I want to quicky talk about 3 knives.

[NCCNC]

Over the last three years I have been through many many knives, not unlike many of you. I am sure we all have our favorites. Some of which are high dollar, some are sentimental, and some you just cant explain why you like them (nor should you have to) but you just do. Although I have been through the high end (CRK, Hinderer, Strider, ECT), the blades I find myself reaching for the most are cheap in comparison. Not that I dont love some of my more expensive knives, becuase I do; but there is just someting about some knives that I really like. There are two lately that I have been using and carrying that I have really come to appriciate for what they are, and one that just showed up that is worth a mention.

If you have any that you would like to share, feel free.

1 CRKT ripple (the cheap walmart version). I will start with this one, because I just got it yesterday from a forum member. I took it into the field last night and it cleaned what felt like a TON of fish and it didnt blink an eye. There were no hotspots durring extended use, and the steel (for what it is) was still very very sharp when the task was done. The thing flips like a champ, deploying every single time no matter the ease of pressure, and was easiy cleaned with compressed air afterwards. I want to say that I was very unimpressed with the more expensve framelock version of this knife because of the way that you have to hold the knife while flipping. If any pressure is on the lockbar, it will fail to deploy. I also prefer the aluminium and liner lock on this cheaper version. I know this thing will be a great light use knife, and it will be seeing lots of pocket time down the road.




2. Cold Steel Mackinac Hunter. What can I say....This thing is a lockback beast. I have done things to this knife that other blades would have cringed at, and it shows no signs of giving in. Batoning, stabbing, hammering into things with a deadblow and prying, and general misuse and abuse for a folder. I know many would say that these things are jobs for fixed blades, or different tools all together, but sometimes you gotta do with what ya' got. The triad lock holds strong, and there is still no blade play in any direction. It is heavy, and the fake stag will be replaced by g10 in the near future, but for what it is, this thing is a GREAT knife. If you are looking for a very reasonably priced folder with a strong backbone, I would highly reccomend this guy.




3. Kershaw Avalance in 440v. The ergos on this knife are second to none. The angle of the blade while being held provides excellent leverage while cutting, and the steel takes a nasty sharp edge and keeps it through quite a bit of use. It is quick to touch up, and is just an overall solid package. I really like this knife. The g10 has the perfect amout of grippiness and is about the perfect length for a large hand. I have not found an everyday cutting task (working in a machine shop, where lots of thing need cuttin' lol) that this knife did not accel at. I know they are harder to find now but they would come highly reccomended from me.





Just thought I'd share my thought on these with y'all. Have a good Saturday!

 

[Cereal_killer]

Your thoughts on the ripple and the issue with the frame lock version is very enlightening, my wife just upgraded from one that she could never consistently get to flip.

BTW are the scales screwed on and removable on the liner lock version?

 

[Comeuppance]

My Cold Steel Tuff lite is probably the best cheap knife I've ever owned. The ergonomics are amazing - it feels like an extension of my hand. I often open it, use it, and continue to do work with it open and in my hand. I didn't even notice I did it until someone else stated that they were impressed that I never cut myself with it.

It's also crazy easy to sharpen, and wharncliffes are so insanely functional for day-to-day tasks that this knife has heavily influenced my current designs for my first knives, and was also a large part of the inspiration for a knife I almost had made by someone else.

 

[bpeezer]

Your thoughts on the ripple and the issue with the frame lock version is very enlightening, my wife just upgraded from one that she could never consistently get to flip.

BTW are the scales screwed on and removable on the liner lock version?

Yes, the scales are removable. This leaves them open to potential modifications

 

[Bigfatts]

I can echo the sentiments on the liner lock Ripple. I was very impressed wkith mine. I carried it for over a year at work with 0 maintenace using it like a throw away knife and it held up great. It sure doesn't look new anymore but it still flips like a dream.

 

[Cereal_killer]

Yes, the scales are removable. This leaves them open to potential modifications

http://s30.postimg.org/g335a3qs1/Ripple_and_Carpenter.jpg[/QUOTE]

That looks awesome, not that the ripple isn't already but that really makes it look like a true Gentleman's knife, very elegant!

Here's my wife's old one: (with some of her other EDC)
[URL=http://s452.photobucket.com/user/1badv8dime/media/FC77D43D-B50C-4C77-82C7-3F825434FB5D.jpg.html][IMG]http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/1badv8dime/FC77D43D-B50C-4C77-82C7-3F825434FB5D.jpg[/URL]