Im new and i need help.

D

Darkfiremat

Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
3
I am new to this forum and i often get redirected here from other site when im looking for something. So i thought i would register and just ask my question and learn more about knives.
So i would like to know what type of knife i should get for my job?
I work at canadian tire and the thing i mostly use my knife for is opening boxes, cutting boxes, cutting tyrap, cutting plastic and thing that require a bit more precision then my finger.
I have two knives at the moment but from what i read both of them are not super good the first knife is a gerber paraframe knife the other one is a Smith&Wesson border gard 4 tanto.
For the S&W my problem is that the knife is way too big and it look a bit overkill to work and cut box with that (im doing customer service)
For the gerber my problem is that it doesn't hold it edge, it gets dented simply by cutting cardboard but the size is really perfect
So could anybody help me to get a good knife for work?
ps. both of these knive have something i dislike they are kinda tricky to open id love to know if there is a better mechanism or if it just me ?
 
Something from the Spyderco line would probably suit you: feels great, slices like a razor, and holds an edge for a long time.

Try the Dragonfly or Calypso.
 
I think you're in need of a Kershaw Skyline. Lightweight, good steel, grippy G-10, sheeple friendly, manual flipper, great pocket clip design, and it's only $40. Get it from kershawguy (www.kershawguy.com). His name is Dave.
 
Get a really good box cutter, and some nice Irwin blades. Then get yourself whatever knife suits your fancy, use the box cutter for work and the other knife for play ;)

If that doesn't sound good for you, I second the vote for a Spyderco.
 
If you're in Canada you need a legal knife, any knife that can open with centrifugal force is technically as illegal as any switchblade, punch dagger, or heck, a spiked morning star flail.

Features I wouldn't want:

-a flipper
-an Axis lock
-a bushing pivot (Paramilitary, Manix2, Native5)
-a liner or framelock (tightening them makes them hard to open due to the ball detent)


I would want a lockback since you can tighten them to avoid "inertia opening" while the knife still remains relatively easy to open with your thumb. I really like my Endura4 FFG, but it might be too large for customer service duties...

I would say the Delica4 FFG. Not too big, not too small, solid, well-designed, legal, good steel, good blade grind for slicing through things, not too expensive and comes in several different colours.

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The CRKT folding Razel is a great knife for what you do.I know it looks funky but for mechanic work it is awesome! It is the one in the middle.
 
bpeezer said:
Get a really good box cutter, and some nice Irwin blades. Then get yourself whatever knife suits your fancy, use the box cutter for work and the other knife for play ;)

If that doesn't sound good for you, I second the vote for a Spyderco.
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Saved me the trouble! :D

A box cutter with a sliding blade that you can replace will solve the unspoken question: how hard is cardboard on a sharp edge? (Very!) Cardboard has a lot of grit in it. Tears up even the best steels. It's actually like cutting up a low-grade sandpaper.
 
so it would be useless to get a new knife for work because im just gonna break it?
another question is the df8 from gerber a good sharpener or is it bad like the paraframe?
 
Darkfiremat said:
so it would be useless to get a new knife for work because im just gonna break it?
another question is the df8 from gerber a good sharpener or is it bad like the paraframe?
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that's for rookies
masters need nothing but a piece of knife stone
and a super rookie like me always chooses a fixed-angle sharpener
 
Goosey said:
If you're in Canada you need a legal knife, any knife that can open with centrifugal force is technically as illegal as any switchblade, punch dagger, or heck, a spiked morning star flail.

Features I wouldn't want:

-a flipper
-an Axis lock
-a bushing pivot (Paramilitary, Manix2, Native5)
-a liner or framelock (tightening them makes them hard to open due to the ball detent)


I would want a lockback since you can tighten them to avoid "inertia opening" while the knife still remains relatively easy to open with your thumb. I really like my Endura4 FFG, but it might be too large for customer service duties...

I would say the Delica4 FFG. Not too big, not too small, solid, well-designed, legal, good steel, good blade grind for slicing through things, not too expensive and comes in several different colours.

EFIkuYv.jpg
Click to expand...

Do you live in Canada Goosey? The reason I ask is I have every single one of those and more and have not had any problem. Why couldn't he get a Manix 2 or a native 5? I carry those, I carry a Para 2 it's not ever been a problem, if he was regularly getting in bar fights it might be but if he is a law abiding citizen I think he will be ok. And why wouldn't he want a liner or a frame lock cause he can tighten the pivot?
Sorry I don't want this to come across the wrong way I just don't think that those points are that big of an issue for this particular application.

I like your suggestion of a Delica, I just think he shouldn't be limited to only that knife. There is no reason he shouldn't consider a Native 5, Manix or Manix 2, Caly, Para 2 or, on the less pricey end of the spectrum a Resilience or Tenacious (although both liner locks).
All that said, a box cutter is the best thing for cutting boxes but maybe a combo edge might be useful? I would think a Delica, Para 2, Manix, Manix 2 and if you don't want a combo edge a native 5 is a great small option.
 
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If you're going to be breaking down a lot of boxes, you'll want something with a wharncliffe blade. I'd say you should head over to the Traditionals subforum and see if anything there strikes your fancy. A stockman, wharncliffe trapper, or swayback jack will do great for what you need and also won't be overkill or make any of your customers nervous.
 
DRK said:
Do you live in Canada Goosey? I am assuming you do. I have every single one of those and more and have not had any problem ever. Why couldn't he get a Manix 2 or a native 5? I carry those, I carry a Para 2 it's not ever been a problem, if he was regularly getting in bar fights it might be but he is using it at Canadian tire.
And why wouldn't he want a liner or a frame lock cause he can tighten the pivot?
Sorry I don't want this to sound the wrong way I just don't think that those points are that big of an issue for this particular application. I like your suggestion of a Delica, I just think he shouldn't be limited to that knife. There is no reason he shouldn't consider a Native 5, Manix or Manix 2, Caly, Para 2 or, on the less pricey end of the spectrum a Resilience or Tenacious (although both liner locks).
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I'm just anal about my folders being 100% legal... after reading some excerpts from trial decisions, police reports and CBSA judgements I want to make sure my knives are 100% non-flickable if I run into a police officer or something.

I've seen a Wisconsin cop flail around like he was having a seizure, failing on the first fifteen or twenty tries before finally getting a tightened down blade to swing ninety percent open (didn't lock) and then declaring it a "deadly gravity knife".
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A couple good retractable razor knifes with easily replaceable blades should take care of everything you mentioned better than a folder. Save the edges on the folders.
 
agile_1 said:
A couple good retractable razor knifes with easily replaceable blades should take care of everything you mentioned better than a folder. Save the edges on the folders.
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I agree, considering your job you will have to sharpen the blade a lot unless if you invest in S30V steel knives (Spyderco Sage, Kershaw Random Leek)
 
I second the box cutter.
I've been using an OLFA LA-X for about a year now. The blades are well hardened and thin (cuts stiff material way better than thick knives) the handle is big and grippy (very comfortable), the Auto-Lock system is faster and more convenient than any folder (my opinion), and this specific model has a little pry tool on the handle that has actually held up fairly well, it comes in handy a lot. The two areas I have found it lacking are if you need to dig in ice (which will destroy most knives anyway), or if you must have a pocket clip (loose in pocket carry isn't terrible, you get used to it).
Yes, you can sharpen disposable blades. Yes, you can sharpen your disposable blades with power tools, and make them as ugly and sharp (thin edge geometry usually destroys blade finishes) as you want and it won't matter one bit. Except that your knife will be sharp.
I use a Work Sharp and Spyderco Sharpmaker for sharpening. The Work Sharp can make a mess of things quickly if you're not careful, but it doesn't matter with $0.40 blades (50 pack for $20, which will probably last a lifetime if you keep them sharp yourself).
If you already have a small belt sander (I would use something above 300 grit) and a regular dual grit aluminum oxide stone ($10 just about everywhere) that would probably work almost as well.
 
Goosey said:
I'm just anal about my folders being 100% legal... after reading some excerpts from trial decisions, police reports and CBSA judgements I want to make sure my knives are 100% non-flickable if I run into a police officer or something.
Click to expand...

Hold a delica by the hole and it drops open and locks. Yet another gravity knife. The only way to have a 100% law safe knife is not to carry a knife. You'll be fine if you just be a decent person and use your knife in a law abiding away and you will be fine. I have never had a problem with any cops with years of knife use. Doesn't mean that a cop couldn't take a knife away even I was just using a slip joint.
 
Thalestin said:
Hold a delica by the hole and it drops open and locks. Yet another gravity knife. The only way to have a 100% law safe knife is not to carry a knife. You'll be fine if you just be a decent person and use your knife in a law abiding away and you will be fine. I have never had a problem with any cops with years of knife use. Doesn't mean that a cop couldn't take a knife away even I was just using a slip joint.
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True, but I've never heard of an instance where a police officer in Canada has done a handle-drop on a knife. The law says the blade must open automatically by the application of centrifugal force, and touching the blade would not be an "automatic" opening of the blade since your hand would be pulling it. I keep them tight enough that I can't fling them open with any level of force when holding the handle... sometimes a pain, by it gives me peace of mind. Each to his own.
 
Goosey said:
True, but I've never heard of an instance where a police officer in Canada has done a handle-drop on a knife. The law says the blade must open automatically by the application of centrifugal force, and touching the blade would not be an "automatic" opening of the blade since your hand would be pulling it. I keep them tight enough that I can't fling them open with any level of force when holding the handle... sometimes a pain, by it gives me peace of mind. Each to his own.
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Fair enough, I haven't had a problem and I don't worry about but your right, you never know I guess. I think it is more the situation I wouldn't think if I was driving home and I got stopped that it wouldn't be an issue but if you get the wrong guy or girl who knows... I had a Pathfinder about 10 years ago and I was driving it with factory tint on the windows and the A-hole who stopped me (in a routine check) ordered a $200 full inspection of my vehicle because of it. I had my wife and small child in the car I was polite but it didn't matter. In fact even when I took it into the police station after the inspection they rolled their eyes.
 
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