stuff that my eyes are going crossed. I'm trying to replace my top EDC pair of all time. My Al Mar SERE 2000 and Mini SERE 2000. I foolishly let them go for newer and "better" 10 years ago or so, but nothing has gotten the pocket time those two did. The new Chinese SERE 2020's are ok beaters but they are meh and they are assisted. Help me fill my top tier manual folders slot! Here are my impossible criteria:

There must be a very similar large and small models with the large being around 3.5" and the small being around 3". Multiple sizes is my knife fetish lol.
Not assisted.
No front flipper only but front flipper is fine if it has studs or a hole or something to supplement.
One hand open and close without crazy gyrations.
G10 preferred, a frame lock with G10 show side would be very appealing but liner lock is fine. Maybe micarta would be ok too.
Beefy with some heft, but not crazy Medford heft. 5 oz for the big one is a nice spot.
Deep carry clip. The SERE2K was stout, but carried super well.
Under $300 for each would be nice, but the budget could be expanded for the right knives.

The hard part is the aesthetic. Simple and clean lines! Like:
S2K,
Terrain Invictus,
Hinderer XM-18,
Fallkniven PXL,
Emerson A-100,
Bradley Alias (yes I'm old),
Benchmade Stryker, Ares,
Bad Monkey/Spider Monkey,
Terzuola designs,
Laconico designs,
Harsey designs.
Petrified Fish Beluga
The old "regular" Sebenzas


That should give an idea of what I like. I should just buy a pair of XM-18's but dang they are hard to find and expensive! Help me out!!!
Click to expand...

I had a Mini Beluga. It was a decent knife with a cool handle material, good action, and a very nice blade but it had two issues. First, some of the scale edges were a little rough. Not everyone will even notice this but it's a quick fix with a little sand paper or an emery board. Second, the clip attaches through a slot in the scale. That's cool but being ambidextrous, one of the slots is left empty and there is a screw running through it. It is ridiculously easy to over-tighten that screw if you ever use it. I made my own fill-plate for the slot but then ended up giving the knife away. 🤷‍♂️

Beyond that, you might want to check out the Towser K. The big blade has some heft but is still thin enough to be a good slicer. It thwacks out nicely from the thumb studs and the action runs on dual-row bearings. The base models in 154CM are the only knives I know under $100 that run on multi-row bearings. (Mine is pictured below.) There are also premium versions in Elmax and an exclusive in 3V. To make your pair, they just released a smaller version called the Towser S. While the K is available with other scales, matching the K and S means going with either this blue textured Richlite or a combination of gray Micarta and black coated blades.

2Lt5Z0H.jpg
 
gazz98 said:
Another vote for the Doug Ritter Hogue. Mini RSK or full size depending on your size preference. Room in budget for a deep carry pocket clip too.
Click to expand...
Given the desire for pairing a full size and a mini, the Hogue Ritter is the suggestion I would make...followed quickly with pairing TRMs Atom with their Neutron 2 (though, for the latter pairing he'd have to deal with that delayed gratification issue).
All 4 of the above mentioned come with deep carry clips though replacements are available.
 
I would say ZT 0562cf. Love mine and you can replace the scale to whatever you want. I went with green Micarta. Not sure what the small would be for it. If I had the budget myself I would just go Hinderer for both. I just can't go $1k for my EDC personally.

So if you need both a large and small I suggest Spyderco Shaman for large and a Native for small. Lynch makes deep carry clips for them.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll take suggestions as long as you'll make them. It is fun seeing what is out there now. It's sad what isn't around anymore! I regret some that I let go of now!!!

Benchmade has discontinued most of the stuff I really liked, Al Mar is making cheap stuff and Spyderco cyles through models pretty darn quick.

Some stuff that I let go that was interesting: A couple Socom Elites that were made in Bradford PA if I remember right, Bradley Alias i and ii with G10 fronts, Lots of CRK 1 piece range and a large and small regular Sebenza, Japanese made Sog fixed blades, all manner of Elishewitz designed BMs and and a bunch of the first GEC knives made, a Fusion Battle Mistress when they first came out.

If there was a perfect knife, this place wouldn't be very interesting. I just want that feeling back from when I first unboxed my S2K and Mini S2K and CRK Project 1.
 
Closest thing to perfect I have come across for me is the Hogue Ritter. I like the full size. It feels a little bigger in hand than BM Griptilian and more sturdy.
 
I'd also toss Demko into the discussion, the smaller 20.5 models are readily available and with G10 or carbon fiber handles you can get a pretty good value. Then just sign up for the drops on the larger 20 or 20s models (DLT just had one, G10 models were readily available for at least a few minutes). The larger size will break the budget a bit.
 
BM Barrage and Mini Barrage. Money left over for G10 scales. Assisted-open is the way.
 
I've used a Large Sebenza since 2011. The only time I switch is for a BM Fact when traveling with checked bags and a Guardian Tactical 40 when on the motorcycle because armored gloves. Honestly, I wish I never bought the Sebenza and then I'd have a lot more knives. I hear the new ones have better steel than Sv35 or whatever mine came with.
 
Reswob said:
BM Barrage and Mini Barrage. Money left over for G10 scales. Assisted-open is the way.
Click to expand...
Could look for the 581/586 combo - get g10 and upgrade to M390 steel.

Plainsman said:
It doesnt exist…thats why I EDC three at a time!
Click to expand...
I usually do as well (except at work) - one modern folder, one traditional, one fixed blade. Oddly enough, I seem to use the modern folders the least; but I enjoy having them.
 
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