I find that I am constantly looking for better EDC options whether it be knives, pens, flashlights, watches, camera equipment....you name it. In the process I have purchased quite a bit of nice gear, all of which gets used. Until my latest knife purchase, I have never been fully satisfied with a modern folding knife. I always manage to find faults in ergonomics, blade steel, blade thickness, blade grind, or the aesthetics of a knife.
What knife works well for an individual obviously depends on a number of internal and external factors including but not limited to: occupation, hobbies, local regulations, budget, hand size, and personal preferences. I am a 28 year-old, HR professional living in Buffalo, NY. I enjoy photography, fishing, and I do a fair amount of cooking. I'm also a fairly large guy at 6'2" and over 200 pounds. One of my first knives that I carried regularly 12 years ago was the SOG Twitch II. I remember being so proud of that little knife with its assisted opening and AUS 8 steel. I even bought it three separate times after loosing it a couple times. While I was in college I stopped regularly carrying a knife, however I still had the SOG. It wasn't until I was nearing the end of grad school that I got back into carrying a knife.
I read blade forums and watched youtube videos trying to find what knife I would get. I wanted a small Sebenza, but spending $350+ on a knife at the time seemed ridiculous. Ultimately my first purchase was a Spyderco Dragonfly II in VG10 (which I ended up giving to a friend after buying the ZDP model). I proceeded to purchase most of the FRN line up in a variety of steels. The Hap 40 Delica is one of my most used knives. The extra thin blade stock on the Hap40 model makes it an unbelievable slicer and the Hap40 steel gets insanely sharp and holds and edge so well.
I still wanted a Sebenza, but wanted to continue looking for a cheaper option, so I purchased a Sypderco Sage. While I enjoy the integral lock, the leaf shape blade and the large handle to accommodate the blade always seemed unnecessarily large for 3 inches of cutting ability. I also purchased a Chaparral for the choil, deep carry wire clip, carbon fiber, and smaller size. The Spyderco Chaparral remains to this day as one of my favorite knifes and top recommendation for a budget gentleman's carry. My final Spyderco non-frn is the Gayle Bradley Air. I liked the Air because it disappears even in gym shorts and has M4 blade steel.
My only other recent modern folder (other than the star of this post) is the Three Sisters Forge Beast. I found a great deal on the Beast, loved the bronze anodization, integral lock, and was happy with s35vn steel....almost a Sebenza right? I carry the TSF Beast occasionally, but the thick blade stock and saber grind makes it a fairly poor slicer.
I then deviated into the traditional knife world. I find traditional knives especially beautiful, I love that the steel patinas with use, they take up relatively small pocket space for the provided utility, non-knife people are fascinated rather than put off by them, and I even enjoy the hunt and competition to purchase one (TC Barlow especially).
Well I did not get my Sebenza...
But I did get the Knifeart exclusive carbon fiber Small Inkosi. I was debating between this model and the carbon fiber small 21 insingo, but what sold me was that there were still stock of numbered Inkosis left.
The Small Inkosi has exceeded my expectations. It is light weight (even more so in carbon fiber), has a great action from the oversized washer, by far the best lock up of any knife I have handled, good ergonomics (have seen many complaints on youtube, but works for me), and I cannot complain about the s35vn even though it's not my current favorite HAP40.
The fit and finish of the Chris Reeves knife is just a notch above the rest, which should be expected. The handle to blade ratio far exceeds the competition (granted the choil on the Spydercos is a great feature), and the slicing ability far exceeds the Beast due to the blade geometry even though they both use s35vn. The only really complaint I have is that the location of the lanyard is somewhat awkward, but this is easily remedied. Looking back on the last couple of years, I probably should have bought the Sebenza upfront rather than searching for a less expensive alternative. However in the journey to my Inkosi I purchased many incredible knives with my favorite modern folders being the Spyderco Chaparral and Hap40 Delica and my favorite traditionals being the TC Barlows, NF Barlows, and Northwoods Esky Zulu.
Please feel free to share your stories and pictures.
What knife works well for an individual obviously depends on a number of internal and external factors including but not limited to: occupation, hobbies, local regulations, budget, hand size, and personal preferences. I am a 28 year-old, HR professional living in Buffalo, NY. I enjoy photography, fishing, and I do a fair amount of cooking. I'm also a fairly large guy at 6'2" and over 200 pounds. One of my first knives that I carried regularly 12 years ago was the SOG Twitch II. I remember being so proud of that little knife with its assisted opening and AUS 8 steel. I even bought it three separate times after loosing it a couple times. While I was in college I stopped regularly carrying a knife, however I still had the SOG. It wasn't until I was nearing the end of grad school that I got back into carrying a knife.
I read blade forums and watched youtube videos trying to find what knife I would get. I wanted a small Sebenza, but spending $350+ on a knife at the time seemed ridiculous. Ultimately my first purchase was a Spyderco Dragonfly II in VG10 (which I ended up giving to a friend after buying the ZDP model). I proceeded to purchase most of the FRN line up in a variety of steels. The Hap 40 Delica is one of my most used knives. The extra thin blade stock on the Hap40 model makes it an unbelievable slicer and the Hap40 steel gets insanely sharp and holds and edge so well.
I still wanted a Sebenza, but wanted to continue looking for a cheaper option, so I purchased a Sypderco Sage. While I enjoy the integral lock, the leaf shape blade and the large handle to accommodate the blade always seemed unnecessarily large for 3 inches of cutting ability. I also purchased a Chaparral for the choil, deep carry wire clip, carbon fiber, and smaller size. The Spyderco Chaparral remains to this day as one of my favorite knifes and top recommendation for a budget gentleman's carry. My final Spyderco non-frn is the Gayle Bradley Air. I liked the Air because it disappears even in gym shorts and has M4 blade steel.
My only other recent modern folder (other than the star of this post) is the Three Sisters Forge Beast. I found a great deal on the Beast, loved the bronze anodization, integral lock, and was happy with s35vn steel....almost a Sebenza right? I carry the TSF Beast occasionally, but the thick blade stock and saber grind makes it a fairly poor slicer.
I then deviated into the traditional knife world. I find traditional knives especially beautiful, I love that the steel patinas with use, they take up relatively small pocket space for the provided utility, non-knife people are fascinated rather than put off by them, and I even enjoy the hunt and competition to purchase one (TC Barlow especially).
Well I did not get my Sebenza...
But I did get the Knifeart exclusive carbon fiber Small Inkosi. I was debating between this model and the carbon fiber small 21 insingo, but what sold me was that there were still stock of numbered Inkosis left.
The Small Inkosi has exceeded my expectations. It is light weight (even more so in carbon fiber), has a great action from the oversized washer, by far the best lock up of any knife I have handled, good ergonomics (have seen many complaints on youtube, but works for me), and I cannot complain about the s35vn even though it's not my current favorite HAP40.
The fit and finish of the Chris Reeves knife is just a notch above the rest, which should be expected. The handle to blade ratio far exceeds the competition (granted the choil on the Spydercos is a great feature), and the slicing ability far exceeds the Beast due to the blade geometry even though they both use s35vn. The only really complaint I have is that the location of the lanyard is somewhat awkward, but this is easily remedied. Looking back on the last couple of years, I probably should have bought the Sebenza upfront rather than searching for a less expensive alternative. However in the journey to my Inkosi I purchased many incredible knives with my favorite modern folders being the Spyderco Chaparral and Hap40 Delica and my favorite traditionals being the TC Barlows, NF Barlows, and Northwoods Esky Zulu.
Please feel free to share your stories and pictures.
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Thanks for sharing!
