If you could only keep 5 folding knives...

R

Rancho5

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Feb 10, 2015
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I’m thinning my heard of numerous knives that I haven’t carried in a while. The Spyderpac is getting sparse. I’m tired of countless folders that I’ll use someday, so I’ve been pretty active on eBay recently.

If you could only have 5 folders what would you choose? AND...those 5 must represent the entire scope of the usefulness of a folding knife (for example survival, self defense, precision cutting and whatever else)..AND... each knife had to be under $100... which 5 would you choose?

I want to get down to the nitty gritty and only keep what I will carry. For example, I carry my Cold Steel Ti-Lite when I go into bad parts of town. Anyway, you get the idea.
 
No folder that I'd pick to include in an "essential" group of 5 would cost less than $100 in today's dollars.

Without a price limit, my picks would "probably" be:

1) Spyderco Advocate (Titanium Satin M4)
2) Spyderco Military (G10 Satin S30V)
3) Real Steel Megalodon (Titanium Satin M390)
4) ZT 0200 (3D G10 154CM Stonewashed)
5) ZT 0452CF (CF S35VN Stonewashed)

but I could easily create another list of 5, even one composed of knives worth less than $100 (of which I still own many) but I wouldn't consider them all that "essential." ;)
 
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Thanks for the list. Unfortunately my budget precludes me from any of those knives, plus I’ve been known to lose a knife, so I’d rather not cry when that happens :)
 
Spyderco Manix 2 Lightweight - all purpose EDC
Benchmade Mini Griptilian Tanto - nice to have a different blade shape
Spyderco Tasman Salt Serrated - zero maintenance and rustproof
CRKT Folding Razel - beater/scraper
GEC #47 Pruner - self defense
 
A Griptillian, and 4 Civivis.

The list is much different without a limit.


Edit: Forgot the manix. Updated list is a Grip, a Manix 2, and 3 civivis.
 
Rancho5 said:
Thanks for the list. Unfortunately my budget precludes me from any of those knives, plus I’ve been known to lose a knife, so I’d rather not cry when that happens :)
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll play.

Here are 5 knives that cost under $100 that I own and are worth consideration:

1) Artisan Cutlery Shark (Black G10, Blue Liners & D2) - a cheap, sleek and beautiful knife for just $45-50.
2) Buck 110 (Ebony 440) - an essential classic camping folder that everyone should own and that anyone can afford at just $46.
3) Cold Steel Code 4 - a light, thin, easy to carry and virtually indestructible camp knife for just $80 w/a S35VN blade; more for the early CTS-XHP steel version that I own, if you can still find one.
5) CRKT Prowess, Hi-Jinx or Terrestrial (3 cheap but functional EDCs that are about the same size/wt (w/3.25-3.4" blades) w/slightly different ergos & eco steels for just $30-50.
5) Kershaw Link (1776BLK) w/M390 steel for just $80.

I own all 3 of the CRKTs and I consider them interchangeable, although the Terrestrial is a bit more "tactical" in design. If I had to pick just one, it probably would be the Hi-Jinx but only because I also own the much more expensive limited edition titanium version of the knife that was named the 2014 Blade Show "Overall Knife of the Year," as well.

The USA Made Blades "exclusive" M390 Kershaw Knockout is better than the M390 Link IMO; USA Made Blades is a BF Sponsor. You can get one w/a red handle & satin blade for $100 but the one they are offering in black w/a black washed blade for $106 is much sexier IMO. So much so that I'm now thinking of buying one to pair w/the blue satin version that I bought previously. LOL! ;)
 
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I cannot answer this question since my collection has evolved above $100

Just some idea to play the game:
Mass drop gent (an hair above $100) or civici Elementum for a gentleman option
-> I take the Gent

a lightweight spyderco like Native5, para 3 or chaparral for EDC
-> I take the native for it is IMO the most polyvalent (and because the Bugout has somehow spoiled the para3 for me)

a slipjoint because I start to be into slipjoint more as time goes. The Benchmade proper is again am hair above the price limit so I will go for something cheaper
-> I take a manly wasp in12c27

for a beater knife I think I would look at the CS lawman, code 4 or pro lite or ata manix 2
-> I take the lawman because the ninja inside me need at least one black blade :)

I don’t like knives for self défense but because you mentioned it and because I am a fan of Emerson designs I will take a Kershaw Emerson either cqc4 or cqc6
-> I will take the cqc6d2
 
I am going to try this, but from just pure interest, what would be the classic ones I can think of carrying, but maybe not have experience with directly.

Buck 110 or 112, original or Slim Pro and if not limited to the 100.00 limit, some kind of Chris Reeve folder.
Swiss Army knife, preferably Alox, or some kind of Boy Scout Knife
Case or Boker or any two blade trapper, jigged bone
Any 3 blade stockman pattern, medium size
Some sort of Spyderco

And honorable mention for a gents slip joint or Sunday knife.....drum roll please......Benchmade Proper. I had to include six because we are knife people, what can I say?
 
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This guy is entertaining and is bound to bring up some knives that would interest you.

A few I can mention that I own that are good...

Alox SAK pioneer/farmer
Kershaw injection 3.5
Spyderco Native
Buck 110/112
 
Cold Steel TuffLite
Kershaw Shuffle 2
Kershaw Leek in CF and 154CM
Giantmouse Ace Iona
CRKT Pilarge in D2.

I think all of those are under 100 dollars.

Like TRfromMT TRfromMT said, put the money towards a more expensive knife. For me it would be an XM-18 3.5.
 
Under a hundred bucks? Uhhhh...I've got two:

- Cold Steel Recon 1 (XHP model). I got this for like $70 here on the Exchange some time ago. It's been my camping folder for a long time, and is amazing in that role.
- Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter (XHP model). I got this because I loved the design, and it's also been carried on many, many outdoor trips. I won't say these are my "top five if you could only keep five", but they're two in my collection that I really enjoy.

Other than that, all of my "won't ever part with" knives are much more expensive and wouldn't meet the parameters, so won't be mentioned here.
 
If you want to go both budget and minimalist, you don’t need five knives. For everyday beaters, get a Spyderco Endura (full-size) and a Delica (small) and you’re all set. You can abuse them without feeling guilty and you won’t have to cry if you ever lose one. If you want to push it further, get a Buck 110 or 112 for a hunting knife style back-up. If you wanted to, you could even throw in a SAK and a Leatherman to take it up to five and round out your herd.

That being said, I agree with two thoughts above:
1. TRfromMT was IMO 100% correct with suggesting coughing up the bucks for a CRK Sebenza. When you buy a Sebenza, you’re making a lifetime purchase. Right now, I’ve been EDCing a large Sebenza exclusively since 12/2018. It serves well in the “only knife I need or will likely ever need” category. It took me a year to warm up to CRKs, but I wish I’d done so from day #1 and not blown most of a year and a fair amount of $$ working my way through other brands before I got into CRKs. If I had to choose between a Sebenza and five $100 knives, I’d take the Sebenza without hesitation.
2. Sgt1372 also had a good suggestion about the Ti/M390 Real Steel Megalodon. If you watch the BF Exchange for a while, you’ll be able to find one for ~$160ish. The Ti/M390 Meg is a clearly superior piece when compared to the >$100 suggestions and it’s a great buy for only ~$60ish over your hoped-for price cap. The Meg is the only knife that I have two of (an early one with roller bearings and a later one with ball bearings). This is a very subjective view, but I think my Megs are probably ~3/4 the overall equal of my Shiros, while costing only >1/5 as much.

My guess is that if you hang tough, save up and go for a CRK or even a Meg you’ll be happy you did, you’ll develop a real taste for better quality knives, you’ll find yourself forever beyond that $100 wall and you’ll never look back. Good luck with your quandary.
 
I was prepared to give this some serious thought...until I read the parameters.
Now, I'm not sure I'll be able to come up with 5.
1) Buck 501 "Goodfella" (burlap micarta on CPM154 blade)
2) Alox Solo

From there, I'd want to cash in 2 tickets for a Hogue Ritter Mk1-G2, call it good at 3 folders, and find a decent fixed blade.
(Truth be told, I'd be willing to do without the Alox...I rarely carry the one I have)
 
Tough question.....

I would have to keep (not in any order)

1- Hoback Kwaiback
2- CKF Morrf 5
3- Spyderco Military
4- Reate New Torrent
5- WE Bishop
 
cold steel recon 1 SAK not sure which Cold Steel drop forged survivalist Spyderco Endura mora
 
What’s up with these ridiculous scenarios with insanely narrow criteria?

“If you could choose a survival knife, what would it be? And it has to be a folding knife with a 2.5” blade and made of 52100 and have a petrified wood handle.”

Seems like these ridiculous scenarios come up every other week here...
 
ShadyMethods said:
Spyderco Manix 2 Lightweight - all purpose EDC
Benchmade Mini Griptilian Tanto - nice to have a different blade shape
Spyderco Tasman Salt Serrated - zero maintenance and rustproof
CRKT Folding Razel - beater/scraper
GEC #47 Pruner - self defense
Click to expand...
A knife for self defense is already a bad idea, but you take what you can get.

But I'd STRONGLY advise against carrying a slipjoint for self defense...

Really?

:eek:
 
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