Help me decide!

K

KimberComp

Joined
May 22, 2005
Messages
272
Lots of opinion hear and would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the a quality folder for carry. I have carried various Spyderco knives, Benchmade knives, and Microtech. To this date I would say the Microtech knife has been the best made folder I've carried. I have a nervous habit of opening and closing my knife, sometimes with a thumb stud only other times with the stud and flick. I've been giving the Strider SNG drop point a hard look. Based on the following though, I would appreicate hearing your recommendations:

1.) $400 limit
2.) Rugged (I've dropped my knives quite a few different times) Also, one that will not work loose from opening and closing it. This is not going to be a show piece.
3.) Excellent edge holding. Don't mind sharpening my knives. I have some that I don't think are used particularly hard that loose their edge rather quickly
4.) Primary use will a utility knife. Will be used for a variety of tasks (pruning fruit trees, opening boxes, etc..,)
5.) Not a tanto
6.)Frame lock preferred but if its a liner lock definitely one of heavy duty nature.
7.)Just for the sake of work and police I would prefer a 3.5" to 3.75" blade. Not illegal lengths here but get close to that 4" limit.
 
I would go with a Classic Sebenza.

The Integral Lock is as near to a fixed blade for strength you will get. As it is gripped, the lock is actually compressed and tightened.

The S30V steel is edged for a superb cut and razor sharp, too. The Sebenza will also hold the edge well, with it's factory grind.

Also, there is no need to worry about how tight/slack your pivot screw is in effect to the blade swing tension - the sebenza fulcrums on a solid pivot bearing, which the screw then goes through. This means you tighten all the screws in fully, the blade tension is controlled by the bearing - not you.

For your size and price, I'd go with a Large Plain model.

Mark :)
 
Maybe a Sebenza or a custom? $400 would buy you a lot of knife. Cant go wrong with the Strider either. Both would be plenty durable. Couldnt be tougher if it were a metal brick.
 
Doing that kind of yard work and stuff where the blade can get stuck I think I'd pick a lock back or an Axis lock over both the frame and liner lock. For $400? Wow, you should certainly be able to buy you a good production EDC for half that but you could even find a good custom or mid tech knife for that money also.

For what it is worth, and I'm not trying to say this knife is the one you should buy but, just that in my yard my favorite knife is the x-large Vaquero by Cold Steel, for no other reason than the great recurved blade. It just cuts great on that kind of medium that you are wanting it for.

But if you really think about it a good Emerson Mini CQC-7B in a recurve or one of his bigger ones could also do some serious cutting too because of the blade shape.
 
If I were willing to spend $400.00 I'd get in touch with a good custom maker, tell him what I want, and let him go at it. That said, A BenchMade 710HS would do fine. And if you really want it shorter. And you don't care how ugly it is. Just take a grinder to the tip, and you've got a shorter knife.
 
Well, I actually spoiled myself about I guess 10 + years now by purchasing a 440V knife from Sean McWilliams. Its the knife from the edge hold point of view that I compare all my knives. To this date, I've owned nothing yet that would touch it in the production market. Of course, I've not purchased much over the past couple of years. I have various Spyderco, Microtech, EDI, and Benchmade knives. To me, all of the companies are producing a fine product but I'm still looking for one knife that will retire the others. Right now, when I get tired of carrying one I go another. I've had production knives with D2, ATS-34, 154CM, CPM 440V, and various other steels. Just considering moving into the semi-custom or custom field in hopes of finding a knife that might retire the rest. Certainly, if it were possible to find what I wanted in production knife at production cost it would be great. I've held off on purchases for a while. Actually I've had a list of "want to buys" and I'm now acting on that list at least partially! I have a Peter Atwood neck knife on order from one the site vendors and a Lone Wolf T2 and Emerson CQC-8 on the way. So I'm fixing to have several new knives to evaluate. I'm guess I'm looking for semi-custom to custom recommendations for a purchase or order placed later on this year. I would certainly be very disappointed in custom knife that was not superior in durability and edge holding to one that could purchased much cheaper from Produciton company.
 
Any of us can recommend our favorites, but that's not to say they'd be what fits your hand or your heart.

I suggest if at all possible that you handle a large Sebenza and a Strider SnG. This will give you a good look at the best of the semi-custom knives, and I personally believe that either of them would fit your requirements.

Then consider a true custom knife. That will take a different kind of research; maybe you can get to a good knife show for a look at the knives and a chance to talk to the makers themselves -- which is the best reason to go to shows! :)
 
Buck 560C is hardcore if you can find one.
I don't even remember what type of steel is used, but my 560C, which has the factory sharpening eight years later (never sharpened), is the sharpest knife I own. Not an exageration. I can't explain it either.

The spyderco ATR has been trying to seduce me lately, and if you just want to spend the extra dolla, you can get it in titanium. I happen to like the look better in ss though. Also, my experience with my titanium hilts is that...they scratch really easily. If you've got that sort of backing, not a big deal, but if you really abuse this one, you're going to know it a couple months down the line. I find myself being extremely careful with my toughest knife (because it's in titanium) and that bothers me for some reason.
 
You really dont need to spend that much, for example, 710HS, Manix, Military (does the limit say over 4 or below 4), AFCK can all do well at this type of stuff. However, I immediately think of sevenza for your price range.

However, I definatley agree with STR that you might want a lock that is less likeley to disenge when you bind the blade into wood.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Any of us can recommend our favorites, but that's not to say they'd be what fits your hand or your heart.

I suggest if at all possible that you handle a large Sebenza and a Strider SnG. This will give you a good look at the best of the semi-custom knives, and I personally believe that either of them would fit your requirements.

Then consider a true custom knife. That will take a different kind of research; maybe you can get to a good knife show for a look at the knives and a chance to talk to the makers themselves -- which is the best reason to go to shows! :)
Click to expand...

I would love to go a knife show and see some of these knives. Around here, you basically get nothing but production pieces at these shows. Sometimes, and boy did I miss the boat about 6-7 years ago on Phil Hartsfield small knife. Guy wanted $150 at the time and I wanted to dicker. Should have bought it! Its been a while since I've been to show. Most of ours with in easy driving distance or a combination gun and knife show. I did a few years back see Larry Harley set up at a show. Knives impressed, maker did not! Thought he had the personality of rock. Did not seem at all interested in making a sale so I just laid the knife down and left. I've seen on custom folding knife locally. Spotted a gentleman with a Scott Sawby folder. It was a very nice knife. I've never seen either the Strider or Reeves knife locally. Just don't see much custom activity. Ive found the Benchmade ACK, Microtech Sodcom, and EDI knife I own currently very easy to carry. Sort of like them a little bigger!

Just looking for a very durable folding knife that holds a great edge. I've seen a lot of recommendations on both the Large and Small Sebenza and various Striders. Thought the SNG and Large Sebenza were more in line with the size knife I wanted. Thought the smaller Strider and small Sebenza a little smaller than I wanted. The various other Striders are just bigger than I want to carry.

Full customs, where do I start! I've seen a ton that I like but this is the case of sensory overload. Talking Hinderer, Lerch, Marlowe, Snody, Sawby, Mayo, Tighe, Duncan, etc.., Lots of custom knives I like! Not enough dollars and far to many choices, but I likem!
 
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