Knife for my college-bound sister

My 19 yo daughter's friend recently ask me to go with her to pick out a knife. What did she pick? A Kershaw Zing. Said the grip was just right for her hand.

My daughters favorite? The Ken Onion Vapor, also from Kershaw. She has had it for a few years now. I never seen anyone misplace and find a knife so many times in my life.
 
Swiss Army Nail Clip Wood 580

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A GIRL would NEVER like a mulitool!! Multitools unfortunately don't have that cool factor that a knife does. Unless she is an extreme tom-boy or paramilitary (police, paramedic, outdoor enthusiast) she's going to want something sleek, stylish, girly(or refined look.

I don't know why hardly anyone mentioned kershaw. They are THE BEST in quality, design, maintenance free(besides the very common steel) in its price range.

look at the kershaw leek that comes in ridiculous variety of colors even incandescent. Its razor sharp and a nice slicer.

or the boker ceramic knife
http://www.amazon.com/Boker-Plus-An...07790597&sr=8-2&keywords=boker+ceramic+knives

will never need to be sharpened but hopefully she's not prying anything with it.
 
Spyderco Dragonfly in one of it's many versions. Great for small EDC.

I would also get her a smaller SAK. They are even more steeple friendly and come in so many colors and a variations that you would likely find a combo that suits her well.
 
NOLIKEIT said:
I will purchase ESEE knive over any brand.
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Ookaaaaayy......!?
Thats a bold statement:)
Ive bought several ESEE knives and am a huge fan.
Ill most likely buy another ESEE knife, as theyve yet to let me down.
But buy them over ANY and all other makes.....?
Theres an awful lot of knives put there.
Of course, if you buy knives PURELY from a cost benefit/warrenty POV, they are hard to beat.
 
Spyderco LadyBug Salt or DragonFly Salt with H-1 blade that doesn't rust, under 2.5" or 2" blade and very light.
 
Aside from the Spydercos and Kershaws and Benchmade mentioned above, let's throw in something different.

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Boker Plus Nano.
Small, cute, compact, 440C.
Definitely won't be seen as a weapon.

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Boker Plus Kwaiken.
It has a 3.5 inch blade,
but overall size is very sleek and compact.
Flipper, ti handles, Aus8 steel.

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Boker Plus Urban Trapper.
3.5 inch blade but very sleek and compact.
Enough blade length to use but very lightweight for an EDC.
A very nice VG-10 steel to go with. Ti handles.

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ESEE Zancudo.
A very useful, lightweight and affordable EDC.
Comes with a lot of different handle colors.

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Kershaw Crown.
Unlike the Leek which is recommended by a lot of people,
it's not an assisted opening knife,
and has a elegant look of gentlemen knives to it.
Very affordable.

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Lionsteel SR-2 Aluminum.
Probably the best knife in all my recommendations,
and just under the 200$ limit.
Has a medium size but very sturdy and can take a beating,
comes with a lot of different handle colors too.
Has the roto lock and monoblock handle.
Sleipner steel doesn't have a very high rust resistance though.
 
First and foremost, good brother. I like where your head's at but consider these things:

1. These days a knife at school can lead to serious consequences, especially on campus.
2. Male and female students will raise their eyebrows at her.
3. Consider an absurdly high output lumen flashlight, compact, with a pummel (serves more than one purpose and security can't argue much against a flashlight).
4. Consider a tactical defense pen (same rationale as flashlight).

Other than that get her a slip joint or a ZDP dragonfly. I'm all for your sister having a knife, but schools have a tendency to make examples of people and primarily operate under CYA - you don't want her kicked out of school. As far as the school's knife rules/criteria, think of all the cops and other forms of authority that laugh in the face of those who say "but it's under xyz inches," or "it's just a little pocket knife."
 
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This thread took off!

There's no way to respond to everyone, so I'll just state where I'm at right now.

I'm getting one dedicated modern one handed opening locking folder that's under 3 inches. Most likely a 2.7 inch crkt ripple
I might also be getting her the SAK Waiter that was suggested by someone on here. She can throw it in her purse so she has something for opening bottles and cans and such
I'll get her a lansky pocket sharpener for touching up her ripple and SAK

As far as suggestions, I don't mind more options, since I won't be getting the stuff for a little while.

Oh and stabman, I can't ask her...... That kinda defeats the purpose of a birthday present. It's supposed to be a surprise:)
I'm currently basing my decisions on observations she had whenever I showed her my new knives, and one time when I DID in fact go through a bunch of them online with her, because she expressed interest in getting one of her own. But she never really followed through with it, so that's why I'm getting her one now
 
Krissig12 said:
Oh and stabman, I can't ask her...... That kinda defeats the purpose of a birthday present. It's supposed to be a surprise:)
I'm currently basing my decisions on observations she had whenever I showed her my new knives, and one time when I DID in fact go through a bunch of them online with her, because she expressed interest in getting one of her own. But she never really followed through with it, so that's why I'm getting her one now
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That's probably the best input right there. :)
 
Has anyone suggested the small Buck Vantage Pro in S30V?

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Under normal use the edge should last a good while, it's small and inoffensive, and made in the USA for people who worry about that.
 
Tasman Salt Spyderedge, it's very light and small and completely unnecessary to take care of at all since H1 doesn't rust. The hawkbill/Spyderedge combo cuts extremely well for its size and can certainly double as a weapon if need be.
 
I gave my daughter a Kershaw Scallion as her first knife. Small well made assisted flipper and thumb stud, she loves it.
 
Before you buy, take a look at the Sanremu GB-702. It's a copy of a Swedish Klotzli design. Small - 3.6" closed, 2.6" wharncliffe blade, 1.73 oz., thin, single thumbstud or thumb flipper activation (like the Skellern designed Boker Exskelibur), good detent, lanyard hole, G-10 covers. Mine has a solid lockup and came sharp. Good little knife for about $ 15.
 
My vote is a Spyderco Native in black, or pink if she's a girly girl. The design lends it's self to disappear in the pocket, and is strong enough to handle any job she would need a folder for. It's s30v, great steel.

In your price range, maybe the Native 5, it's a really nice blade.
 
Yo Mama said:
My vote is a Spyderco Native in black, or pink if she's a girly girl. The design lends it's self to disappear in the pocket, and is strong enough to handle any job she would need a folder for. It's s30v, great steel.

In your price range, maybe the Native 5, it's a really nice blade.
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I have the native 5. She says she doesn't like the looks.
 
I still say buy multiiples of something she likes (in various colors, if that appeals to her), and swap them out every year at Christmas or something.
 
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