Knife advise for a roommate

[talonturbo]

I got him a Boa a while back. He loved it, but eventually lost it. Now he's looking for replacements, and still can't find anything he likes better. $100 would be the max price, since he can replace his boa for that.

He's pretty set on a knife with a 3.5 ish blade (PE), speedsafe, and a flipper.

I'd like to get him something...better. A boa's fine but I (personally) won't trust liner locks. Unfortunately a Dominator is about 150, if they're even still around. And I think he liked the black anyway.

What else is there? If a liner lock's OK with him, what would be better or cheaper than the Boa? He looked at a Leek but found it too "kitcheny".

Maybe a Cyclone? Suggestions?

 

[Kaizen1]

Camillus Heat $40 (Has a liner lock, but it's modified and feels pretty secure to me)
Kershaw Speed Bump $50
Kershaw Spec Bump $100
Benchmade Apparition $100 (Liner lock)

All on eBay

 

[Chin Mullet]

Forget the speedsafe and flipper.

Heck a new Boa is about $120. I think any of the knives below will be a much better knife. Spend $20 more and get a nice G10 Spydie like a Mini-Manix or a Paramilitary. If you have to stay below $100 any of the knives below are better than the Boa (I think).

Benchmade 551 Griptilian $63 -3.45" blade
Spyderco Persian $94 -3.5" blade
Spyderco Paramilitary $113 -3.1" blade
Spyderco Mini-Manix $113 -3.2" blade
Spyderco Stretch $106 -3.5" blade

 

[talonturbo]

I loaned him a Para. He's had it about a week, and he likes it but it just doesn't do it for him. I dunno, he likes the assisted flipper route (as opposed to me, but this isn't for me). And BTW, we looked today, shipped to Canada a new Boa PE is like $101. Oh, and he doesn't like the handle on the bump. I'm out of ideas but give in and let him get another Boa...

 

[KFLEISIG]

Well, it isn't an assisted opener, but perhaps he would like the Spyderco Endura 4 Wave. With the wave feature, it's even faster than assisted, and when sheeple are around, it can be opened with the thumb hole. The price is right, and you get a high end blade steel and Spyderco quality. It's not a liner lock either.

 

[Artfully Martial]

If you wanted to eliminate liner locks, I'd suggest eliminating frame locks too.

That said, there's a good framelock choice on the low end...Kershaw Storm and Storm II...its got a flipper and sandvik for under 35. But no AO. With a flipper, you don't really need it.

The full sized Bump can be had for 170 which does have AO, flipper and framelock.

I've used both of these extensively and can highly recommend them both.

If he doesn't like the bump's feeling, try the Speed Bump, which has a non G10 handle that he might feel differently about (or might not). It's about 50 dollars.

The mini mojo is a common EDC of mine, with a flipper, AO and studlock, for about 60 dollars. Only 440A though.

I would also recommend my most recent aquisition, the Kershaw Avalanche.

G10, S30V and AO for only 80 bucks online. However, it has no flipper and is a liner lock. I thought the loss of a flipper on AO would bother me, but it works fine now. Love this one. Of course, we're still in the honeymoon period.

But don't be too afraid to utilize another Boa. I've handled a couple and really enjoyed it. Blade shape is a little too unorthodox for me, but otherwise, fun knife.