Info for EDC/LEO folders

M

montereyfrog

Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
13
I've been away from the forums for quite awhile and need some "welcome back" help on a new folder. (PS I still cant seem to find any search options for this forum)

My current collection includes a Spyderco Millie, Kershaw Leek and a Kershaw Blur. In the past I have come into contact with a variety of BM and Cold Steel knives (Hatamoto and Voyager) and have come to, what I think is, the best set of options that seem to appeal to me. I have been looking around for a new folder to use for EDC and LEO work and am honsetly at a loss because of new steels and options on knives.

From my very limited experience on steel quality, S30V and VG-10 have always been good to me. I came across a SOG Aegis online and love the shape and size of it but have heard mixed opinions on AUS-8 and lock strength.

So far what I have put together is that I am looking for a full size blade and handle (Millie just feels SO good in my hand, which are big), a strong, reliabe and sharp steel that doesnt require a ton of sharpening, assist-opening (not a peace officer anymore so full auto is out) with an axis lock/release type of setup in the handle. I am pretty steadfast on assist-openers and full auto openers as they have saved my life a couple of times.

I carry the Leek as my EDC small chore cutter and have two RAT fixed blades as my field knives (RC-3 and RC-6)

Any recommendations are much appreciated. My cost window is about $200 and under.

Thanks
 
well IMO you already own the best knife under 200 dollars that folds but...

benchmade 913 should fit your bill. D2 is good stuff. large blade, big enough handle, light weight. Ti liners as well. available for under a hundred bucks if you look around.

p.s. I believe people who say aus-8 is good never cut anything hard or think if it will hack through paper it's still sharp. or maybe my examples from boker/sog have just been uniformy awful outliers.
 
If you are a LEO I would get a spyderhawk or a tasman salt. Carried in the left pocket (assuming your service weapon is right hand carry), you can whip that hawkbill out if someone ever tried to disarm you. Michael Janich speaks about a technique for LEOs and it is very straight forward ina youtube video hosted on Mr. Blondes channel.
 
@ Redisburning - Thx..the 913 looks good. Im a big fan of spear points and leaf blades. I dont carry (firearm) when im off-duty anymore so, that's a part of my need as well to have something for defense.

@ Gundude - While I agree with you and Red that the Millie is a damn fine blade, it's still a manual opener. Assist/Full Auto just means that much to me and it's done enough for me that I wont compromise on that part. The liner lock over Axis release maybe...but not that.

@ Revdevil - I'm not an LEO anymore. I moved to the private sector and am trading my time between Housing (still carrying my mod 1911) and corporate suit stuff. Those that you suggested look like a good off-hand option but, I also need something for EDC utility as well. Curvies don't give me that option, but thank you for the suggestion :)

About the only thing that would get me to use a manual opener would be if they made a Hatamoto with a more "Emerson-like" handle that was a little more finger friendly. As much as I love that one, I just could never get over the fear that I would wind up fingerless in some fight. :o

Ok, so. One viable option so far...anyone else?
 
Last edited:
Well, you don't have many choices if you want Axis and assist. There are two knives (and their smaller versions).

580, which is the Barrage, and 583-1, which is the Warn. The Warn only comes in tanto blade if that matters. http://www.benchmade.com/products/580 and http://www.benchmade.com/products/585

Personally, I would go for a flipper with an assist. I can see the need for you to open the knife fast in a life and death situation, but to close it fast? There are many more assisted liner/framelocks than there are axis assisted knives. The only other knife that has an Axis type mechanism that I can think of is the Manix 2, but that one doesn't have an assist. Not sure what your budget is, but there is an assisted version of the knife I just took delivery of. Check the review forum for my review of the DDR HTM2 Gunhammer. It's a linerlock. Semi-custom knife.

EDIT: And if you want to stick with strictly Benchmade, have a look at this: http://www.benchmade.com/products/790 It's an assisted framelock.
EDIT 2: Throwing a curveball out there. Fixed blades not appeal to you or illegal for carry? Nothing is faster than deploying a fixed blade.
EDIT 3: Best bang for the buck IMO for an assisted opener with a flipper is the ZT 0350. It's a liner lock, but the 0350 linerlock makes your Millie linerlock look anorexic in comparison. Not attacking the Millie...just telling you what it looks like. :P. For what it's worth, I have zero experience with the Millie. 0350s run around 110 bucks. They have a bigger version which is a framelock for 240ish. Both can be found on the exchange quite often as blems for a lot cheaper.
0350: http://www.the-knife-connection.com/zt-milfoldingbld-0350.html
030x: http://www.the-knife-connection.com/zt-milfoldingbld-0300.html

0350 vid with a comparison to an Millie.
[youtube]O4x8orauxas[/youtube] fast forward to 2:48 to see a comparison shot of the Millie and 0350 liners.
BTW: 0350s weigh 5.8 ounces not what they advertise as 6.something.

EDIT 4 (damn, so many edits!): If your concern is getting cut by closing a knife that's not Axis, than a flipper is a great alternative because the flipper tang will hit your index finger preventing you from closing the blade once you disengage the lock. Use that as your cue to move your finger out of the way.
 
Last edited:
The desire for axis is merely for my personal like for the ease of closing and i've heard different things about the strength of Axis vs Liner. It's not for the speed of closing it...that I could care less about and doesnt have anything to do with a fear of cutting myself.

E1 - I dont have any real need for it to be any brand. As long as it is quality and can perform, thats all I need.

E2 - I live in California. The only people that carry fixed blades around with them are the Seals from Coronado, the Jarheads from Pendleton and the biker gangs :D I have two RAT fixed blades. One stays in my GO-bag, the other on my daypack.

And thank you for the ZT 0350 suggestion. That one looks like a winner to me and unless I see something obvious to change my mind, I think I'll be checking that one out. Would take that ZT 0300 but...damn. $$$$$$$$$$$
 
montereyfrog said:
And thank you for the ZT 0350 suggestion. That one looks like a winner to me and unless I see something obvious to change my mind, I think I'll be checking that one out. Would take that ZT 0300 but...damn. $$$$$$$$$$$
Click to expand...

Don't count out the 030x (X denotes the many different variations in color; some have camou on the blade, some have striping, etc). Send a private message to this bladeforums dealer http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=655074&page=8 . I just found out he won't get blemishes in for a while, but he does have really good prices. He might be cheaper than the average 240 for a new 030x.

For your personal insight, Zero Tolerance is owned by Kershaw.

BTW: The 0350 comes in an uncoated satin finish exclusive to knifeworks.com Same price as the DLC coated one.
 
Thx. One thing that occured to me...Any reports that you know of about snagging on that flipper? Seems damn big for an assist opener. First thing that came to mind was the potential to shave it down a little.
 
montereyfrog said:
Thx. One thing that occured to me...Any reports that you know of about snagging on that flipper? Seems damn big for an assist opener. First thing that came to mind was the potential to shave it down a little.
Click to expand...

How do you mean snagging? I've carried an 0350 for several months now and have never caught it on anything.
 
Either putting back into pocket or pouch while tip up or drawing while tip down and having it "grab" on the lip of jeans, pack whatever.

Only ever owned one flipper knife, my Leek, and flipper is so subdued that it would never happen with it but...just an idea that came to mind.
 
montereyfrog said:
Either putting back into pocket or pouch while tip up or drawing while tip down and having it "grab" on the lip of jeans, pack whatever.

Only ever owned one flipper knife, my Leek, and flipper is so subdued that it would never happen with it but...just an idea that came to mind.
Click to expand...

If you carry it tip up, than it shouldn't be a problem even if it snagged because the flipper tang is rounded. If it snagged, it would just slide off the flipper.

I carry it tip down and even then I have never had it snag, or open in my pants for that matter. Hope this helps.
 
It does. Thank you. Looks like a good find. I sent off an email to that link you posted. Thanks for the help.
 
The Aegis is a great knife, and I love it, but the AUS-8 on mine sucks horribly. I had to cut some zip ties one day and after the third one I noticed there was a small chip in the blade. I was able to get it out with a few swipes on the sharpening stone.
 
Considered the combative edge m1? on sale for 135... ti framelock with a pretty good steel to boot...

I also am very fond of my ZT350....
 
I love my Spyderco Endura with the wave. It is the fastest folding knife that I have ever deployed. I'm an LEO and it's the knife that I carry on my reaction side. It's good for stabbing and slashing if needed.

It's also well under your $200 limit.
 
cutter17 said:
I believe BM has the 615 in assisted opening, and axis lock.
Click to expand...

Meant to add that this is the mini Rukus, but is anything but "mini"! They are a limited run but can still be found. Check with Roger at www.knifeworks.com as he has some. Price is under $200, not by much though. I haven't has the assisted 615, but the regular models are extremely hard duty knives.
 
I personally don't see the need for and AO with the way knives are being made these days. My 710 will open just as fast all of the AO I have tried, and my little 556 mini grip even faster due to the small blade, and this is using the thumb studs not the open lock flip. With a little practice it is easy to become consistent with it and I always get a solid lock up with the Axis lock. I think about the only thing out there that would be quicker would be a waved knife, also with practice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top