Help me pick a folder!

G

ghost squire

Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
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I'm going to be getting around 200 dollars this weekend that I will spend on a folder.

My priorities are whittling, which means I want the blade to be relatively thin and sharp, and have an efficient blade profile, self defense capability, meaning quick deployment and such, and looks.

I've narrowed it down to the following, and I would like you to help me choose the right one for my priority set.

Al Mar Eagle
Spyderco Paramilitary
AG Russel Featherlite General Purpose Blade in ATS-34
Benchmade 940
Benchmade 710 or 710HS
Randall King Phantom Reflex
G-10 Leek

One further concern of mine is: how hard will the recurved blades be to sharpen on a waterstone?
 
It's kind of a personal thing at some point - have you handled any of them?
It's a good list, if you're making a list of good knives at that price point - how does it feel in your hand? Do you like the clip; they way it clips to your pocket? Is it too heavy? Do you like the thumbstud or Spydie hole/oval hole better? (That one factor could narrow things down for you real quick.)

I personally like the 710D2.
But, for instance, I don't whittle.

It is wicked sharp though, and opens fast & easy.

Anyway, if you can, go around and handle some. (I guess the Russell is the only one that you wouldn't be able to do that with...)
 
Having a Para and a 710D2, having in mind your priority points, I'd get a Para (I trust it more for SD and like the grippy G10) or, a better choice, save a little more and get both :D
 
See the problem is there is nowhere near me that I know of, that I could handle even one of these knives. So I sort of need you guys to be my hands.

Jesus, is what I'm seeing right, does the Paramilitary actually have Para Military printed on the side in huge letters?! When did that practice start happening in the knife world...

Its almost dissapointing to hear you guys say Paramilitary, simply because its the least spectacular looking in the bunch, but I know it will give me excellent performance.

But I'm going to watch how this thread goes before making my decision. The 710 is just too sexy to dismiss.
 
wait a week or so for the kershaw zdp ti leek--find regular one local(walmart) you can handle to see if its a good fit-
 
Rosconey - that would be awesome. Any idea how expensive it will be compared to the regular models?

Buzzbait, thanks for the link! Checking it out now.
 
I think that the Benchmade switchback is the answer for you. That way you can whittle with the secondary blade and keep the primary for bigger stuff and or defense.
 
USAFSP said:
I think that the Benchmade switchback is the answer for you. That way you can whittle with the secondary blade and keep the primary for bigger stuff and or defense.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing.
 
Hmm... Now thats interesting, hadn't thought of that. How suited is the secondary blade for fine work? Is the overall knife comfortable for heavy work as well, I really put my folders through a lot compared to most folks. How suited is the lock compared to the Paramilitary's for stuff like unlocked batoning, and locked chopping? I have heard the Axis lock isn't very strong, is there truth to this at all?

Buzzbait, great review of both knives. Based on what you say I am now more inclined to go for the Para Military, and it definately it is suited for my purposes, but I will still bide my time.
 
SanShou said:
Having a Para and a 710D2, having in mind your priority points, I'd get a Para (I trust it more for SD and like the grippy G10) or, a better choice, save a little more and get both :D
Click to expand...

I really like the Para too. And the G10 is definitely much grippier than on the 710D2. But the Axis lock, I really like what it does for the opening/closing action of the blade

Maybe you could narrow your choices by lock type. The Axis & liners are going to open more easily than the lockbacks like the Al Mar. The way the Axis lock knives open is real sweet, even compared with AOs

Ultimately you'll pick one - buy from a reputable dealer! If you really dislike the knife you can return/exchange it for one of your other choices, especially once you know what you dislike about it.

For instance if you buy a 710D2 and dislike it (highly doubtful) because you don't like the action of the Axis, for instance, or you don't like the feel of thumbstuds, you'd probably be best off with a Spyderco. Completely different locking and opening systems. (For example.)
 
rifon2, good advice! Perhaps you would recommend a dealer I could buy from?

I totally spaced on the Al Mar being a lockback. Thats a major downside for me.
 
ghost squire said:
rifon2, good advice! Perhaps you would recommend a dealer I could buy from?

I totally spaced on the Al Mar being a lockback. Thats a major downside for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks, glad I could be of help.

As for dealers, there are way too many bad ones, and also several good ones.

Some who I've dealt with more than once, and recently, and recommend for the kind of knife you're considering are:

www.knifecenter.com
www.newgraham.com
www.agrussell.com
www.soonerstateknives.com
www.gpknives.com

Other members I guess will offer other suggestions, but my experience with all of these has been top notch.
 
ghost squire said:
Hmm... Now thats interesting, hadn't thought of that. How suited is the secondary blade for fine work? Is the overall knife comfortable for heavy work as well, I really put my folders through a lot compared to most folks. How suited is the lock compared to the Paramilitary's for stuff like unlocked batoning, and locked chopping? I have heard the Axis lock isn't very strong, is there truth to this at all?

Buzzbait, great review of both knives. Based on what you say I am now more inclined to go for the Para Military, and it definately it is suited for my purposes, but I will still bide my time.
Click to expand...
The axis lock is quite secure. There are guys on this forum that could make a fixed blade fold and say it is not secure so don't let that stop you from getting the knife you like. The secondary blade is 440C and is a slipjoint type of lock. Kind of like how a swiss army knife stays open. The primary blade is nice and can handle lots of hard work. That and there are a few different handle colors that have been made. http://www.1sks.com/store/benchmade-warren-osborne-switchback.html here is a good description of one.
 
The Paramilitary is a great knife. I prefer that knife over just about everything I have. However I do have an Al Mar SERE 2000 and it's a close second. Maybe a tie.
 
Out of your list, I think it really comes down to the Para or the Benchmades.

I find it a little odd, given the pointy blades on every other knife you list, that you are thinking about a Benchmade 940. I think the 943 - the same knife, with a pointy straight-clip bowie blade rather than the somewhat bull-nosed "reverse tanto" of the 940 - would make you happier. (And the 941 is the 943 with a green, rather than black, handle.)

Out of those three, the Para is a 3" blade, the 943 is just under three and a half, and the 710 is 4". That's a fairly wide spread - do you want a 3", 3.5", or 4" blade? The 943 actually carries the easiest of the three in my experience, and by far the lightest. The 710 doesn't take up much pocket width for a four incher, but it still carries quite a bit heavier than either of the other two.

The 943 is probably the least evil looking of the three, although it's certainly a bit sharklike.

That's the blades - what about the un-pointy end? They all have good ergos. The Para feels a little small to me, but I have wide hands - if you have small hands the grip should be impeccable. The 943 is one of those great "fits every hand" knives in my experience, while the 710 is fine in average and bigger hands but a little big if you're a Small glove size. :)

Oh - and I'll be honest, the 710 can be a pain to sharpen on a waterstone. Easy with a Sharpmaker, diamond rod, or belt sander, but some work with a flat stone.

And the slip joint 2" blade on a 921 Switchback is indeed great for whittling. My main use for it is I can use the slender, inoffensive blade around sheeple to keep them happy, and have that lovely 3.5" slice of flat-ground S30V in my hand unseen for real cutting if I need it. I thought it was a little silly - until I owned one. :thumbup:
 
Hmmmm... Since you have experience with it, does the little slipjoint on the back dig into your hand during work when using the main blade?

Thanks for the feedback
 
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