I know what I want: 3" drop-point one-hander

B

Boris B

Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
5
I lost my Benchmade Panther recently (I like to blame the moving van but it's probably my fault). I've been out of it for so long I don't know what anyone makes along those lines, but I do know exactly what I want:

1. Blade 2.5 - 3.25" long; probably a drop-point (or something else with decent belly); plain, not serrated.

2. One-handed opening and closing. Back in the day that used to just mean liner lock, but there are a whole bunch of competitors now and I don't know the ins and outs.

3. Handle/scales shouldn't be black. I like plain stainless fine, or colored.

4. Steel blade? Ceramic blade? I confess complete ignorance here.

5. Price: $25-75. I'm not a cheapskate; let's just say the Panther isn't the first knife I've lost.

6. Manufacturers: I've liked the CRKTs, Cold Steels, Benchmades, and Kershaws I've owned, but I'm open-minded.

7. I prefer a stud or disc to a hole in the blade.

What I'm looking for, essentially, is a knife with gentlemanly esthetics (so it won't scare the easily scared) which is practical and not too pricey.
 
Benchmade mini-Griptilian springs to mind.
Spyderco Delica as well.

Add:
Badinoff?
 
Yes, when I was spy with Russian Freedom Service, I used knives made only of borscht. (Just kidding, not really Russian.)

The Mini-Griptilian certainly looks interesting.

Note that I pulled a fickle one and added a new specification, above, namely, I like studs better than holes in the blade (which unfortunately excludes some or all of Spyderco's product line, among others).
 
Take a look at the Kershaw offerings, as they have several under the $75 mark, some with Speed-Safe, and some without.
 
Please note I am not recommending this from personal experience, I do not have one, but it is next on my list of knives to buy.

The Boker Trance seems to fit your requirements almost exactly:

Chad Los Banos Design. Drop point AUS-8 PE blade. Black fiber reinforced nylon handle. Solid framelock. Stainless steel pocket clip. 2-3/4" blade. 6-3/8" open. 3-7/8" closed. ($30 on NG)

EDIT: Sorry, I read handle "shouldn't be black" as "should be black"

BokerTrance2.jpg
 
Boris and Natasha were always such satisfying villains.

Nice thing about the min-grip is it is looks smaller than it is. So it is not intimidating. Yet the blade is a wonderfully functional shape. I carry it when I feel I need to care about proprieties. I carry the black handled model, but I have seen other colors.

It comes in 154CM steel these days. Very good steel.
 
knarfeng said:
Benchmade mini-Griptilian springs to mind.
Spyderco Delica as well.
Click to expand...

These are the two I'd recommend as well.
Excellent steel and very well made.

Since your preference is thumb stud opening, I think the Mini Grip is the way to go.
 
if you like the mini griptilian, take a look at the benchmade mini-ambush. i have both, i actually like the mni-ambush more. you can buy it for $31 online, it is well made and worth more.

the only thing is you have to tighten the screw of the knife a tiny bit when you receive it, as rolling lock makes the knife open and close in two motion, instead of 1 smooth motion tightening the screw of the knife will make it a very smooth opening 1 hand knife.

img10521025930.jpeg
 
Well, this forum has risen to my challenge! That's a whole headful of stuff to think about. I have to say there are some fine knife photographers out there ... every time I see a photo on this site my immediate reaction is MUST HAVE THAT! (Those short fat Bokers on the page G. Scott H. linked look wonderful.)

It sounds like, among Benchmades at least, people are really preferring the AXIS lock. I gather liner-lock is considered unreliable and outmoded (how things change in a few years). Is the monolock not popular among serious knife enthusiasts?

Next, is AXIS technically a spring-assist action? (There are other spring-assisted Benchmades, just not with the AXIS ambidextrous features, I suppose.) Now, legal paranoia question: is there a sense that possible legal hassles for spring-assisted knives are any greater than others? I.e., from people who think they're switchblades?
 
Boris B said:
Next, is AXIS technically a spring-assist action? (There are other spring-assisted Benchmades, just not with the AXIS ambidextrous features, I suppose.) Now, legal paranoia question: is there a sense that possible legal hassles for spring-assisted knives are any greater than others? I.e., from people who think they're switchblades?
Click to expand...

The Axis Lock is a spring-assisted locking mechanism.

It does not propel the blade open.
Knives where the blade is propelled open, which are not automatics, are called
assisted openers. Many knife companies make assisted openers.

Benchmade itself makes some assisted openers (aka "AO") but IIRC none of them use the Axis Lock.

Now, with that said, the well-known fact is that if you pull back on the Axis-Lock (in other words, as if you are unlocking the blade),
the blade is free to swing open on its pivot.

What I'm getting at is that if you have the Axis-Lock in the open position, you can very simply flick the blade open effortlessly.
Then simply release the lock and the blade is locked in place.

And, because of that, Axis-Lock knives can be considered "gravity knives" which are illegal in many areas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top