Help me find my “for life” $300-500 “overbuilt” folder

precisionshootist said:
I would throw another vote for the 4Max. Also me personally I would move quick and try to get one that is made in USA. Since you said last a lifetime, I think the made in USA just adds a little more sense of value and prestige but I'm sure the Italian version (which I think is made by FOX) would serve just as well. I want to add I do not own the 4max myself at this time. I do have most of the other Cold Steel Mega Folders. My hold off on the 4max was the weight. I see the 4Max as a knife you carry when you really need a fixed blade but just can't swing the length and sheath carry problems a fixed blade brings, say if you were a pilot or something to that effect. For me when I get to around 10 oz. I can carry a fixed blade and that's what I do.

Lastly if you are not sure just yet on a Mega folder you could drop about $70 and pick up a Cold Steel Spartan. The Spartan is a beast that will serve many purposes and let you experiment with a mega folder before dropping big bucks. You might decide the Spartan will do fine in the huge folder category and you can spend the big money on a Randall fixed blade, which is a last a lifetime heirloom quality knife. (just a suggestion on the Randall, there are many others)
Click to expand...
The Spartan. Forgot about that one. 4.5" beast. Good call
 
Steely_Gunz said:
It's a subjective thing, hard use. My dad has been abusing a Buck 110 for about 40 years.
Click to expand...

The 110 was to be my vote. For a couple of very good reasons.
1. You can still have $250 -$450 left to either buy other knives, invest, put into the kid's bail bond, whatever.
2. Would really like to hear anyone say they saw a 110 wear out, break, bend... I've never seen it. And if by chance it did, They will replace it.

The vast majority of knives mentioned, while quality knives, are overbuilt, often to the extreme. Some of the "torture testing" done on You Tube is just absurd. Winches, ridiculous amounts of weight, (the knife lock failed with only 350 pounds on it.) Name one person how could generate 350 pounds of force on a knife with 1 bare hand. Ridiculous. And if they did, they were definitely using a knife in a way it was never designed to be used.
 
Dan of Bazz Clazz said:
The 110 was to be my vote. For a couple of very good reasons.
1. You can still have $250 -$450 left to either buy other knives, invest, put into the kid's bail bond, whatever.
2. Would really like to hear anyone say they saw a 110 wear out, break, bend... I've never seen it. And if by chance it did, They will replace it.

The vast majority of knives mentioned, while quality knives, are overbuilt, often to the extreme. Some of the "torture testing" done on You Tube is just absurd. Winches, ridiculous amounts of weight, (the knife lock failed with only 350 pounds on it.) Name one person how could generate 350 pounds of force on a knife with 1 bare hand. Ridiculous. And if they did, they were definitely using a knife in a way it was never designed to be used.
Click to expand...

Had a Buck 110 break it's tip off cleaning a rib cage on a whitetail. One of the newer ones.
 
I dig my 4max personally. Since it is still pretty new, I haven't put it to the real test yet. However I did go ahead and beat the crap out of it in the backyard to ensure that it COULD hold up to really hard, seasoned knotty wood. And it did without an issue. Carved well for its size (My ZT 0350 was worse at carving at a much thinner stock), including notching, feathersticking and so on. The 4max is a great compromise if you live in a niche area where a fixed blade could possibly wind up putting you in a lot of legal hurt. It isn't a fixed blade, but it definetly seems to my like it could be used as one (I don't know for how long it could hold up to treatment like that however, given that it IS still a folder, and any folders listed above are going to face wear and tear as they are used). However there are claims that the triad lock has serviced people for 20 years of use without much issue (I cannot pull up any references to back that claim, nor do I recall the individuals posting anything more than photos or commentary stating they have used them as such, so take that with a grain of salt).

But over all? It sounds like you want something along the lines of a 4 max. In time, maybe I will be able to put up some photo or video evidence of mine in use for basic woodcraft and firemaking. But I won't be hammering this thing through 1mm stainless steel like Vininull does (sorry not sorry :D)
 
jill jackson said:
I like the 4Max but at over 9 oz. I know I'd never want to carry it. And if I was going to use a blade that hard, I'd just use a fixed blade.
Click to expand...

I've carried heavier knives.
How it sits in the pocket seems even more important than weight in determining whether I want to carry it.

Mick_1KRR said:
It's very true mate, it is odd seeing the 4max in such pristine condition when it's really meant for what you would think are the most extreme tasks that a knife could be used on. I wont lie, i haven't used it for very hard work mostly because it's such a nice piece you almost want to keep it mint, some kind of trophy of knife engineering - I know, it's ridiculous. Plus, i have so many other Tri-ad lock based knives that have already been used for everything and anything, so i just keep using them. Also, fair play to you, i will tip my hat since you're one of the few guys I've seen who actually uses his Medford for work, although Medfords are not my kind of knife, It's good to see one being used for once.
Click to expand...

I have to agree that there is little evidence for many Medfords being used much.
Probably for the same reason as with the 4-Max, which is that they are not cheap knives. :)
My dad has a few really nice knives that don't get carried or used much, because he doesn't want to wreck or lose them, which is a shame in some ways.

dogrunner said:
You are making an accurate observation, but the same could be said for nearly all knives and posts in this thread! I suppose that means many knives see only light use and are not pushed to their limits, for any number of reasons. I have more knives than one person needs for getting work done, and that is probably common here. One more 4max observation: that big ol handle is really comfortable and controllable, even with big winter mittens on, and that blade is a much better cutter than most "overbuilt" (read thick) blades. That is why I am a fan and actually do carry it. In a chore coat pocket !
Click to expand...

I'd say most knives made by every company aren't used very often. :D
Many reside in drawers and safes, or forgotten in basement boxes.

The handle on the 4-Max does look like it would be comfortable, from what I can see.
I had thought of getting one when originally announced, but then they tweaked the blade design just enough that I lost interest in it. When you have more knives than you could wear out in 20 lifetimes, you start getting picky when looking at new purchases, and little things like aesthetics become more of a thing.

But all this talk of it has tempted me a little bit again. ;)
 
Only a couple other folks have mentioned the Spartan Harsey Folder. I thought I would mention it too. It really is a fantastically solid feeling folder. I really can't imagine doing anything to it that would seriously hurt it. The action is smooth. The handle slabs are solid stout pieces of titanium. And the blade is plenty stout enough for anything I would care to do with a knife.

Also, I like that you can customize the knife. Spartan makes special editions, plus they are happy to work with you if there is something special you want. I went ahead and ended up getting myself blue hardware and clip. I wanted everything blue, and after getting the blue Molon Labe clip and hardware I sent it in to have the thumbstuds anodized, and they made everything blue for me. They even anodized the internal lock bar stabilizer.SpartanSHFBlueMolon.jpg
(The picture is from before I sent it in to have the thumbstuds anodized)

I've got a review of the SHF here if you wanted to know more about the knife: http://centergnome.blogspot.com/2016/08/knife-review-spartan-harsey-folder-shf.html
 
ScooterG said:
SharpieB SharpieB - What say you?!?
Click to expand...
Ok, I really like the 4Max, but it is big bucks. More than I want to spend as it is $500 here in Canada (only $20 less for the Italian model). The Canadian exclusive satin S35VN Recon 1 is less than 1/3 of the 4Max price and it makes more sense to pair a less expensive folder with a HD fixed IMO.

I am very likely going to go with an ESEE 6 and the CS Recon 1. Darkhorse folder options are the ZT0909 and an Emerson CQC7.

I am almost 100% positive that the ESEE and Recon 1 are being ordered tonight or tomorrow....

Great feedback from everyone. Almost too many great options!
 
SharpieB said:
Ok, I really like the 4Max, but it is big bucks. More than I want to spend as it is $500 here in Canada (only $20 less for the Italian model). The Canadian exclusive satin S35VN Recon 1 is less than 1/3 of the 4Max price and it makes more sense to pair a less expensive folder with a HD fixed IMO.

I am very likely going to go with an ESEE 6 and the CS Recon 1. Darkhorse folder options are the ZT0909 and an Emerson CQC7.

I am almost 100% positive that the ESEE and Recon 1 are being ordered tonight or tomorrow....

Great feedback from everyone. Almost too many great options!
Click to expand...

Much love for Emerson, but go with the CS or ZT for what you’re looking for, IMO. Great choices and hope you like them!
 
SharpieB said:
Ok, I really like the 4Max, but it is big bucks. More than I want to spend as it is $500 here in Canada (only $20 less for the Italian model). The Canadian exclusive satin S35VN Recon 1 is less than 1/3 of the 4Max price and it makes more sense to pair a less expensive folder with a HD fixed IMO.

I am very likely going to go with an ESEE 6 and the CS Recon 1. Darkhorse folder options are the ZT0909 and an Emerson CQC7.

I am almost 100% positive that the ESEE and Recon 1 are being ordered tonight or tomorrow....

Great feedback from everyone. Almost too many great options!
Click to expand...
k3vgbo.jpg
 
SharpieB said:
Ok, I really like the 4Max, but it is big bucks. More than I want to spend as it is $500 here in Canada (only $20 less for the Italian model). The Canadian exclusive satin S35VN Recon 1 is less than 1/3 of the 4Max price and it makes more sense to pair a less expensive folder with a HD fixed IMO.

I am very likely going to go with an ESEE 6 and the CS Recon 1. Darkhorse folder options are the ZT0909 and an Emerson CQC7.

I am almost 100% positive that the ESEE and Recon 1 are being ordered tonight or tomorrow....

Great feedback from everyone. Almost too many great options!
Click to expand...

Great choice! I sold my 4 Max for a few reasons. I do not like smooth scales that get slippery when your hands are sweaty or wet, and the Recon alleviates that problem. Besides that, it is FAR lighter, and my Recon got/gets carried all the time as opposed to the 4 Max I had. The ESEE 6 is an awesome blade, and really, if you want worry-free longevity in a hard-use knife, then fixed is the way to go. Like you said, the Recon 1 and ESEE will be a perfect pairing to do anything you need. Plus, the satin Recon looks great! Enjoy the blades!
 
great thread, six pages , lotta passion for the:
Cold Steel 62RM 4-Max Folding Knife 4" CPM-20CV Stonewash Plain Blade, Desert Tan G10 Handles



Worked out to about $60 a page, I figure.
Delivery by Friday!!!
 
SharpieB said:
Ok, I really like the 4Max, but it is big bucks. More than I want to spend as it is $500 here in Canada (only $20 less for the Italian model). The Canadian exclusive satin S35VN Recon 1 is less than 1/3 of the 4Max price and it makes more sense to pair a less expensive folder with a HD fixed IMO.

I am very likely going to go with an ESEE 6 and the CS Recon 1. Darkhorse folder options are the ZT0909 and an Emerson CQC7.

I am almost 100% positive that the ESEE and Recon 1 are being ordered tonight or tomorrow....

Great feedback from everyone. Almost too many great options!
Click to expand...

I think that's a great combination! Covers almost any situation.
 
precisionshootist said:
I think that's a great combination! Covers almost any situation.
Click to expand...
Exactly. And it’s not as if I have no other knives. ;) My Pacific Salt and Ladybug Salt Hawkbill for on the water as an example...

I keep looking at other folders and I just need to place an order withnthe ESEE 6 and move on. :D
 
SharpieB said:
Ok, I really like the 4Max, but it is big bucks. More than I want to spend as it is $500 here in Canada (only $20 less for the Italian model). The Canadian exclusive satin S35VN Recon 1 is less than 1/3 of the 4Max price and it makes more sense to pair a less expensive folder with a HD fixed IMO.

I am very likely going to go with an ESEE 6 and the CS Recon 1. Darkhorse folder options are the ZT0909 and an Emerson CQC7.

I am almost 100% positive that the ESEE and Recon 1 are being ordered tonight or tomorrow....

Great feedback from everyone. Almost too many great options!
Click to expand...

Great choice! The ESEE 6 and the CS Recon 1 will serve you well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top