Knife Recommendation for an Air Force Academy Cadet

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DaNuke95

Joined
Jul 28, 2013
Messages
165
Hello all,

I want to get a Birthday knife for my best friend who's a cadet at the Air Force Academy. We've been close friends since the second grade, and he has an appreciation for knives like I do.

His favorite EDC right now is a black washed Kershaw Blur. I want to get him something that is sturdy, but something that he'll want to carry on a regular basis. I'm not sure if it makes much of a difference, but he's planning on becoming a pilot (he's super close to getting his private pilots license, and he's well on his way to flight school in the AF).

I'm looking for something with a blade length less than 3.5" (CO law), and within the $100-$200 price range.

Some knives that I thought of just off the top of my head include:

•Spyderco Paramilitary 2
•Spyderco Manix 2
•ZT 0350
•Benchmade Emissary

Thanks for your help!


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From your list, I can confidently recommend the PM2. I have it and use it--great all-around blade. I have no experience with the Manix or Emissary, so I will no comment there. I had a ZT 350, and though I really liked the ergos and blade, the liner lock disengaged (partly) when I held the knife firmly... it was enough that I could fold the blade with a moderate amount of hand pressure on the spine. Now maybe that was just me, but it was enough for me to return the knife. I never had a replacement to see if I could replicate the lock slip.

Congrats to the young man--on his birthday and for being accepted into such a fine institution. :thumbup:
 
Manix 2
Paramilitary 2
Spyderco Native 5
Alox Cadet Initials Engraved.
 
Thanks guys!

I had a feeling that the PM2 would pop up more than once. [emoji6]

Aias, that's too bad about your 0350. That's the first that I've heard of 0350's having problems with lock slip.

KBA, I never thought of an engraved cadet. That's a great idea! I would definitely consider pairing one with a larger knife.



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theres is a reason protech autos are carry by some branches--they are sturdy and well made--I say get him a tr5 ,not an auto but assisted and fires as fast as their autos.
 
js1badsti said:
theres is a reason protech autos are carry by some branches--they are sturdy and well made--I say get him a tr5 ,not an auto but assisted and fires as fast as their autos.
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New to me! Those look wicked! Do they use a torsion bar like a Kershaw?


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an Emerson A100 or CQC7 seems perfect for the armed forces coming from someone who has never served
 
DaNuke95 said:
Hello all,

I want to get a Birthday knife for my best friend who's a cadet at the Air Force Academy. We've been close friends since the second grade, and he has an appreciation for knives like I do.

His favorite EDC right now is a black washed Kershaw Blur. I want to get him something that is sturdy, but something that he'll want to carry on a regular basis. I'm not sure if it makes much of a difference, but he's planning on becoming a pilot (he's super close to getting his private pilots license, and he's well on his way to flight school in the AF).

I'm looking for something with a blade length less than 3.5" (CO law), and within the $100-$200 price range.

Some knives that I thought of just off the top of my head include:

•Spyderco Paramilitary
•Spyderco Manix 2
•ZT 0350
•Benchmade Emissary

Thanks for your help!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...

PM2 from Spyderco, just up the road! :thumbup: Maybe even a Military if he'd prefer something larger. Several good options from ZT as well!

BTW, it is NOT Colorado law to carry a knife less than 3.5". ;)

I live in CO, and don't worry about 3.5", as that law is mainly only for a fully concealed knife, unless you're in Denver county, where they're rumored to be stricter (I've personally never had any issues, and I always have two knives clipped to my pants).

Clipped to your pocket is technically not concealed, though be more careful about deep-carry clips, especially in Denver. Technically, open carry of just about any knife is legal here in CO (minus autos or "gravity knives"), especially if you're hunting or fishing. I do a LOT of hunting and fishing, and there is rarely a time that I don't have some gear for one or the other in my vehicle, and I carry my license(s) in my wallet. Unless I was in the act of committing another crime, a DA would have a really hard time prosecuting me for a knife charge. Not to mention I have a concealed firearm license, though those don't apply to knives here. :rolleyes:

If your buddy is currently in the military, I especially doubt he'd have any issues, unless he was doing something really, really stupid. (Though I'm not sure if a cadet is considered active military or not.)

HTH. :thumbup:
 
CPP said:
an Emerson A100 or CQC7 seems perfect for the armed forces coming from someone who has never served
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I love my CQC 7 V. It's one the phattest knives I own! I thought about adding an Emerson to the list (probably will anyway), but it seems that people either really like Emersons or they absolutely hate them.


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SpyderPhreak said:
PM2 from Spyderco, just up the road! :thumbup: Maybe even a Military if he'd prefer something larger. Several good options from ZT as well!

BTW, it is NOT Colorado law to carry a knife less than 3.5". ;)

I live in CO, and don't worry about 3.5", as that law is mainly only for a fully concealed knife, unless you're in Denver county, where they're rumored to be stricter (I've personally never had any issues, and I always have two knives clipped to my pants).

Clipped to your pocket is technically not concealed, though be more careful about deep-carry clips, especially in Denver. Technically, open carry of just about any knife is legal here in CO (minus autos or "gravity knives"), especially if you're hunting or fishing. I do a LOT of hunting and fishing, and there is rarely a time that I don't have some gear for one or the other in my vehicle, and I carry my license(s) in my wallet. Unless I was in the act of committing another crime, a DA would have a really hard time prosecuting me for a knife charge. Not to mention I have a concealed firearm license, though those don't apply to knives here. :rolleyes:

If your buddy is currently in the military, I especially doubt he'd have any issues, unless he was doing something really, really stupid. (Though I'm not sure if a cadet is considered active military or not.)

HTH. :thumbup:
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Thanks for the info! I've always figured that the 3.5" blade restriction wasn't a huge deal, but I've always played it safe mainly because I go to school in Denver.


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I'll second the Emerson. I edc a super 7... though an Aftershock is on my radar.
 
DaNuke95 said:
Thanks for the info! I've always figured that the 3.5" blade restriction wasn't a huge deal, but I've always played it safe mainly because I go to school in Denver.


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No problem!

BTDT. I carried an Endura when I went to school at Metro for a year, and rode RTD down Colfax from Golden to get there. Granted this was back in '95 '96, but I never once had any LEO ask to see my knife. Just don't do anything stupid, keep it visibly clipped to your pocket, and you should be just fine. :thumbup:

PS - If you'd consider Emerson, you'd be remiss not to consider a Hinderer as well. ;)
 
SpyderPhreak said:
No problem!

BTDT. I carried an Endura when I went to school at Metro for a year, and rode RTD down Colfax from Golden to get there. Granted this was back in '95 '96, but I never once had any LEO ask to see my knife. Just don't do anything stupid, keep it visibly clipped to your pocket, and you should be just fine. :thumbup:

PS - If you'd consider Emerson, you'd be remiss not to consider a Hinderer as well. ;)
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Hell yeah! Me too! Go Road Runners!


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Just keep in mind that as an Academy cadet, he will never be carrying the knife openly - not part of any of the uniforms of the day. The knife should also not print significantly as that could get him gigged or whatever the term the AFA uses for demerits, (gigged is the TAMU CoC term).
 
iirc the protechs use a titanium coil spring and the system used on the tr5 was developed by knife genius Matthew Lerch.
 
zzyzzogeton said:
Just keep in mind that as an Academy cadet, he will never be carrying the knife openly - not part of any of the uniforms of the day. The knife should also not print significantly as that could get him gigged or whatever the term the AFA uses for demerits, (gigged is the TAMU CoC term).
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That's true. I have a feeling that he carries his Blur only when he's in his civilian clothes or maybe his "cammies" (guessing on the cammies).

js1badsti said:
iirc the protechs use a titanium coil spring and the system used on the tr5 was developed by knife genius Matthew Lerch.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll have to do some more research. I'd like to learn more about that mechanism. I don't go out of my way to seek assisted knives necessarily, but I definitely don't discount them either.

Aias said:
I'll second the Emerson. I edc a super 7... though an Aftershock is on my radar.
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Rock on!!







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DaNuke95 said:
Hell yeah! Me too! Go Road Runners!


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Lol, awesome! :cool: They still showing movies at the Tivoli? That was a HUGE distraction when I was there!!! I think the whole school ditched class when "Toy Story" first came out (my wife, then GF, and me included). :D
 
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