I am new to knives and looking for one to carry.

chiral.grolim said:
Spring-assisted are illegal in St. Paul?? I grew up there and recall seeing them in various sporting goods stores. Check around, if they are for sale then they are legal to own.

As to a recommendation of a "sturdy" pocket-knife, do you have a price limit? And why the insistence on weight? Lots of "heavy duty" folders available, from just about any company or maker. My "heavy duty" folders include a Benchmade Presidio 520SBK and a Gerber Propel A/O from which I removed the spring so it is even more user friendly than the AXIS-lock.
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I should have been more clear in the opening post, I believe that close to anything, with regard to blades, including full sized swords, are legal to own, but hardly anything is permissible to carry.

My price limit is approximately three hundred dollars, but there is room to move around a bit. As to the insistence on weight, I suppose it comes down to personal preference - and having never owned a knife before, I think I would subconsciously be more confident of its strength and durability.

sideways said:
Is being heavy a requirement? 10 oz. Is a bit of a brick in the long run. Anyway if penetration is the main goal look for pointy knives with handles that really lock the hand in place. The pointy spydercos and benchmades would work at half or less the weight. Benchmade 710. byrd cara cara 2. Spyderco paramilitary 2. Spyderco military. Emerson persian. Double check the blade lengths.


I dont really like the brand but looking at your requirements something from cold steel would probably do the trick. Maybe the cold steel recon folder. Gerber also makes the gerber gator which has one of the best handles out there and a pointy tip, it is not so good at cutting stuff though.
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Cool knives! I am really benefiting from the feedback you guys are offering. My search feels much more directed now.
 
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flarp said:
ZT 0200 - 4" blade. 154CM steel. Manual, flipper opening. Fantastic ergos. Built like a tank (thick, heavy, solid). A beast of a knife.
ZT 0560 - 3.75" blade. Elmax steel. Manual, flipper opening. Great ergos. Hinderer design. Very sturdy and somewhat heavy, but does feel lightweight for its size (in a good way).
Benchmade 710 - 3.9" blade. D2 steel. Manual, thumbstud opening. Axis lock. Not very heavy, but plenty sturdy.

I don't have first-hand experience with the ones below, but opinions on them seem to be generally favorable:

Benchmade Contego - 4" blade. M4 steel. Manual, thumbstud opening. Axis lock. Glass breaker.
Benchmade Adamas - 3.8" blade. D2 steel. Manual, thumbstud opening. Axis lock.
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Awesome.

That ZT 0200 is now right in the running along with the Benchmade Adamas 275.

Just to double check, neither of those are spring assisted, correct?
 
If your willing to go to $400 or so Chris reeves knife are amazing, it's the one knife I think I will keep.
Sebenza 25...
Can't go wrong with anything crk there thin, build and finish is beautiful, life time warranty on the knife, smooth opening,
Titanium Handel, either s30v or s35vn steel.


Chris Reeve Sebenza 25 Vs. Umnumzaan - YouTube
►*6:43►*6:43
www.youtube.com/watch?v=25fHmCGYF9s
Mar 20, 2013 - Uploaded by xiuxiu1313
Chris Reeve Sebenza 25 Vs. Umnumzaan - YouTube. Subscribe 6,807. Uploader Comments ...
 
I think some basics are in order here, not that I am telling you what you want or need from your gear.

How do you intend to use the knife?

Weight may be a factor for strength, but chances are with any of the big three manufacturers Benchmade, Spyderco and KAI design comes into play and weight can mean very little for actual performance.

My preference for Benchmade stems from the axis lock being strong, easily operated and ambidextrous.

None of these are gas station knives, they are well designed with high quality steel and components.
 
Klein Helmer said:
Awesome.

That ZT 0200 is now right in the running along with the Benchmade Adamas 275.

Just to double check, neither of those are spring assisted, correct?
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Neither are spring assisted. They appear to be pretty similar in weight and size with the ZT being just slightly larger. I haven't handled an Adamas, but I can say for certain that the 0200 is a beast. The 3D-machined and contoured handles on the 0200 are also very comfortable in hand, and the deeper choil in the handle plus the flipper sort of serves as a guard as well.
 
The Chris Reeve Umnamzaan (called the Zaan). Almost 4 inch blade, very heavy duty, and an awesome knife. Search on it in the Chris Reeve sub-forum on this site. They routinely come up for sale pre-owned, but new ones are not that expensive, and they'll last a life-time. Search on Chris Reeve on Youtube to see videos on how he makes knives, to see the incredible quality.
 
Definitely at the bottom of your budget.

Cold Steel Talwar large. A four inch blade with what even their critics will say is a very strong lock. Fast to open since you can catch the thumb plate on your pocket and open it as you draw.

CS21TTL.jpg


It does only weigh 5 ounces though.
 
Not sure if this falls into the "heavy" category but for me, its the benchmade 943. Anything in that series: 940/943 are solid work horses (for me). I find the quality to be extremely excellent (better than some custom folders). S30V blade. Axis lock. I have used mine (religiously and rigorously) everyday since I got it and it hasn't let me down yet.

If you are looking for your first EDC -- don't let this happen: A good friend of mine was in the same boat as you with his first EDC. He went out and looked and shopped and held and drooled over all the cool knives he could find. Then when it was time to buy, he bought something in the $400 - $450 range. That knife now sits on his desk in the office under a heavy glass framed display case (used it to slice an apple... or pear, I can't remember). The knife was too expensive and too beautiful for him to carry every day. Excellent conversational piece, don't get me wrong... but what good is an EDC if you're not gonna EDC it?
 
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Klein Helmer said:
Awesome.

That ZT 0200 is now right in the running along with the Benchmade Adamas 275.

Just to double check, neither of those are spring assisted, correct?
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The 0200 is awesome!!! have one and love it!!! the ZT 056x is a great knife as well also manual though its a bit lighter. I have one of those too :) pic is of 0200, 0561 pimped, and some one said something about a Gayle Bradley so I threw it in:D bic lighter for size comparison hope it helps...


CAM01156.jpg
 
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You could get a Benchmade Rift and a Spyderco Manix 2 XL both for your budget. Try them both and see what you like and don't like.
 
91a2jettavr6 said:
Come take a look at my Pete Gray customized CRK Umnumzaan ;) . I'm local to you as well...
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Do you have a store, or are you talking about selling it privately?

Frisky said:
I do not believe fixed blades are illegal to carry in Minnesota as long as blade length is under 4". I often carry them throughout MN without a problem. That said, your best bet in a first carry knife is a Spyderco Endura. I've carried mine for over 15 years. It will handle anything you'll likely throw at it.

Joe
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I am not sure about areas outside of Minneapolis/St. Paul, but I was on both of the cities' .gov sites, and unfortunately I am 100 percent certain that fixed blades of any length are illegal to carry in either.
 
mountainbound said:
you said your budget is around 300$ and you want a heavy, sturdy knife? you want zero tolerance knives. they do have some spring assist knives (0300, 0350) so obviously you want to stay away from those. does the ordinance in st paul specifically outlaw spring assist? or autos? there's a difference in both legal terms and function.
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Yes, unfortunately the ordinance in St. Paul specifically outlaws spring assisted knives.
 
Zero Tolerance offers the Hinderer designed 550 and 560, which are not spring assisted, and very heavy duty use knives. With your price range, you might be able to find am actual Hinderer XM-18 for around 450, and I don't think you can find a more rugged knife than that. The Strider SNG can be had for 400, or a CRK Sebenza 21 for 425, both of those are top quality knives, not so much heavy, but they can take a beating and have the warranty to back it up. You can find used versions of the later two for closer to 300, and with the warranty they have there isn't a problem with picking up a used one. The is also the Microtech D.O.C, Select Fire and Socom Elite knives.
 
Skimo said:
I think some basics are in order here, not that I am telling you what you want or need from your gear.

How do you intend to use the knife?

Weight may be a factor for strength, but chances are with any of the big three manufacturers Benchmade, Spyderco and KAI design comes into play and weight can mean very little for actual performance.

My preference for Benchmade stems from the axis lock being strong, easily operated and ambidextrous.

None of these are gas station knives, they are well designed with high quality steel and components.
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Thanks for the response.

I am looking for a knife for self defense, but also general utility.

hienho said:
Not sure if this falls into the "heavy" category but for me, its the benchmade 943. Anything in that series: 940/943 are solid work horses (for me). I find the quality to be extremely excellent (better than some custom folders). S30V blade. Axis lock. I have used mine (religiously and rigorously) everyday since I got it and it hasn't let me down yet.

If you are looking for your first EDC -- don't let this happen: A good friend of mine was in the same boat as you with his first EDC. He went out and looked and shopped and held and drooled over all the cool knives he could find. Then when it was time to buy, he bought something in the $400 - $450 range. That knife now sits on his desk in the office under a heavy glass framed display case (used it to slice an apple... or pear, I can't remember). The knife was too expensive and too beautiful for him to carry every day. Excellent conversational piece, don't get me wrong... but what good is an EDC if you're not gonna EDC it?
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Thank you, I will take this into consideration.
 
MrBlademan2012 said:
The 0200 is awesome!!! have one and love it!!! the ZT 056x is a great knife as well also manual though its a bit lighter. I have one of those too :) pic is of 0200, 0561 pimped, and some one said something about a Gayle Bradley so I threw it in:D bic lighter for size comparison hope it helps...


View attachment 374701
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Sweet. Thanks for sharing.

Freman Bloodglaive said:
Darn it, after recommending the Talwar I had to go and buy one for myself.
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Enjoy!
 
Self defense(with any knife) is a can of worms that's been fried, diced, caramelized, steamed, boiled, mashed, extruded, drawn, hanged by the neck until dead, electrocuted and most famously Shot by a handgun that is guaranteed to stop a guy, it's a 12 gauge caliber with a 200 round clip, has a spot light and bayonet attached ;). So I will not in a box, not with a fox not even in top of a pile of rocks eat the green eggs and ham!

That being said, the 943 is a pokey piece of steel, I believe in pokey steel, I believe in pokey sticks and I believe in copper, lead, aluminum and by golly I even believe in plastics for self defense, they are no magic charms, though they can feel like it.

IMO a properly sharpened 943 can poke and slice quite well.
 
Thanks again to everyone for the informative responses.

I have a couple more quick questions.

1. Which are the best and most reliable online retailers for these knives?

2. I have read some posts and seen some videos of people claiming the Adamas 275 is prone to opening involuntarily, and the ZT 0200 has lock problems that cause difficulty for it staying open.

Either one of these problems sound serious, ie, I don't want a knife opening in my pocket, and I don't want a knife closing up on my fingers. These are the two knives discussed so far that appeal to me the most. Would anyone be willing to speak on these issues?
 
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