Help me decide if this should be my first folder...

udtjim said:
I am not new to knives and have used most of them. For 300 bucks I would buy five very good folders. Probably from Kershaw. IMO nobody else makes as wide of selection or more knife for the money. Sharp, Rugged and priced right. When the word folder comes up, The kershaw is the first to come to mind. I also have some excellent Buck folders.
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Thanks. I would look these up as well. I am still open to suggestions.

Best wishes,

Edalb
 
Maybe another option: Get the knife while you have the money, but keep it as a safe queen, do not use it.

Then get a "cheaper" knife like a spyderco or a Benchmade and learn what you have to learn with them.

Tne if you don't like the Mcusta anymore, get a gold membership here and sell it.

Another point is that you will probably change with time. I don't want the same knives than when I first came here. I discovered many knives I didn't even know existed.

As for sharpening. I suggest you practice with cheap flea market knives. Once you're good get on the blades you like. I'm glad I made this.
 
Liner locks are only as good as the company making them. They are easier to make, especially for a company putting a cheap knife out to sale quickly. For the company that puts out a higher end knife a bit more time should go into making the liner lock correctly, and this means getting the geometry of the lock correct. From what I've read Mcusta seems to have done this with their locks.
 
cybrok said:
Maybe another option: Get the knife while you have the money, but keep it as a safe queen, do not use it.

I suggest you practice with cheap flea market knives. Once you're good get on the blades you like. I'm glad I made this.
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Yeah, that sounds more like what I should do... it would be a pity to ruin a brand new knife because of total ignorance. Could I practice with kitchen knives? Perhaps, also, my grandfather's old OKAPI? Or I would buy something cheap @ eBay and do my "residence";)

Best wishes,

Edalb
 
cutter17 said:
making the liner lock correctly, and this means getting the geometry of the lock correct. From what I've read Mcusta seems to have done this with their locks.
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Thanks cutter17, that gives me a lot of hope!

Best wishes,
Edalb
 
Personally, I would rather get a small sebenza. It is extremely pocketable and durable. Not to mention it is the most easy to clean and take apart/put back together knife possibly ever made. I've never heard anything about this mcusta you are speaking of, however the cult following behind sebenzas is huge and they really do hold up to the reputation in my opinion.

By the way, I had once owned a mcusta and I currently own a small sebenza.
 
The most I ever spent on a knife was $54.00. It was a Kershaw. It is the finest knife I own, and one of the best folders I've ever handled. It shaves, opens and closes smooth and fast, and draws admiring stares every time I take it out. (Its a Groove). People on this forum have heard me sing the praises of this knife before, but thats because it is THAT nice.
 
I'm one of those who would say go with a cheaper knife, and then another until you know what you like and don't like. Blade shape, grind, materials all make big differences to those who use knives a lot. Since you won't be using this one much, though, then buy the knife that makes you happy for whatever the reason. The way a knife looks is as important as how it preforms to many of us.
 
Everything I have heard about MCUSTA has been positive. The one I fondled had outstanding fit and finish and it was sharper than heck. I do agree that if you are new to sharpening a knife that you get either a Spyderco Sharpmaker or an Edge Pro and practice on an inexpensive (read easily replaceable) knife. It would be a great way to get your dull kitchen knives in shape :D
 
It is very easy for someone to ruin a nice point, like the one on the MCUSTA blade, if you don't know when to be very careful when sharpening a knife.

The fancy versions of the Chris Reeve Sebenza not only look good but are fine "users". A damascus Sebenza will cost about twice as much as you are thinking of spending. If you screw up something on the Sebenza, CR can fix it for a reasonable price. You can even get more blades fitted for your Sebenza and change them as you wish.
 
You seem to get more for your money up to about the $100-150 mark. Beyond that, you are paying for frills. If that is your thing, that is cool but since you are asking, here are a few I would suggest.

1. Benchmade 960 red. I had one and wish I kept it. Axis lock is the best lock IMHO. It looks nice with the CF inlay and the red anodized aluminum handle. It is rather small as well.

2. Spyderco Calypso 3. Not as slick or nice as the BM 960 but still a classy little knife.

3. William Henry T-12 or any WH knife really.
 
My vote is close to Cybrok's (maybe a Canadian thing). Get the knife you want- and use it for light duty tasks (letter opening, string cutting...). Also get a KaBar Dozier folder for $20. Any of the models will do- find the one you dislike the least- mine is the humpback skinner. Use this for the harder tasks you have- cutting cardboard, food... Use them for a couple of weeks like this and it will allow you to see the differences between the two. Then set up a cutting test using the same materials- cut free hanging/ held paper, a bit of rope and then a bit of cardboard; maybe make a meal- veggies and some meat. This will tell you better what you need for your day to day tasks.

This way you get what you want from the get go. I did this with the Buck Nighthawk when I first started buying for my collection. I still like it but know it is not for all situations. The first knife you want is always special. There will be things that you love about it and things that you dislike about it. But with the cheap folder you can determine WHY you like what you do- and that will further your knife skills. If you find that you do not like the cheapy then you are only out $20- no big deal. If you really like the cheapy and find that your "lovely" is not what you need then you have learned more about yourself and what you expect in a knife. Sure you are out $300 but the knife will always be there for dressup occasions, days when you just want to look a bit better knife-wise. And you will always be able to look back at this as a learning experience.

Then get a Sharpmaker and a diamond bench sharpener- for your next round of learning.

Any way you go I do not think you can loose with what you are planning.
Keep us in touch with lots of pictures
 
kgriggs8 said:
You seem to get more for your money up to about the $100-150 mark. Beyond that, you are paying for frills. If that is your thing, that is cool but since you are asking, here are a few I would suggest.

1. Benchmade 960 red. I had one and wish I kept it. Axis lock is the best lock IMHO. It looks nice with the CF inlay and the red anodized aluminum handle. It is rather small as well.

2. Spyderco Calypso 3. Not as slick or nice as the BM 960 but still a classy little knife.

3. William Henry T-12 or any WH knife really.
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Thanks kgriggs8. I will look these up. I have seen the William Henry... but they are not at all inexpensive! Not that I don't like them though;).

Best wishes,

Edalb
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
Any way you go I do not think you can loose with what you are planning.
Keep us in touch with lots of pictures
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Thanks for the advice. Nothing is finalized yet. I am still researching this. I am leaning towards the mcusta, but I do like the William Henrys and the Chris Reeves as well. I will let you know what I decide in the end...

Best wishes,
Edalb
 
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