Help with first knife

R

renegade13

Joined
Dec 19, 2003
Messages
6
Hello,

I need some suggestions on my first folding knife. The knife will be rarely used but I want to have something with me if an emergency arises while hiking and camping. I would prefer a knife that is 4" or less when closed and I'd like to keep the cost below $65 if at all possible. A brand that is readily available for purchase from most dealers is preferable as I live in Canada and there are only a couple dealers in town. The dealer I went to carried mostly Spyderco, Gerber and tons of Columbia River.

Thanks for your help.
 
Welcome! How about a Multitool or Swiss Army Knife ? Spyderco FRN Delica of the Buck 112 are 2 good knife choices.
guy
 
Hi Renegade, welcome to Bladeforums.


I would second Guy’s Spyderco suggestion.


The Spyderco Lightweight (FRN) Delica (3” blade) and Endura (3 15/16” blade) both have blade holes for one hand opening, pocket clips and premium VG-10 steel.


Good luck in your search!





- Frank
 
I'd go with the Benchmade Griptilian...
Nice Strong Axis Lock and they come in groovy colours....
 
To keep it under $65 from a retail store you might have to go with a Gerber Gator in ATS 34. They sell an excellent combo pack with a folding saw and a gerber gator in a ballistic nylon pouch for about that cost.

you'll need something to cut wood in an outdoors emergency.

you should read and post hiking questions in the Wilderness section on tactics and training, we all love this kind of talk. there is a wealth of experience to tap into there.
 
Well I just have to saw down a fair bit of shrubs today helping my grandparents move. I suspect that your hiking/camping can encounter such situation, so don't overlook the usefulness of a SAK or a Multitool. FYI the tool I used is my Sog PowerLock.
I recommend Spyderco Endura/Delica/Native as a solo blade, PE only because PE does more than SE.
CRKT M18 can also be a good one.
What parts of Canada are you in BTW?
 
www.gerberblades.com

go to product search and enter "kits" they have a wide selection.

one small folder will not cut wood efficiently in a survival situation.

think building shelter 1"-3" saplings and fire wood?

a 3"-4" blade will take a lot of effort and calories to do the work that a saw would do in 5 minutes.
 
Get a Spyderco FRN Delica, or maybe even a Spyderco Native III.

You might also want to take a look over at the "Knives For Sale" forums here at BladeForums to see if there is anything there that interests you, as generally you can find some really good buys there.
 
The CRKT DOG or any of their LAWKS equipped liner locks would be a great choice IMO. They offer a lot of knife for the money. In fact I recently selected a CRKT Contrail as a gift to a family friend. It was way less than $65, especially with AG Russell's 25% military discount. :cool:
 
Originally posted by Roadrunner
The CRKT DOG or any of their LAWKS equipped liner locks would be a great choice IMO.
Click to expand...

Some of the knives I looked at today had the liner lock and I liked those much better than the thumb release locks. So, if I add liner lock to my list of criteria, what other knives would work for me?

Thanks yet again.
 
Don't underestimate the SAK.

I know the appeal of a strong folder, but the SAK sees most of the action.

Get a large locking blade model SAK to compliment your folding EDC.
 
If you're only going to carry one knife, and it will be for outdoor emergency use only, I'll second the locking SAK recommendation. Perhaps a Victorinox Rucksack. For a more urban setting, I'd go for a Victorinox super tinker as a good balance between size and Leatherman.

For a very complete review of emergency use knives etc. you might want to check out Doug Ritters fantastic site. http://www.equipped.org/ and specifically his review of knives at http://www.equipped.org/devices4.htm
 
another vote for spyderco delica or benchmade mini griptilian - either one is a good choice depending on "emergency" - if you mean an emergency where you have to cut a rope or open a juice box, these will be fine - if your talking about a bear or sasquatch attack.. then these knives probably wont be big enough.
 
Just cut out all the BS and get a Sebenza...
Yeh, yeh yeh...I know its out of your target price range, but why waste the money on three or four other knives when you'll only be truely satisfied after you get the Sebenza.:D


lets see if that starts anything...
Merry Christmas
 
BM Griptillian, TSEK is about the price range if you rule out lockbacks.
But I went from liner to lockback, and didn't go back much.....
I can't quite name one right off the top of my head, but there are several CRKT liner lock offering that's good too.
 
Oh and Kershaw Vapor would be a good cheap framelock.
Knifezone.ca would have some cheap price, but not the cheapest. Lebaron.ca offers some good price on limited stock.
To get dirt cheap price you really need to get from the states and get around customs.
 
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