List of Hard Use Folders

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Ford1911

Joined
Jul 29, 2007
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It seems more people now than ever a looking for "Hard Use" folders. Hard use is very subjective but I will still try to put together a list of folders from some reasearch I have done. Please feel free to add to the list.

Here is a list from Vininull from youtube. You may have seen his reviews. He is the Russian fellow that is not afraid to put a folder beyond what should be expected.
His reviews are some of the best I have seen on the internet, unfortunately all of his reviews do not have subtitles. He is getting better about adding them since his popularity in the US is increasing.

Spreadsheet of his findings along with links to all his video reviews.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgfctrIRsI1_dERmZ1JQYXhZTUswaEd6ZlZkOUdTemc#gid=0

In no specific order

1. Benchmade Adamas 275 http://www.benchmade.com/products/275
2. Zero Tolerance 0200 - http://www.ztknives.us/
3. Buck/Tops CSAR-T http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?event=product.detail&productID=3763
4. Cold Steel Recon1 http://www.coldsteel.com/Category/3_1/Folding_Knives.aspx
5. Emerson CQC line http://emersonknives.com/knives/
6. Lionsteel SR-1 http://lionsteel.it/
7. DPx HEST 2.0 http://www.dpxgear.com/shop/knives/dpx-hest.html
8. Spyderco Gayle Bradley http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=445
9. Ka-bar Mule http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/64

. I left out some knives due to price, I personally couldn't even scratch a blade on a $400 to $500+ dollar knife.
As I said hard use is subjective. I tend to lean towards overbuild folders just in case. I personally like larger knives anyway so If I am going to carry a large one it might as well be strong.
These are folders though. Could you baton with them if you had to? Sure, but you are taking the very possible risk that you are going to damage your folder.
 
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Hard Use Folders - I find that term an oxymoron.


While it is quite true that some folders are much tougher and will take more abuse then others,

...when it comes to Hard Use, folders, by there very nature, are inferior to fixed blades.


Even with fixed blades, many are not up to the tasks I would consider Hard Use.


For every task there's a proper tool; IMHO, when it comes to Hard Use cutting chores a folder is not that tool.


Just one knife user's opinion.





Big Mike
 
Any of the 0300's from ZT.
Medford Praetorian (believe I spelled that correctly)
Direware SOLO V
Crusader Forge VIS-T
 
Im not a big fan of the real overbuilt hard use type folders because they arent ideal to carry (too big for pocket or too heavy) so Ill list some I still like because they fit the hard use build but arent too bad for carrying

el patron
demko ad10
dalibor sirius/regulus
grayman dua
 
One way to tell a hard-use folder...just mike the blade thickness, or look it up on the Web. If it exceeds 1/8" (0.125"), then I begin to think it's designed for harder-than-usual tasks. For instance, Spyderco's Techno, SuperLeaf, Tuff, and others. Include Grayman Dua and Three Sisters Forge Beast, even though both of those are right around 3" in blade-length. The choice of blade-steel is also important, as you run into CPM-3v, CTS-XHP, and M390 as well as M4 in several of these models.
And don't forget Strider...with their SMF @ 0.190" thick blade, IIRC.
 
Big Mike said:
Hard Use Folders - I find that term an oxymoron.


While it is quite true that some folders are much tougher and will take more abuse then others,

...when it comes to Hard Use, folders, by there very nature, are inferior to fixed blades.


Even with fixed blades, many are not up to the tasks I would consider Hard Use.


For every task there's a proper tool; IMHO, when it comes to Hard Use cutting chores a folder is not that tool.


Just one knife user's opinion.





Big Mike
Click to expand...

I agree a folder can not and should not take the place of a fixed blade.
In my situation. I spend a lot of time out on my land, which is close to nothing. I ususally have a fixed blade on me, but not always. I always have my folder. I wouldn't abuse my folder unless I had to. It is just nice to know I have a very strong folder in my pocket in case that time ever came.
 
I like the idea of hard use folders, but I never really push them that hard. These are my favourites:

-ZT 0300, 0350, 0560, well pretty much any ZT.

-CS American Lawman and Voyagers.

-Spyderco Manix and Mini-Manix (the old lockback models).
 
Grab you a benchmade 275 or benchmade 810, or a spyderco gayle bradley . I have striders and have used one them pretty hard , and trust it 100% , If you want a really hard use knife pick up an esee izula 2 , save you some cash, and the warranty is if you break it they fix it. It's small, so it would be easy to carry, and is tougher than a folding knife.
 
Big Mike said:
Hard Use Folders - I find that term an oxymoron.


While it is quite true that some folders are much tougher and will take more abuse then others,

...when it comes to Hard Use, folders, by there very nature, are inferior to fixed blades.


Even with fixed blades, many are not up to the tasks I would consider Hard Use.


For every task there's a proper tool; IMHO, when it comes to Hard Use cutting chores a folder is not that tool.


Just one knife user's opinion.





Big Mike
Click to expand...

Make that two users' opinions. Still, no hard use folder category is complete without the folding smatchet:

its-just-the-law-an-oregon-court-ruled.jpg
 
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Hard use folders that also look great....

Spyderco Gayle Bradley
Benchmade 810
Emerson Horseman & Journeyman
Z.T. 560,561 and of course that nice carbon fiber one.
Cheers
 
Big Mike said:
Hard Use Folders - I find that term an oxymoron.


While it is quite true that some folders are much tougher and will take more abuse then others,

...when it comes to Hard Use, folders, by there very nature, are inferior to fixed blades.


Even with fixed blades, many are not up to the tasks I would consider Hard Use.


For every task there's a proper tool; IMHO, when it comes to Hard Use cutting chores a folder is not that tool.


Just one knife user's opinion.





Big Mike
Click to expand...

Agree, but in most situations a fixed blade will not be with us and a strong folder is a real comfort.
 
The only design able to withstand hard use ( batonning etc ) is the balisong design, others will be damaged and can even break in the field leaving you hurted or in the need of a tool.
They should not be called hard use folder because they are at their best for medium use.

If you choose an overbuilt balisong like the fox cutlery mil tac breeden ( wich is considered a multitool because of its prybar ), then you can abuse it because even if you manage to break it, it just can't fold on your fingers like a frame lock would.

By the way the axis lock and the triad lock should be safe if you manage to break them because they spread the force over the full frame of the knife unlike frame and liner locks.
 
Ill go out on a limb and suggest a slightly different approach. Probably the hardest use folders i own are my Blackhawk Folders based off the old MOD designs. The CQD Mark II and Hornet II are insanely heavy duty. specifically the Mark II, its not only built like a tank but it has a secondary lock to turn it into a virtual fixed blade. and because of its price. i'm not afraid to actually use it to its specifications.
 
was the Russian guy the OP talks about the same guy who beats an orange spyderco military to death? even though it technically was broken it just reaffirmed my thoughts on just how tough it I'd while still being a great slicer. IMO it was absolutely a pass.
 
was the Russian guy the OP talks about the same guy who beats an orange spyderco military to death? even though it technically was broken it just reaffirmed my thoughts on just how tough it I'd while still being a great slicer. IMO it was absolutely a pass.
 
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