Just ordered a Ontario Rat 2 and a Benchmade Mini Griptilian, what next?

sjm1580 said:
Really leaning towards the Kershaw Blur as a next purchase. Not sure of all the different options available with that model but that's part of the fun, the research and getting opinions on this site.

Thanks!
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I love my Blur. They're great and for the price it is a really really solid knife. Mine came scary sharp too. Im looking to get another one soon with a plain edge. Also you gotta get yourself a nice Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. They're not too much money and come in a ton of variations. I just picked up a Tinker, it has the tools that I prefer. A lot of people here also like the Hiker, the Farmer, the Climber, etc. Also, you gotta add a Spyderco to your collection. For your price range check out the Manix 2.

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That's a great choice. I had the Camber and I found it too small myself. The Blur locked into my hand perfectly. I sold it to try out the Camber and shouldn't have not that the Camber is bad, just for my average hands I found the Blur perfect. The Elmax Blur is a fantastic choice and the guy that bought my Elmax Blur recently might want to part with it he just just went on one of those crazed knife buying runs lol.

But my ratiional for it is that it gives you an on the larger size of compact EDC folder with a blade stock the same thickness as a ZT 350 or 566 for example. I ended up not liking ZT's as a pocket tank as I don't do anything that might warrant using a pocket tank. But lots of people love them. The Blur gives you an awesome compact handle that locks into your hand with a thicker 0.12 blade. The mini grip is .10 and the Delica is a crazy slicer at .93.

Blurs, Delica and Mini Grips are all equal and very close to perfect in my opinion. I may like the Blur clad in one of the better steels as the best overall EDC if I don't have to take ease of carry in the equation. The Delica beats the Blur in only that its a more compact knife. The Blur is really easy to carry and disappears in pocket.
 
This forum is the best, so much great information to be had and shared. Thanks and keep em coming!
 
Gotta add some knife porn pics! I've gone back and forth between large EDC folder and small multiple times. And for me it comes down to living in the suburbs and NJ. I just don't feel comfortable whipping out a large Sebenza for example in public. So for me the best EDC and knife is one that I am comfortable carrying.

I traded my large Starbenza for this small and a Dragonfly 2. Love all three, but I never carried the large Starbenza when I had it.


Here's the large.



Bradley Alias 2 by Benchmade would love an opportunity to get the manual version someday (all are discontinued)


Camber in the back (too small for me, the curved handle made it uncomfortable, but its a super compact EDC. Kabar Dozier hunter at about $20 is an AWESOME edc for the price. People should just get one for being arguably an awesome under $20 knife. The little Rough Rider locking sodbuster has glow in the dark moonglow scales, enough said!





This knife is like $12 it's my favorite EDC for office. I love this knife.


Bradley Air in CPM M4 awesoe knife steel. It couldn't kick the half whittler out of my pocket for small EDC so I sold it.


Elmax Blur, love it. I sold it to try out the Camber. I didn't need the money, it's just that it became my favorite EDC fast. I would not touch my other knives so long as the Blur was available to grad. Thick blade stock and a crazy slicer, with a handle that locks into your hand.




Opinels are another awesome EDC


Kizer's make really good framelocks this one is in S35V the scales were too slippery for me but its on my bucket list to try one with G10 scales.
 
sjm1580 said:
Really leaning towards the Kershaw Blur as a next purchase. Not sure of all the different options available with that model but that's part of the fun, the research and getting opinions on this site.

Thanks!
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Be careful. Blurs can be a slippery slope...

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(and my very very very meager collection of Blurs is not even the tip of the tip of the iceburg)
 
sjm1580 said:
Right now I am going for what I would call the mid sized edc knives in the sub $100 range, frame or liner lock and am not yet an aficionado of steel types. I like some of the lower profiles knives like in the Kershaw line. Any suggested models or other lines?

Thanks
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I love my Kershaw Zing. American made, Sandvik steel. Three inch blade. Great knife for when you wear slacks. You will have to pick up the US version used though. Kershaw moved production to Asia. Still a nice knife. You can easily spot an American made zing because the blade has grooves in it. Google it.

As for other lines, consider the Real Steel H6 knife. Frame lock, 3 1/2 in blade, Sandvik steel once again. Clean lines and style. Amazing knife for $50-60 bucks.

I would also suggest a couple of knives in the Victorinox Swiss Army line. The Alox Cadet and anything in the Pioneer series. You should be able to pick up a Cadet and a basic Pioneer for about $25-30 each (or less). I just picked up a "Europe only" Pioneer for $33.00 shipped from Germany. A nice addition to my Pioneer/ Soldier/ Standard Issue collection.

The good thing about the Cadet and Pioneer is that they both are sheeple friendly and legal to carry everywhere. Every knife collector should own at least a Pioneer or Cadet.
 
SMJ, that's a great start. I love both knives, especially the Rat 2. That Rat 2 is all that most of us will every really "need" on a daily basis, though owning several dozen knives in addition to the Rat 2 is sorta fun. Rock on.
 
savage99 said:
Delica Delica Delica ( chanting voice )
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OP's been ignoring Spyderco suggestions.

I know that Spydercos can look a bit ridiculous or different at first, but using it everyday is what they are all about. Slicing ability, pocketability, ergos etc. trust me, it mattters.

It's going to be a journey and all the other suggestions so far are awesome as well. Good to have variety and you are off to a great start.
 
Someone suggested that you use both of these knives for a couple of months or so to help you figure out what knife style works best for you. I would have to agree. Then you have some knowledge and experience under your belt. Maybe some wisdom too. That is the time to consider what to purchase next. Not now. Just another way of doing research.

Many of us have been where you are at. Some of us went crazy at this point, buying knives like the world was going to end tomorrow. What do we have to show for it? A bunch of knives that we will never use because they really don't meet our needs. Take it slow and enjoy the experience.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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sabre cat said:
Someone suggested that you use both of these knives for a couple of months or so to help you figure out what knife style works best for you. I would have to agree. Then you have some knowledge and experience under your belt. Maybe some wisdom too. That is the time to consider what to purchase next. Not now. Just another way of doing research.

Many of us have been where you are at. Some of us went crazy at this point, buying knives like the world was going to end tomorrow. What do we have to show for it? A bunch of knives that we will never use because they really don't meet our needs. Take it slow and enjoy the experience.

Just my 2 cents.
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It was so much fun though, it was that itch that needed to be scratched. With a gold membership and the ability to buy and trade I think my total cost into it that time after 50+ knives in was $250 plus shipping.
 
cchu518 said:
It was so much fun though, it was that itch that needed to be scratched. With a gold membership and the ability to buy and trade I think my total cost into it that time after 50+ knives in was $250 plus shipping.
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Like your thinking! Gold membership??? Please tell me what this is?

Thanks
 
$30 and you can trade and sell freely in the buy, trade, sell section of the forum.

Saves you the ebay commission fees from the sales about 15% in total.

Living in NJ/NYC my nearest knife store is Cabell's, 2 hours away in PA, so the only way I get to handle a knife is to buy it. At the end of the day for example in the 3" edc range the mini grip, Blur and Delica are worth it. As are a ton of other knives out there. Working in NYC I carry slipjoint most days. Fantastic little $12 Rough Rider half whittler.

If money were no object, it would still be a small sebenza, delica or blur for me.

I love the mini grip but the scales feel cheap even though I'm certain they're not. (I took a hammer to them quite a few times just for curiosity sakes!) and the Axis lock is fantastic. Easiest non assist opening out there for anyone with bad arthritis for example. I like the mini presidio better than the grip as it fits better in my hand.
 
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SALTY said:
Welcome aboard shipmate!

You first two choices show that you did your research; your small folder EDC category is official taken care of; box checked.

Now you will use these knives and realize that sometimes you may need or want something different; larger, smaller, partially serrated, different design, fixed blade.

You will soon realize that there will be knives that you need and knives that you want. Needs and wants will eventually wind up on you, in you vehicle, in your BOB, spending weekends and time afield with you - or wind up in the safe or on The Exchange.

I have beat-up, scratched-up and loved-up knives that have been with me for years - and we have many memories together. I also have a bunch that rarely see the light of day but i still enjoy owning them.

Back to your short term reality. You'll probably wind up wanting a larger folder (RAT 1?) and a fixed blade or two (large and small) depending on what you do with a knife. Even if you idea of the outdoors is the atrium section of the mall, you may find a passion for fixed blades. I have a pile of knives int he kitchen - kitchen knives but I slice and dice with the Becker BK-5 often.

In that regard you should look at the Becker line for value and quality and ( _fill in blank_ ) the world is your oyster, if you can fund it for higher end production, semi-custom and custom fixed blade knives. The, you can explore sheaths!:D

Back on track, I see a RAT 1 folder along with a larger Becker (Can't not have a 9) and a Tweener (the in-between sized Beckers BK 15, 16 & 17) . Then you start modding those Beckers and buying an extra/back-up to leave stock. Then you'll get a few higher end folders and fixed blades. It's then just a matter of time before you want a custom or three and, before you know it, you'll come back from Blade Show smiling ear-to-ear with new knives though your house will be in foreclosure, your family will have left you and you will be short a kidney. due to its recent sale.

Welcome aboard.
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I was thinking almost the same thing. The Rat is the best working knife I've handled in a while. My brother got one and it just asks to be put to work.

I was also thinking BK7 or BK9. Everyone needs a decent fixed large blade and them aren't expensive but great knives. The 15, 16 or 17 would be a nice addition too. So. Rat, large BK and what they call a tweener would make a well rounded collection.

We think the same.
 
Stays Sharp said:
OP's been ignoring Spyderco suggestions.

I know that Spydercos can look a bit ridiculous or different at first, but using it everyday is what they are all about. Slicing ability, pocketability, ergos etc. trust me, it mattters.

It's going to be a journey and all the other suggestions so far are awesome as well. Good to have variety and you are off to a great start.
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The profile looks a little to much, but I am warming up to the Delica 4!
 
excellent start to a collection! if you have any need for a small neck knife the crkt minimalist knives are quite useful
 
The Delica falls into the Super thin edc category. I thought it was ugly as sin and avoided it the first year after finding this forum. Someone awesome on the forum gave me a really beat up one for free. I used it for a month and instantly went on a 10 knife Spyderco buying spree. My most expensive one to date is the Domino. But after all that, the frn spydercos are far and away my favorites for their thinness. I rotate a Dragonfly in zdp right now. I gave away that original delica and my blue user not to Long ago. If I didn't it would have been the only knife that I usually grab for, its a perfect all around. The ergos work super well for me. Again, same can be said about the blur except that it has a thicker blade stock.
 
cchu518 said:
The Delica falls into the Super thin edc category. I thought it was ugly as sin and avoided it the first year after finding this forum. Someone awesome on the forum gave me a really beat up one for free. I used it for a month and instantly went on a 10 knife Spyderco buying spree. My most expensive one to date is the Domino. But after all that, the frn spydercos are far and away my favorites for their thinness. I rotate a Dragonfly in zdp right now. I gave away that original delica and my blue user not to Long ago. If I didn't it would have been the only knife that I usually grab for, its a perfect all around. The ergos work super well for me. Again, same can be said about the blur except that it has a thicker blade stock.
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OK, I think I am going to expand my knife world (by doubling my collection). Next on my list is the Delica4 and the Blur. Not sure if the S30V blade is worth the extra money on the Blur or not, really like the blue and black handle combination. I am really warming up to the Delica 4 after researching the knife. Gotta start looking for a good place to buy.
 
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