I'm looking for a nice folding pocket knife that comes really sharp out of the box. Maybe something with both a straight edge as well as a serrated edge. If I get a nicer knife do I really need a serrated edge? Are there any that stay reasonably sharp without having to resharpen them? I was looking at the Kershaw Ken Onion Black Cyclone and it looked pretty nice...but I don't know a damn thing about knives and I thought I would look to you guys for some guidence.
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I'm a newbie who wants a sharp pocket knife. Help appreciated.
- Thread starter frogman54
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Avoid kershaw they dont have the sharpness your tlaking about. Get an Emerson that is chisel ground. Sharpest factory knives available.
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A few things that will go a long way in determining what knives folks may recommend to you...
~ What's your price range?
~ What is the intended use of the knife? Do you need something heavy duty or something for light carry?
~ What's your price range?
~ What is the intended use of the knife? Do you need something heavy duty or something for light carry?
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I'd recommend the Kershaw Leek for a knife knewbie. Depending on what steel you get, it'll stay sharp for quite a while without having to resharpen it!
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frogman54 said:
we usually try to stay low key.
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True, but he is talking to his friends, not some random stranger....I hope
Benchmade, Spyderco, Cold Steel, Kershaw and others come with shaving sharp blade right out of the box, at least mine did.
Benchmade, Spyderco, Cold Steel, Kershaw and others come with shaving sharp blade right out of the box, at least mine did.
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The only company that has consistently given me scary sharp knives OTB is Spyderco.
The sharpest knife I've ever had, OTB or otherwise, was my Spyderco D`allara drop point, which is an excellent, although large, knife.
It's about 55 bucks on NGK, so it's a great deal.
Another great knife you might like is the Spyderco Paramilitary
The paramilitary is about 115 on NGK, but is much slimmer and lighter than the d`allara. I personally think it's worth it.
It'll help us to help you if you give us data on what you want in these specs:
Blade Length
Steel quality (if you need to have the latest super steel or don't care)
Lock type
Handle material
Right now though, I'd say, go to www.newgraham.com and look through their spyderco pages and find some you like, them come abck and report on this thread. You can do the same on NGK for any knife mentioned here.
The sharpest knife I've ever had, OTB or otherwise, was my Spyderco D`allara drop point, which is an excellent, although large, knife.
It's about 55 bucks on NGK, so it's a great deal.
Another great knife you might like is the Spyderco Paramilitary
The paramilitary is about 115 on NGK, but is much slimmer and lighter than the d`allara. I personally think it's worth it.
It'll help us to help you if you give us data on what you want in these specs:
Blade Length
Steel quality (if you need to have the latest super steel or don't care)
Lock type
Handle material
Right now though, I'd say, go to www.newgraham.com and look through their spyderco pages and find some you like, them come abck and report on this thread. You can do the same on NGK for any knife mentioned here.
Kershaw Leek G10/S30V or Spyderco (Whichever you like, their all great). Typically both of these manufacturers produce very sharp factory blades.
The Avalanche is a great knife. G10 and S60V - you can't go wrong. This knife would hold an edge for a while. I am a big fan of Ken Onion's designs. They are very functional knives.
Spyderco is known for their QC in sharpening. Even though they are mass produced I have not had a bad one yet. They all come at 15 degree grind per side. This makes sharpening on a sharpmaker very easy if you do need to resharpen.
I also like both of these companies because they offer great steel options. If you don't want to sharpen look at steels like S30V, S60V, VG-10, ZDP-189, 154CM, ATS34, and BG42. This will make a huge difference in how long they hold an edge.
Even though you stated you don't want to sharpen I think you need to buy a sharpmaker. For $50 you will be able to keep all you knives shaving sharp. All knives will need to be resharpened with regular use and the sharpmaker is one hell of a deal. It will sharpen straight or serrated and offers angle choices. I give them as gifts and everyone that I have given them to tells me how much they like it. It is a GREAT PRODUCT!
AVOID GERBER AT ALL COSTS!! They will not hold an edge.
The Avalanche is a great knife. G10 and S60V - you can't go wrong. This knife would hold an edge for a while. I am a big fan of Ken Onion's designs. They are very functional knives.
Spyderco is known for their QC in sharpening. Even though they are mass produced I have not had a bad one yet. They all come at 15 degree grind per side. This makes sharpening on a sharpmaker very easy if you do need to resharpen.
I also like both of these companies because they offer great steel options. If you don't want to sharpen look at steels like S30V, S60V, VG-10, ZDP-189, 154CM, ATS34, and BG42. This will make a huge difference in how long they hold an edge.
Even though you stated you don't want to sharpen I think you need to buy a sharpmaker. For $50 you will be able to keep all you knives shaving sharp. All knives will need to be resharpened with regular use and the sharpmaker is one hell of a deal. It will sharpen straight or serrated and offers angle choices. I give them as gifts and everyone that I have given them to tells me how much they like it. It is a GREAT PRODUCT!
AVOID GERBER AT ALL COSTS!! They will not hold an edge.
Cougar Allen
Buccaneer (ret.)
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Mosey on over to The Toolshed: Knife Care, Maintenance, Tinkering & Embellishment and learn how to sharpen a knife. You can make any factory knife much sharper than new, and keep it that way. 
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Are there any that stay reasonably sharp without having to resharpen them?
No knife will stay sharp forever. The rate at which it becomes less sharp will depend on what you use it for and how often you use it as well as from what steel the blade is made. See the comments above about finding instructions for sharpenning a knife.
If I get a nicer knife do I really need a serrated edge?
At the risk of raising someone's ire, my opinion is that unless you cut rope all the time, you do not need a serrated edge. I am new to this forum, but have carried and used knives for 40 years. I have carried serrated, plain edge, and combo edges. Plain edge has worked out to be best for me. But, I do resharpen my knives.
Spyderco and Benchmade have some very nice blades in your price range. Good steel, good workmanship. Nice designs that are comfortable to carry and to use.
No knife will stay sharp forever. The rate at which it becomes less sharp will depend on what you use it for and how often you use it as well as from what steel the blade is made. See the comments above about finding instructions for sharpenning a knife.
If I get a nicer knife do I really need a serrated edge?
At the risk of raising someone's ire, my opinion is that unless you cut rope all the time, you do not need a serrated edge. I am new to this forum, but have carried and used knives for 40 years. I have carried serrated, plain edge, and combo edges. Plain edge has worked out to be best for me. But, I do resharpen my knives.
Spyderco and Benchmade have some very nice blades in your price range. Good steel, good workmanship. Nice designs that are comfortable to carry and to use.
