Help picking the next folder

cricketdave · Sep 8, 2016

I've been on a binge lately with Cold Steel's folders. The new steel and g10 construction is really sweet. Getting used to the back locks.

So my questions, does anyone have both the green g10 and tan g10's that you could take a pic of side by side so I can get a idea of the colors.

Next, I'm thinking about getting my daughter one of the Recon mini versions. Does anyone have a full size and mini they could take a pic together so I can get a better size in my mind. She currently carries a Benchmade small presidio on duty. The last 4 weeks she was in the field and the edge didn't hold up real great its 440c. Of the 130 officers in her group only one had a pocket knife, it got used by everyone for everything a soldier could think up to do. So pretty beat. I think the CTS XHP would have done better. She has several nice pocket knives and didn't want to carry the more expensive ones, too easy to loose.

I did pick up a XL Recon clip point for her lol. Gonna be huge in her little meathooks.

Thanks all

cricketdave · Sep 14, 2016

Anybody?

insta9ves · Sep 14, 2016

cricketdave said:
Anybody?

I just got a mini Recon 1, i think it's a great EDC. I dont have a side by side pic for the full size vs mini, however i have this. It's the Broken Skull which is basically the same length as the Recon 1. Just imagine it being slightly wider than the mini recon 1. If she is used to the small presidio, then the mini recon is a great fit for her since it's almost exactly the same size. TBH i dont even know why people would choose mini presidio over the mini recon, it's stronger, has better steel, thinner and is cheaper.

Also here is the pic comparison between the Recon 1 and the Broken Skull, hope it helps too.

cricketdave · Sep 14, 2016

That does help thank you. She picked the bench made simply because thats what they had at clothing sales when she was at FT Wainwright in Alaska. Benchmade almost always has several folders in both clothing sales and the BX, along with the usual Gerber crap. She has also carried a ZT566 and a Dpx Hest. Lost the Hest on a field exercise at FT Sill. Looks like I'll be ordering the mini recon for her.

UCPOPO · Sep 15, 2016

I love the Recon mini. The Spearpoint version is in my "small edc" rotation. I'm loving the CTS-XHP models from Cold Steel. Quite an improvement over AUS8. I still wish the pocket clips were a little softer but they wear in ok.

Glenn056 · Sep 16, 2016

How is it that your daughter carries a knife while the other dudes dont, especially when they are soldiers and they need knives. Shame on them!! Hahaha nice one for your daughter mate👍

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cricketdave · Sep 16, 2016

As far as I could tell from meeting a lot of them, they were mostly from big cities and had no rural experience. Talking about a lot of just graduated college direct commission folks. My daughter on the other hand grew up on a ranch in the country and has backpacked and hunted with me most of her life. She earned her commission through the ROTC and Nursing program at her college. So she has more field experience than most. After the field exercises were over she said a bunch of them showed up with brand new pocket knives. Mostly Benchmades.

farmer ted · Sep 17, 2016

I'd buy her a couple of good, cheap folders. Not only are they going to get abused if she keeps lending them to others, things in the army have a way of growing feet and walking off. At basic we were told to put our names on everything, to include the issued brown underwear.

My father gave me a really nice knife before I deployed but I told him to keep it at home because I was knew it'd be stolen. Lots of liberal/progressive/democrat types in the military that believe your stuff should be their stuff.

Edit: You can get a Cold Steel 29TMCH Medium Voyager 3" Stonewash Combo Clip Point for $25. That's what I'd get her.

PeteyTwoPointOne · Sep 17, 2016

Dave, the Recon / Mini Recon is a great choice for hard use, high utility, high value folder.

However I'm going a bit < just a little bit

> against the grain and say I prefer the ergonomics of the American Lawman is AUS8A...I hear what you're saying about edge retention on the 8A vs. XHP, but if your daughter is adept at sharpening with a DMT Diafold, I'd choose the Lawman's ergos over the Mini Recon's...

Fact: Both steels will eventually dull & need re-apexing...the XHP is gonna retain apex integrity a bit longer, but the 8A is easier to reset the edge. So then it's a question of a bit of sharpness endurance vs. ease of sharpening and, to me, the comparative pros/cons of both steels equate to a tie. So for me the tiebreaker goes to the orig. Lawman being one of the most comfy, easily indexed, light, & rugged production folders ever made by anyone! :thumbup:

The newer Lawman with XHP is flatter and not as good "in hand" as the original, IMHO.

Let us know which way you guys decide to go!

cricketdave · Sep 17, 2016

I ordered her a mini spearpoint recon, in CTS XHP. She's a pretty good hand at putting an edge back on so not worried about that. She's been carrying and sharpening her own knives since she was 12 or so. With her having put edges on Elmax, D2, S35vn and Infi along with various other carbon blades I think she won't have any trouble at all with the CTS XHP.

I've never personally cared for the look of the Lawman so didn't consider it. I think the Mini recon will fit her hand a bit better too since she has tiny mits.