Help me decide on a knife? Or sway my interest?

W

W4NDERX

Joined
Jan 30, 2024
Messages
8
I'm not much of a knife person (usually just fine with a Leatherman), but I've decided to get something different and thought I would ask your opinion. Would prefer to buy from an Oregon knife company (Leatherman, Benchmade, Kershaw, CRKT, Gerber, etc.)

Currently looking at these items:

- Kershaw Lucha. I enjoy bali and need a new live blade, this looks like the obvious pick for a beginner.

- Kershaw Livewire. I'm really happy for Kershaw releasing this hit, I'm thinking about either the dagger or tanto profile.

- Benchmade Mini Adamas / Auto. This looks like a great pocket beast, looking at possibly the auto, possibly the new carbon auto.

Also, any tips on finding more rare / limited knives? The picks on bladehq and knifecenter seem fine but I feel like there are places to get different choices- maybe a pawn shop or something?

Thanks!
 
welcome to blade forums!

Heard great things about the mini adamas, though some people currently have philosophical issues with Benchmade.

Good luck on your quest.
 
If you go to pawn shops, make sure you know what you're looking at. There's a lot of "Benchmade" knives out there, and they're tough to tell from the real thing.

I hear the American-made Gerber's are still pretty good.

No recent experience with CRKT. Used to love 'em, until I picked up one too many that had lackluster heat treat. Even if they fixed that problem, the MSRP seems... optimistic.

If you decide that Benchmade is the way to go, but you have the philosophical issues that 'Sorenson mentioned, look around the Bladeforums For Sale threads. As a "free to play" member, you can buy from others here, just no selling or asking about value.
 
Of the three listed I'd want the mini-Adamas.

I've never flipped a Lucha but I do love balis and by all reports they're pretty solid.
 
Sibyrnes said:
Unlike the OP, who is new here, you know damn well that “philsophical issues” is just a sneaky assed way of bringing politics into the discussion and you know that is forbidden here.
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Nope, its a way of letting him know what sort of people he is dealing with at Benchmade. If he wants details the search function works....
 
Sibyrnes said:
Unlike the OP, who is new here, you know damn well that “philsophical issues” is just a sneaky assed way of bringing politics into the discussion and you know that is forbidden here.
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Saying a crap knife is crap in a nice way is not political.
Using big words like philosophical and misspelling them is telling.
Opinions are like a$$holes.
Everybody has one.
 
EngrSorenson said:
welcome to blade forums!

Heard great things about the mini adamas, though some people currently have philosophical issues with Benchmade.

Good luck on your quest.
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Philosophical issues? like what?

Shorttime said:
If you go to pawn shops, make sure you know what you're looking at. There's a lot of "Benchmade" knives out there, and they're tough to tell from the real thing.

I hear the American-made Gerber's are still pretty good.

No recent experience with CRKT. Used to love 'em, until I picked up one too many that had lackluster heat treat. Even if they fixed that problem, the MSRP seems... optimistic.

If you decide that Benchmade is the way to go, but you have the philosophical issues that 'Sorenson mentioned, look around the Bladeforums For Sale threads. As a "free to play" member, you can buy from others here, just no selling or asking about value.
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Yeah I'm not usually keen on pawn shops but I can't think of another place to buy a used knife in person. Seeing some things on facebook marketplace. Gerber and CRKT are OK but yeah generally more budget friendly options. Nothing from them I'm particular interested in at the moment.

RE Sale threads: how are sales made here? Just trust and Venmo?

Spillproof said:
Of the three listed I'd want the mini-Adamas.

I've never flipped a Lucha but I do love balis and by all reports they're pretty solid.
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The Adamas does look great, but since it's expensive and doesn't have the fun features like the others (bali, otf) it's sort of at the end of my interest. What other live blade balis do you suggest? Looking for something in the ~100+ range.

Sibyrnes said:
If you like Benchmades, get one. You can’t go wrong. Those with “philisophical“ issues are misguided. They are members that should know that political discussion is (thankfully) not allowed here.
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I love the idea of Benchmade, never been fortunete enough to have one. Not sure about the "philosophical" issues you speak of.

Velitrius said:
Get the Mini Adamas auto in carbon fiber and you'll be the coolest kid on your block...

If you aren't, come over to my house... you'll be the coolest kid on my block for sure.

And I have better beer in my fridge.
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That's what I'm saying! It seems like a spectacular pick, I'm just not keen on that price. Do you think the auto is needed? Could get the manual for like $100 cheaper
 
Those are very interesting choices with a wide array of prices as well, personally I'd go Livewire you can get it in Magnacut and it's a pretty affordable OTF with a stellar company.

You might look at CRKT's new offerings as well if you want to buy from an Oregonian company and can't settle on anything, they have some new knives like the Redemption which reviews seem to be very positive.

You want hard to find rare stuff "the bay or azck" are usually the only way to get that kind of stuff if it sells out like hotcakes.
 
I have owned lots of Benchmades over the course of a few decades and currently have three. You do not need an auto. The axis lock allows you to flick the knife open just about as quick as an auto. The thumbstuds do too.

But if you want an auto there's nobody stopping you ;-)
 
The Lucha I handled was nice but quite heavy.

The Livewire is really nice, probably going to get one in green. I like that it doesn't have the lanyard hole dingus of the Microtech or the integrated one of my otherwise beloved Heretic Manticore E.
 
Does your next knife have to come from Oregon?

You might be missing out on some mighty good knives that are high value for the money spent.
 
RoyalHolic said:
Those are very interesting choices with a wide array of prices as well, personally I'd go Livewire you can get it in Magnacut and it's a pretty affordable OTF with a stellar company.

You might look at CRKT's new offerings as well if you want to buy from an Oregonian company and can't settle on anything, they have some new knives like the Redemption which reviews seem to be very positive.

You want hard to find rare stuff "the bay or azck" are usually the only way to get that kind of stuff if it sells out like hotcakes.
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In reality, I would want all these knives, just have to pick one. The Livewire does seem like a great bang for the buck, but I'm not sure it's needed in Magnacut. Do people really abuse their OTFs to the point of needing it?

AZCK... now we're talking. Just checked them out and yeah, there's some awesome stuff there. I will consider shopping there.

Spillproof said:
I have owned lots of Benchmades over the course of a few decades and currently have three. You do not need an auto. The axis lock allows you to flick the knife open just about as quick as an auto. The thumbstuds do too.

But if you want an auto there's nobody stopping you ;-)
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That's kind of what I'm thinking. The OTF autos are valuable and important, but I'm not sure how important it is for something like the mini adamas. If I go that route, I would likely just get the manual folder.

K.O.D. said:
The Lucha I handled was nice but quite heavy.

The Livewire is really nice, probably going to get one in green. I like that it doesn't have the lanyard hole dingus of the Microtech or the integrated one of my otherwise beloved Heretic Manticore E.
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I don't have a ton of flipping experience, but I keep hearing the Lucha is a good staple/beginner. Also the after market scales, etc. All I have is a Squid trainer which I actually want to offload, maybe on this website.

whp said:
Does your next knife have to come from Oregon?

You might be missing out on some mighty good knives that are high value for the money spent.
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I'm a generational Oregonian and would prefer to support the companies here for several reasons.
 
W4NDERX said:
Philosophical issues? like what?
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Eh, some stunt that got some 2A folks excited.

Benchmade is pretty expensive for what it is these days, which is my only philosophical issue with them. I have a Pardue mini grip that I love from the days before the great knife inflation.
 
K.O.D. said:
The Lucha I handled was nice but quite heavy.

The Livewire is really nice, probably going to get one in green. I like that it doesn't have the lanyard hole dingus of the Microtech or the integrated one of my otherwise beloved Heretic Manticore E.
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Speaking about the weight.... currently looking at a new lucha in carbon/titanium for $150. This is looking like a great deal, possibly will buy this one.

Also seeing a basic Livewire for $150. Hhmmmmm
EngrSorenson said:
Eh, some stunt that got some 2A folks excited.

Benchmade is pretty expensive for what it is these days, which is my only philosophical issue with them. I have a Pardue mini grip that I love from the days before the great knife inflation.
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Well now I'm interested. (edit: Oooooh, you mean how they help police destroy guns. Yeah I'm not a fan of that. Not sure if it will sway my interest though.)

They are expensive these days, competition is high. Not sure what the great knife inflation is...
 
W4NDERX said:
In reality, I would want all these knives, just have to pick one. The Livewire does seem like a great bang for the buck, but I'm not sure it's needed in Magnacut. Do people really abuse their OTFs to the point of needing it?
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Short answer is usually no but it's the current hype metal which is here to stay for the foreseeable future and at that price is a pretty good deal.
 
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