Help me find the perfect knife.

joshuabl

joshuabl

Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
1,399
I've got a pretty decent little collection IMHO, but enjoy picking up new knives. Right now, I have an emerson super cqc-8 in my pocket. I really like the wave feature, which I guess spyderco has something similiar. I find it faster deployment than any auto out of the pocket( I have a couple Microtechs).

To give you an idea of what i would think would be perfect:

1) Folder, something akin to wave feature, no serrations, in the 3 3/4"+ blade length.

2) Solid lock, frame or good liner.

3) Carbide Glass breaker in the handle (think microtech).

4) Good steel (154cm, S30V, M2, M4, D2, ??).

5) A solid pocket clip ( so nothing like the benchmade rukus clip, which was just flimsy for a knife that size.) tip up carry.

6) G10 scales, maybe micarta, something that is a good handle that doesnt slide around. lanyard hole.

Can you guys think of anything that might come close to filling that grocery list?

OR.. how about some suggestions for companies i'm missing out on that should be in my collection.

I have:

Emerson
Benchmade
Microtech
CRKT
SAK
Busse Combat
Ontario
TOPS


Thanks in advance!


(edited for tip up carry)
 
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absolutely stunned spyderco isn't on that list! Well let me be the first to suggest the military in any iteration. Be it the RIL Ti millie, g-10 millie or a cf millie if you can find one! It is my favorite knife of all time and won't ever let you down. Matches all of your requirements and I think you'd love it. Good luck!
 
is the military tip up or tip down carry? I thought it was tip down. Been looking at the Spyderco Calypso 3 Carbon Fiber ZDP189 and the Spyderco Military Titanium ~ C36TI
 
joshuabl said:
is the military tip up or tip down carry? I thought it was tip down. Been looking at the Spyderco Calypso 3 Carbon Fiber ZDP189 and the Spyderco Military Titanium ~ C36TI
Click to expand...

can't go wrong with either. It is very possible to drill new holes in the titanium for tip up.
 
Spyderco Endura 4 waved. It fits all except handle scales and "glass breaker".

You can get custom scales made at blog.cuscadi.de. Not sure about the glass breaker though. Otherwise you can get a G10 Endura and do a blade swap.
 
what's your price range? the CRK Umnumzaan has everything except something akin to a wave feature. it's not G10 or micarta but it's a fairly grippy titanium. I can't think of anything else with a glass breaker.
 
Look into ZT Knives, and Kershaw. They do not have glass breakers though, but the ZT lineup is composed of heavy duty knives! Well worth adding to any collection of knives.:thumbup:
 
i think your missing th point here, it sounds like you havnt found "the one". If i were you i would look into the knives that people love, ie strider sng, chris reeves sebenza.
 
misterjuiceman said:
what's your price range? the CRK Umnumzaan has everything except something akin to a wave feature. it's not G10 or micarta but it's a fairly grippy titanium. I can't think of anything else with a glass breaker.
Click to expand...

I'm kind of liking the looks of this. I have seen a sebenza in a store and to be honest, i wasnt really all that impressed. For the materials, it seemed that you were paying for about $300 dollars worth of "Chris Reeve" and about $100dollars worth of knife. This one looks a bit better in S30V and titanium with that frame lock. Does it have a pretty smooth action?
 
joshuabl said:
I've got a pretty decent little collection IMHO, but enjoy picking up new knives. Right now, I have an emerson super cqc-8 in my pocket. I really like the wave feature, which I guess spyderco has something similiar. I find it faster deployment than any auto out of the pocket( I have a couple Microtechs).

To give you an idea of what i would think would be perfect:

1) Folder, something akin to wave feature, no serrations, in the 3 3/4"+ blade length.

2) Solid lock, frame or good liner.

3) Carbide Glass breaker in the handle (think microtech).

4) Good steel (154cm, S30V, M2, M4, D2, ??).

5) A solid pocket clip ( so nothing like the benchmade rukus clip, which was just flimsy for a knife that size.) tip up carry.

6) G10 scales, maybe micarta, something that is a good handle that doesnt slide around. lanyard hole.

Can you guys think of anything that might come close to filling that grocery list?

OR.. how about some suggestions for companies i'm missing out on that should be in my collection.

I have:

Emerson
Benchmade
Microtech
CRKT
SAK
Busse Combat
Ontario
TOPS


Thanks in advance!


(edited for tip up carry)
Click to expand...
Missing Spyderco and Zero Tolerance.
 
joshuabl said:
I'm kind of liking the looks of this. I have seen a sebenza in a store and to be honest, i wasnt really all that impressed. For the materials, it seemed that you were paying for about $300 dollars worth of "Chris Reeve" and about $100dollars worth of knife. This one looks a bit better in S30V and titanium with that frame lock. Does it have a pretty smooth action?
Click to expand...

the Sebenza and Umnumzaan have the exact same materials--S30V steel and 6/4 Titanium. the framelock on the Umnumzaan is slightly different, it uses a ceramic ball on the lock bar face to mate with the tang of the blade, rather than just titanium on steel. the action on the Umnumzaan is as smooth as you can get, but it won't "fly" open like an XM-18 or IKBS knife. I'm satisfied with mine though.
 
I'd say the Military should clear up any biases you have toward tip up carry. Personally I don't care either way. Different knives have different ideas behind them... With a tip down Spydie, the "Spydie drop" is incredibly effective for fast deployment. I would not have my Millie (tip down) any other way, and I would not have a Sebenza (tip up) any other way... No glass breaker, but that's what your feet are for!
 
Take a look at the Umnumzaan-it's got everything you want but the wave and I'm sure you could get someone to add one
 
Forget looking for the perfect knife, it does not exist. Much wiser to find One that works well, pick up one spare and save a fortune.

Ten totes full of knives later, I should have taken my own advice.:rolleyes:
 
joshuabl said:
I've got a pretty decent little collection IMHO, but enjoy picking up new knives. Right now, I have an emerson super cqc-8 in my pocket. I really like the wave feature, which I guess spyderco has something similiar. I find it faster deployment than any auto out of the pocket( I have a couple Microtechs).

To give you an idea of what i would think would be perfect:

1) Folder, something akin to wave feature, no serrations, in the 3 3/4"+ blade length.

2) Solid lock, frame or good liner.

3) Carbide Glass breaker in the handle (think microtech).

4) Good steel (154cm, S30V, M2, M4, D2, ??).

5) A solid pocket clip ( so nothing like the benchmade rukus clip, which was just flimsy for a knife that size.) tip up carry.

6) G10 scales, maybe micarta, something that is a good handle that doesnt slide around. lanyard hole.

Can you guys think of anything that might come close to filling that grocery list?

OR.. how about some suggestions for companies i'm missing out on that should be in my collection.

I have:

Emerson
Benchmade
Microtech
CRKT
SAK
Busse Combat
Ontario
TOPS


Thanks in advance!


(edited for tip up carry)
Click to expand...

I can't think of a knife that meets all of your requirements. Whatever you get, you're going to be looking at making some modifications.

Could you put your list of features in order of preference from "Must have" to "not necessary"? That would really help narrow down the field.

As it stands right now I'd recommend the Umnumzaan along with a few of the others. It doesn't have a wave. But if you take it apart, clean it, and apply a different lube - you can get it deployed rather quickly
It also doesn't have any resin-based scales, but mine doesn't feel like it would ever slip.

Other things going for the Umnumzaan - the false edge on the top tip of the blade can be used with a firesteel so you won't have to use the knife's edge. The spine of the blade looks ugly with those "bumps" but those serve as finger grooves when gripping the closed knife to use the glassbreaker.
 
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