Help me pick a new EDC!

S

sprokker

Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
58
I just recently started carrying a pocket knife (though I've been carrying a Leatherman for many years). I chose a Cold Steel Voyager Medium Tanto, half serrated/half straight. I'm mostly happy with the knife: it's light (1.8 oz), sharp, and perfectly sized for me (3" blade, 3 7/8" handle). It's pretty easy to open one-handed, but it requires two hands to close. This is a big problem.

The other day I was cutting something that needed support during and after the cut, so my off hand was occupied and I could not close the knife. I made my cut and set the knife down, then hauled the stuff out to my truck. Then like an idiot I drove off, leaving my knife behind. :o I went back to retrieve it of course, but the emotional damage is done - now I NEED a new knife!

I'm looking for something with these features:
  • one-handed operation (both open and close)
  • stays safely closed until manually opened
  • light weight (2-4 oz)
  • short blade (2.5-3" or so)
  • pocket clip (I'm right-handed)
  • good blade steel
  • comfortable handle (3.5-4" or so)
This will be a general use knife, for cutting cord, opening boxes, occasional whittling, that kind of stuff. Self defense is on my list but it's low.

I'd like to keep it under $75, but I'd rather pay more and get a good knife I'll be happy with than pay less and not be satisfied.

I handled the Mini Griptilian and it's very close to what I want, but I didnt like the hand feel of the grip (just a personal preference).

So what can you guys recommend for me?
 
Hi. Welcome to the forums.

Take a look at Spyderco's offerings...my three EDCs right now are all Spydies, and I would heartily recommend (and have recommended ad nauseaum) all three. Take a look at the Centofante III and Calypso JR, they both fit well into your requirements, and come in at about half the price ceiling you've listed.

try www.newgraham.com

Nitin
 
Do you not like the way the mini-grips handles are shaped, or are they just too small and give off a cramped feeling? I have a full size grip, the 550OD and I think it fits my hand perfectly, fits like a glove. You may also want to check out the BM 530, it has a 3.25 inch handle, I don't know if that is too big for what you want or not. The BM 705 also seems to be a great knife from listening to many people here but it is about $10 more than you wanted to spend. Any of the Benchmade Axis lock knives make great true one handed knives using either hand. A great place to get them from is New Graham, they are great people to deal with and have great prices.

Don't doubt Benchmade's 440c, it is a great steel, gets very sharp easily and holds it well. Their 154cm is excellent but either of these will do a great job. If you are comfortable with the large Grips, check out Cabela's, they have the 551 and 556(?;the mini 551) in D2 steel for about the price your looking for. Hope I was of some help :)
 
One of my personal favorites is the Spyderco Native. It's just a solid, all around design. They are now making them with S30V blades and you can also find them with VG-10 in the Native 3-D configuration. The original steel doesn't do much for me so I tend to stay away from the "First Production Run" ones that a lot of folks are hocking on Ebay and other places.
Doc
 
For under $75, I'd take another look at the Mini-Grip. It is an amazing deal, and it competes with knives easily in the 100$ category. Take a look at the 705 as well, that might be more what you're looking for.

If you think the grip on the Mini-grip is too small, then, well, you're going to need a bigger knife! Have you tried the regular griptillian yet? I'd recommend it, it's an amazing knife. And don't misjudge the 440C steel, it's almost identical performance-wise as 154CM and other such 'premium steels'. The different is very negligible, it's not a 50% difference, more like a 5-10% difference in performance from my experience.
 
May I ask why the Voyager took two hands to close? Was it just too stiff? At any rate, I would recommend a Benchmade Mini Griptillian. The Axis lock is very one hand friendly.
Matt
 
The Voyager can be closed with one hand. It's just more tricky than I'd like.

I really like how simple to operate the Axis lock is. Today I went and played with a 705 and an 556. The 556 felt much better this time, and the 705 is just sweet any way you look at it.

Thanks for the recommendations, folks!
 
Go ahead and get a BM Mini-Griptilian...It's pretty tough to find a better knife in that price range...Also, with the "Grip", you have your choice of different colors, as well as a dual thumb-stud (556) or a "hole" (555) to open/close the blade with.
 
Spyderco is what you are looking for. Ugly, but simply the best utility knives available.

Delica w/ VG10
Native w/ S30V
Native III w/ VG10
Calypso Jr. w/ VG10
etc.
-Kevin
 
By the way, I just wanted to add:
Some people may try to tell you that Spyderco's are not easily closed with one hand becuase they are lock backs. This is definately not the case. Spydercos are VERY easy to close one handed.
1. Alter your grip so the thumb is on the lock release.
2. Position your index finger so its at the very front of the handles.
3. Press lock bar and swing blade downward till it hits your finger.
4. Close knife rest of way the same way you open it: with thumb disk.

It sounds complicated but its VERY easy and can be done really quickly.
-Kevin
 
or...

1. Position the knife so that your thumb is on the lock release.
2. Put the tip of your index finger in the hole.
3. Press the release, get the blade unlocked.
4. Complete the closing with your index finger.

Much easier than it sounds....just like the method Kevin posted.

Nitin
 
neetones said:
or...

1. Position the knife so that your thumb is on the lock release.
2. Put the tip of your index finger in the hole.
3. Press the release, get the blade unlocked.
4. Complete the closing with your index finger.

Much easier than it sounds....just like the method Kevin posted.

Nitin
Click to expand...

LOL, I honestly never thought of doing it that way! Interesting how people find there own way. :)

Forgot to add on my post that the blade has a choil made for choking up on the blade, but it protects your index finger too when you swing the blade down.
-Kevin
 
One of the best EDC's I ever had was the Spydie Endura. It definitely fits under your price range, good steel, moveable clip, and very light for it's size.
 
for ease of closing one handed - the axis cannot be beat. period. i agree wholeheartedly - 705 or the mini grip.
 
Yester5 said:
Buy an Endura or a Delica and never look back.
Click to expand...
The Endura and Delica ARE great knives, but I just traded my (stainless) pair for a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian.

...And I got the better part of the deal.:).
 
glockman99 said:
The Endura and Delica ARE great knives, but I just traded my (stainless) pair for a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian.

...And I got the better part of the deal.:).
Click to expand...

amen to that! :D
 
I'd get the Griptilian if I were you. I would give the handle another chance if I were you. I think it is very ergonomic myself. Another recommendation is that you seriously consider going with a plain edge model in whatever you decide. To me, and this is just my opinion, but combo edges are not the best of both world as many people think. More times than not a combo edge is a cruel reminder that you don't have enough of either kind of edge to get the job done in a proficient manner. Not trying to catch any flames fellows, just stating my opinion.
 
It is a bit longer than what you are looking for, but for a lightweight, one-handed opener/closer, I like my Sog X-Ray Vision. It has a 3.75 inch blade, but still weighs only 3 ounces, with an closed length of 4 5/8th inches. Blade steel is ATS-34. The grip ergos are decent. I find the zytel a bit slippery even with the texturing, but the pronounced index-finger groove makes the grip feel secure nonetheless.

There is a smaller version of this knife with a 3 inch blade, the Mini X-Ray Vision. I cannot comment on how comfortable the grip is for that size, though, since I only own the larger one. I find the grip to be very compact even on the larger version.

This knife has the "arc lock", which is similar to the axis lock. It is very easy to open/close with one hand. The blade is also locked securely in place in the closed position. I can open it easily using the thumb-stud, but I cannot flick it opened.

I find this to be a very size / weight efficient knife. I carry it frequently when I want something lighter / less bulky than the Chinook II that I usually carry, but still want a 3.75 inch blade.

One possible downside - the knife is only available with a tanto style partially serrated blade.

Good luck.

Regards,
cds1
 
Well since you don't like the feel of the Griptilian I won't suggest it. I'd take a look at the Spyderco Delica or another knife that hasn't been suggested but is really good is the Camillus EDC.
 
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