I hate to do this, but another folder recommendation thread: Help me find my EDCgrail

chanwahyaoh

chanwahyaoh

Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
459
I've never really had a holy grail knife. I was wondering if there is even one out there for me. I've looked at some of the customs on some dealer websites and saw some that I've liked, but nothing that really said "I'm the one". The William Henry TAD Gear exlusive knife really really SERIOUSLY intrigues me, but it's a bit too much.

Keep in mind I don't need a hard-use knife. I work in IT and work in an office environment. I dress business casual, but we have many suits in the office. Typical use includes opening boxes/packaging, cutting zip ties, peeling apples, and occasionally unscrewing the plastic screw-downs on VGA, DVI, Serial, & Parallel computer cables (I swear, some people must torque some of those things down with impact wrenches...).

Here's my list of desired features (and I'd like to have all of these features out-of-the-box rather than having to send away for aftermarket regrinds, scale customization, etc).
  • I like slicers, so I'd like a high grind.
  • Slightly-bellied drop/clip/spear point, or sheepsfoot preferred. No recurves, hawkbills, tantos, etc. I'll consider wharncliffes though.
  • A convex or narrower edge bevel
  • approx 3" blade no thicker than .125"
  • I'd prefer an uncoated blade, but it's not a dealbreaker. Also I'd like the markings/stamps on the blade not to be overwhelming.
  • Locking one-handed opening folder, but no lockbacks. They're not bad, I just don't care for using them.
  • a discrete, understated pocket clip. Deep carry or minimal exposed handle.
  • G10, Micarta, or Wood scales. No fancy/crazy/gaudy designs. I prefer simpler designs, but not necessarily as plain as the sebenza.
  • Budget under $450 with reasonable availability. I'd rather not wait and check the for-sale forums everyday.
To help you get an understanding of my tastes, here's a list of some knives I own/have owned

My current collection consists of:
-PT-CC* - I re-profiled to around 18 deg/side. really like the ergos. I wish it had a pocket clip and a bit longer blade though. If Strider had a model between the size of the PT and SNG, that'd be sweet.
-Ti wilkins mini ritter grip* - a bit heavy for its size, and wish the clip allowed for a bit deeper pocket carry
- G10 wilkins ritter grip (full size) - If the scales were a tad thinner, it would be SO awesome. But just a little bulky overall.
-Spyderco Sage I* - love most everything about this knife, but wouldn't mind one that wasn't as wide when closed. Feels great in my hand.
-Spyderco Leafstorm* - pocket clip not very discrete, not crazy about the blade
-Paramilitary (D2, Foliage Green) - would love it if the handle were a bit shorter, and pocket carry was more discrete
-Umnumzaan - awesome awesome knife...just a little too big for me to carry daily. Usually reserve for weekends
-Military (G10 S30V) - I keep this one clipped into the loop on my camelbak's shoulder strap for when I mountain bike.
-BM Dejavoo - a bit too long for EDC, but love the blade and smooth action. Love the way it feels in my hand.
-ZT0300 - way too bulky for EDC & don't care for the ass't opening. Keep it on my nightstand though
-Boker Hyper - Incredible smoothness for a blade this inexpensive. Wouldn't mind a thinner grind/blade though or a narrower pocket clip. The boxiness and thinness of the scales make it a bit uncomfortable in my hand though.
-Boker Wharcom - keep it in the kitchen "junk" drawer for utility use. Too small for me to EDC - also don't care for the wide clip & feel in the hand.
-Small Sebenza 21* - about as close to graildom as it gets for my tastes

*asterisked knives are part of the EDC rotation

Knives I have had in the past but sold:
-Caly III - preferred the sage which fit my hand better, and I don't care for lockbacks
-3" xm-18 flipper - the blade grind did not suit my purposes well, and I preferred not to get a regrind. Fit & Finish were top notch - loved that, and love the look of it too
-SNG Tanto - too bulky to carry for the blade size it had, and it was a bit overkill for my purposes. Loved the ergos though
-Mcusta Yoroi - no pocket clip, a wee too small, but I loved the blade
-Lum/Seki Cut Encounter - felt a little flimsy to me
-Kershaw Composite Leek & Damascus Shallot - don't care for asst-open, didn't like the steel scales for the shallot, and the pocket clips were a bit too much.
-Delica 4 - don't care for FRN, lockbacks, or the saber grind
-Emerson Mini CQC-7B - did not suit my purposes - did not like chisel grind
-Emerson CQC-12 - again, did not suit my purposes. Frame lock stuck a bit and was VERY easy to over-exert when unlocking. This knife begs for a Hinderer stabilizer
-Bradley Alias I & II - wished the grinds went a little higher on the blade

If I had to put together my dream franken-knife. i suppose I had have the blade pattern from the Mcusta Yoroi, with the primary grind of the Dejavoo & edge bevel from the Sage, bushing & lockup from the Sebenza, wire pocket clip from the Sage/Caly III, and wilkins grip-type scales - but contoured & thinned down a bit like the Strider CC knives.

Sorry I was so long winded, but some people come on here and ask for recommendations like, "What's the best knife for EDC under 100 dollars" and that's all they give you to go with. Thanks for reading!!!!!!

-Brad
 
With you having owned such a variety of knives, wouldn't it be best for you to determine your own "grail knife".
 
So are you looking for a higher end knife since your budget is fairly high? Or would a $50 knife that fit your criteria work?

The carbon fiber Caly 3 sounds perfect except for the lockback. Mine fits me like a glove so I'm surprised it didn't fit your hand well. What size hands do you have? Are you firm on the 3" blade? Because you open up a lot more knives if you can go up to 3.5"
 
BM Dejavoo - a bit too long for EDC, but love the blade and smooth action. Love the way it feels in my hand.

Have you considered the BM Mini-Dejavoo? That's what I have. Seems to hit most of your listed specs but shorter and lighter overall to its bigger brother. I use it when I am wearing dress slacks. I also like it for the reasons you mention plus it rides low in the pocket for office carry.
 
2TONYB said:
With you having owned such a variety of knives, wouldn't it be best for you to determine your own "grail knife".
Click to expand...
I have tried, but haven't found anything that fits my grail mold while looking on my own. My hope was that other members that have seen/owned a lot more knives than I have might have come across a knife that does.

FlaMtnBkr said:
So are you looking for a higher end knife since your budget is fairly high? Or would a $50 knife that fit your criteria work?

The carbon fiber Caly 3 sounds perfect except for the lockback. Mine fits me like a glove so I'm surprised it didn't fit your hand well. What size hands do you have? Are you firm on the 3" blade? Because you open up a lot more knives if you can go up to 3.5"
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Yeah, i would like something toward the higher end. I could stretch my budget a bit if the grail knife was worth selling the rest of my collection for. :) I sold the Caly 3 not because it didn't fit, but because it was too similar to the Sage for me to want to own both. The Sage fit just a bit better and didn't have the lockback. I'm pretty firm on the blade length. I'd consider going up to 3.25" (although I know there really aren't a whole lot of blades that long I'm aware of). 3.5" is just too much for me though. Thanks!


foxtrot2058 said:
BM Dejavoo - a bit too long for EDC, but love the blade and smooth action. Love the way it feels in my hand.

Have you considered the BM Mini-Dejavoo? That's what I have. Seems to hit most of your listed specs but shorter and lighter overall to its bigger brother. I use it when I am wearing dress slacks. I also like it for the reasons you mention plus it rides low in the pocket for office carry.
Click to expand...
The mini is smaller, but I still think it might be a wee bit too big. I may give it a try though, thanks!

beluga said:
I believe Chris Reeve Mnandi would fit in your need.
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I've considered getting one in the past. Thanks for the suggestion!


I appreciate the responses guys. :)
 
From your statements, it sounds like you favor knives that carry narrow (Blade spine to to opposite handle edge while closed).

The best knife in that respect, that I've found, is a Sebenza. I nowadays prefer the small reg. to the small Classic/21, because it fits larger hands better, but any of them are ideal, IMHO. Also, the small Insingo would seem a good choice, too, because of it's modified Wharnecliffe blade.

Possibly a Kershaw G-10 Leek with the A/O spring taken out wouldn't be a bad choice, either. It carries similar to the small Seb & the G-10 model has S30V blade steel.

BM & BlackWater 707/16707 aren't bad choices, either. They carry well. I prefer the BlackWater version to the BM because of its full G-10 scales vs the BM's aluminum handles with G-10 inserts, however the BW's blade has a slight recurve.

If the BM 745 mini Dejavu is too big, then I'm guessing that an ideal folder for you needs to be about 4-4.25" closed or so.

Another folder that "might" be of interest, is Buck's Vantage Pro. Specs list it at 4 3/8" with a low-rider clip, although I thought it measured awefully close to 4.5" (The BM mini Dejavu is under 4.5" closed, BTW).

Emerson's mini A100 might be worth a look, too. I believe it measures under 4.25" closed with a 3" blade. While it does have a chisel edge, it has a V-grind & can be reground into a true V-grind edge easy enough. Emerson's mini CQC7A (Spear point version) might also be worth a look, but will carry wider than the mini A100.
 
CL01 said:
From your statements, it sounds like you favor knives that carry narrow (Blade spine to to opposite handle edge while closed).

The best knife in that respect, that I've found, is a Sebenza. I nowadays prefer the small reg. to the small Classic/21, because it fits larger hands better, but any of them are ideal, IMHO. Also, the small Insingo would seem a good choice, too, because of it's modified Wharnecliffe blade.

Possibly a Kershaw G-10 Leek with the A/O spring taken out wouldn't be a bad choice, either. It carries similar to the small Seb & the G-10 model has S30V blade steel.

BM & BlackWater 707/16707 aren't bad choices, either. They carry well. I prefer the BlackWater version to the BM because of its full G-10 scales vs the BM's aluminum handles with G-10 inserts, however the BW's blade has a slight recurve.

If the BM 745 mini Dejavu is too big, then I'm guessing that an ideal folder for you needs to be about 4-4.25" closed or so.

Another folder that "might" be of interest, is Buck's Vantage Pro. Specs list it at 4 3/8" with a low-rider clip, although I thought it measured awefully close to 4.5" (The BM mini Dejavu is under 4.5" closed, BTW).

Emerson's mini A100 might be worth a look, too. I believe it measures under 4.25" closed with a 3" blade. While it does have a chisel edge, it has a V-grind & can be reground into a true V-grind edge easy enough. Emerson's mini CQC7A (Spear point version) might also be worth a look, but will carry wider than the mini A100.
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Awesome! Thanks for all of the suggestions!!!!
 
You might check out the Tim Galyean Pro Series Sm JYD.

Here is the TNK edition in all black (im not sure if im allowed to post the link, so if you want the link shoot me an email)



Specs(From TNK):

Blade Length: 3"
Cutting Edge: 2 3/4"
Overall Length: 7"
Closed: 4"
Blade thickness: 0.150
Blade: CPM 154 RC 61-62RC
Coating Tungsten DLC
Handle: 6AL4V Titanium Frame Lock
Pivot: Heat Treated 416 Polished
I.K.B.S. BEARING PIVOT :: SMOOTH DEPENDABLE SOLID ACTION.
Screws: Stainless
Standoffs: Titanium 6AL4V
Weight: 3.5 ounces / 98 grams

It also comes in stonewashed, but you will have to find one on the secondary market as that run is gone.
 
I think the standard Military is pretty hard to beat.. and for the price!?! Why would you want to pay more and not really get any better of a knife. Just my .02. But if you want to drop the coin.. get something custom or semi-custom.
 
Seems like you've sampled the platter.

I think ideally you would want to find a custom knife maker that can make everything to your specifications. Obviously may cost an arm, but seems the route to go for such exact specifications.

I honestly think one's "grail" knife would be a knife they personally design.

As you have found with all the knives you've listed there are going to be cons no matter what unless the knife is designed by you! [and even then many makers will critique their hard work]

For me personally the Sage series from Spyderco is about as close as it gets to "Grail Function" and the Sebenza for "Grail F&F/Tolerances" from production companies.
 
Since you liked the Ergo's of the SnG but thought it was to big try the Strider PT. Its just a little smaller then the Sebenza
 
Honestly, from what I read I'd suggest a custom, or at least customizing something... That's what I wound up doing to get just what I wanted.
Hawk45 said:
I think the standard Military is pretty hard to beat.. and for the price!?! Why would you want to pay more and not really get any better of a knife. Just my .02.
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I paid more because I have no desire to own a Military. I don't like the blade shape, I don't like the opening hole hole, I don't like the size (to big), I don't like lanyard holes, and I don't really like tip down carry. I also prefer a backspacer to standoffs. Enough reasons?
 
Lone wolf Diablo it has micarta scales 3.3in cpm s30v has liner lock is available in ether automatic and non automatic.
 
Jeez man, you have or used to have most of the knives in my collection. We have very similar tastes. Saw that William Henry from Tad Gear. Wow. Just hope it does not say Tad Gear on it though.

I love the Pt cc for when I work. Sebenza for everything else. Ritter for fishing. They are grail enough for me now. Like the idea of a good custom. Maybe someday ...
 
Looks like we share very similar taste about folding knives! In my opinion small sebeza is very hard to beat by another production knife. I am also looking for something as you described but still no success...
 
I think the best slicer out there would have to be the Chris Reeve Insingo Sebenza. The blade screams ultimate slicer. My large regular sebenza is a awsome slicer. I cut alot of cardboard and it goes right through it like butter. The blade profile of the insingo is perfect for slicing. You already know how great a sebenza is, so your not going into it blindly. And its definately under your $$50 budget !!!
 
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