Knife suggestions for my wife

[Jim85IROC]

Hi all. In the near future I'd like to get a knife for my wife. I suspect that this may be a somewhat difficult purchase since my wife is not a "knife" person for the most part. She appreciates good cutlery in the kitchen (she's got a few Wustof knives that we both like very much), but aside from that, she couldn't be bothered. That said, I'd like to get her something just to keep in her purse for those times when it may come in handy. I'v got a few criteria in mind, but in addition to gathering specific knife suggestions, I also want to hear about other criteria that people may think may be worth considering.

I want something that's sized just right for comfortable, safe use in a woman's hand without being too big or too small to handle properly, and something that has a tasteful, non-threatening appearance. If this thing looks like something a criminal or Rambo would carry, my wife will hate it before she even gives it a try.

Right now I'm thinking about a SAK, maybe the Executive, since it's a reasonable size, and has some of the tools that I think would be most useful to her, namely the scissors and nail file. This also passes the "non-threatening" test. My one concern is that it doesn't have a lock blade, but I doubt she'd ever wind up cutting something that would really benefit from the lock blade.

Does anybody else have any suggestions?

 

[K.O.D.]

My fiancé loves her pink Kershaw Shuffle. Inexpensive and handy (especially when its time to bring me a beer).

 

[Smooth_Operater]

I bought my wife a benchmade mini grip off the exchange last year and she loves it! We sent it off to benchmade to have her name put on the blade ($5). It's all she carries now.

 

[timberweasel]

Everyone needs a small SAK for their keychain. She might find a SAK Classic handy (I prefer the Rambler myself.) Since she really doesn't have much interest in knives beyond utility, I'd say get her an Opinel #7 Inox for her purse or pocket. Fantastically capable blade and won't break the bank.

Good luck, OP!

-Brett

 

[Smooth_Operater]

Just re read your post. I agree with timberweasel. I have a sak that I carry sometimes and it is very handy and very non-threatening. I recommend that also

 

[AntDog]

Well, if your wife doesn't like knives, you are wasting your money buying her a knife. Period.
If she does see the value of knives in the kitchen, let her know a good folder can be used for kitchen duty too. My wife uses her Rat 2 in the kitchen all the time:

 

[Rich S]

I think a SAK is the way to go. Might want to check Sakwiki for various models.

http://www.sakwiki.com

I think either a Classic, Executive or Compact would be in order.

Rich

 

[Bludgeon]

My gal carries a Larybug on keychain and a Delica. Delica fits her small hand perfect and she can easily deploy blade compared to my larger folders.

 

[Leftytwogunz]

I will second a pink benchmade mini griptillian. Good size and quality.
Get the one with the thumbstud so it's easy to open.

 

[A-MAC]

I tried getting my wife to carry quiet a few knives, the she ended up carrying a Vic Classic. I borrowed the picture from the Google machine.

 

[Jeru]

Agree completely with the mentioned SAK's. I would like to add the Victorinox Climber as well. Don't forget about Opinel either by the way.

But, if your wife has long nails all the time, she might be better off with a knife with Spydie hole (instead of a nail nick). Like a pink Delica for example.

 

[TLoFP]

Why should a knife for a wife be any different then a knife for a man?

What might make more sense is small, medium, large hand size. That being said, from second hand experience those purses weigh a ton and you could hide a brick in there. Why not a fixed blade? If not a fixed blade then I would suggest something elegant like the SERE 2000 (this happens to be the only wife my knife likes.) If your gonna use it, I think it should be sturdy and fast. I wouldn't get my wife a cheap/light duty/hard to open folder.

Bring it on SAK guys!

YMMV
- T

 

[SOFileworks]

I just got my wife a raspberry jigged bone SodBuster Jr. and she loves it. Enough back spring to keep the blade open without a lock, enough blade to get the job done, and she says it's cute.

What more could you ask for...I'm calling it a win!!

 

[flatblackcapo]

After giving my wife a few different folders, she settled on a Kershaw Volt II.

 

[A-MAC]

Why should a knife for a wife be any different then a knife for a man?

What might make more sense is small, medium, large hand size. That being said, from second hand experience those purses weigh a ton and you could hide a brick in there. Why not a fixed blade? If not a fixed blade then I would suggest something elegant like the SERE 2000 (this happens to be the only wife my knife likes.) If your gonna use it, I think it should be sturdy and fast. I wouldn't get my wife a cheap/light duty/hard to open folder.

Bring it on SAK guys!

YMMV
- T

My wife's reasoning for not wanting anything I presented or anything I carry myself is that if, god forbid something like an attack or attempted rape situation happened to her she wouldn't want the attacker to take a knife from her and use it against her. As a 6' 200lb 29 year old male in relatively good shape I don't worry about that too much. As a 5'5" 100lb 29 year old female I see where she is coming from.

 

[Colorodo]

A small Opinel.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

My girlfriend has a few blades, but has settled on what used to be my Izula 2.

 

[Rich S]

HalJordan -

Your reasoning is correct. But your wife should know that the knife is a tool, not a weapon and not to pull it to try to defend herself. Knife fighting, even defense, takes training and luck or else you end up eating the knife. Still I think she should carry a knife as a tool. The SAKs, Opinels, etc. mentioned would all fit the bill.
Rich

 

[A-MAC]

HalJordan -

Your reasoning is correct. But your wife should know that the knife is a tool, not a weapon and not to pull it to try to defend herself. Knife fighting, even defense, takes training and luck or else you end up eating the knife. Still I think she should carry a knife as a tool. The SAKs, Opinels, etc. mentioned would all fit the bill.
Rich

She definitely wouldn't be pulling it in self defense, she knows better. I also agree that knives are tools but, if I am carrying a screwdriver in my pocket and an attacker takes it from me and stabs me with it, it has just become a weapon. Clipped in a pocket, IWB, to a belt or even in her purse it may come loose in a tussle. The Classic fits the bill nicely. She uses all the features it provides and doesn't have a need for anything more.

 

[NeilB]

My girlfriend carried a waved Delica when I first met her. Job related. These days she likes the Spyderco Native, though last night she was carrying her partially serrated ZT0350, which she really likes. I've bought her a pink Native, which she likes very much, and as an experiment, I just ordered a pink Ontario Rat 2. I hear many great things about that knife, so I, the standard Zero Tolerance Fan Boy, am willing to give it a try. Or, give it to her to try.