Long term grid down scenario, which folder do you choose?

[Cereal_killer]

I don't have either but if possible I would choose a Benchmade 710 in M390 or a Military in CTS-XHP. Usually I would say my GB but being carbon steel it may not be the smartest choice.

 

[marcinek]

Yes, it is implied that you'll need to keep your knives sharp and serviceable in a scenario like this. Besides which folder you would choose (we all know we'd have fixed blades and other stuff out the wazoo), how would you maintain your cutting edge without your Apex, wicked, diamond stones, bench stones, etc.?

Why would benchstones disappear? Did the entities that took all our knives except for one folder take those too? Along with all non animal fat derived oil?

I dont get it.

 

[Thalestin]

Well in all likelihood I would have my slip joint in my pocket. Although not always ideal I think it would be useful because it is thin and keeps a fine edge and is easy to sharpen. An old clay cup or ceramic would keep it with a working edge just fine.

I think this guy would work for cutting but it would be no good as a weapon. Best thing about a small sharp knife is that it is light and doesn't take much room. I suspect I'd be dragging around a lot of crap so being small could be really nice

 

[marcinek]

Responses like,"I'd have a fixed blade instead of a folder," or "I'd have a Glock," or "I'd just use a piece of leaf spring laying around as a pry bar," are already stipulated. I appreciate the humor of those types of responses in advance.

Having seen a few of these threads before, it seems those types of posts are never meant to be humorous. They are meant to point out how silly the premise of the thread is.

 

[GenOne]

Thanks for your participation, marcinek. Do you have a folder recommendation for this scenario?

 

[marcinek]

Thanks for your participation, marcinek. Do you have a folder recommendation for this scenario?

Do you have an explantion for what about this scenario made all my other folders and my benchstones to disappear? That will inform my choice.

 

[jeepin]

A knife is for cutting things. Before you go out and purchase one of those excessively thick folders watch this video. Long live the thin blade.
[video=youtube;krZJUj70r1c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krZJUj70r1c[/video]

As for the usage scenario described... lol that is not how I use my blades. Just because the world ended doesn't mean I'll go running around dipping my blades in motor oil and prying open manhole covers before skinning a squirrel for my evening stew. More likely I'd continue using the cutlery I have for the tasks they were designed for. Skinning knives, cleavers, paring knives, chefs knives, chisels, axes, saws, drill bits, etc etc

Any well made knife will get the job done. I could make do with a svord peasant. Realistically though 1000 other things will be a problem before your choice of knife causes you problems.

What is that makers name?. I'd like to see more of his knives

 

[marcinek]

Do multiools still exist?? Will whatever omnipotetent entity is running this thing allow us to have one? More than one? Can we get new ones?

 

[GenOne]

Do you have an explantion for what about this scenario made all my other folders and my benchstones to disappear? That will inform my choice.

Well, I suppose I can use my imagination to help inform your choice. What if you are five years into this "grid down" scenario and you bartered all your knives and stones off for food over the years. Which folding knife would be the last one in your pocket? I'm adding more information only to assist you in answering. Thanks.

 

[o4tg]

Interesting response. Is it because the way the blade attaches to both parts of the handle?

Most importantly, there's really no locking mechanism to fail. They can be quiet when need be, and with practice they open quite fast. In the event of an injury or a tight spot, gravity can open it with out fine motor skills.

Because of this topic, I'm realizing a balisong just might be the answer to all of my personal requirements for a tough knife.

 

[Cereal_killer]

Well, I suppose I can use my imagination to help inform your choice. What if you are five years into this "grid down" scenario and you bartered all your knives and stones off for food over the years. Which folding knife would be the last one in your pocket? I'm adding more information only to assist you in answering. Thanks.

In this case I could get a lot more value from me offering to sharpen someone's knife than I could just trading them a stone.

 

[Quillan]

Having seen all of the above, I will simply answer your question directly, based on the hypothetical parameters you have stipulated. Why not?

It would be a mid-back lock. Simple, time proven since forever, strong, and reliable. The scales would be synthetic and impervious to the elements. FRN comes to mind as being almost ideal. It would be unassisted, to ensure further reliability and simplicity of use. It would have a Spyderhole rather than a thumbstud, as that can be more easily deployed (imo) with gloves (It's winter somewhere, right?). It would be a large, solid folder able to stand up to some "abuse" if needed. It would have a strong leaf point/spear point tip rather than a slender tip or a clip point. It would be of stainless steel that straddles the line between edge retention and strength and corrosion resistance. It would have steel liners - nested or otherwise.

Hopefully that gives you an idea of what I would be look for, given your scenario. So...I'll take a Spyderco Manix 2 - doesnt fit all the bill, but....

 

[Cyblade]

So it's grid down and somehow the CS GI Tanto and SOG Fasthawk in my BOB just vanished along with the Ontario 18" machete and other items in my trunk have disappeared ???? I guess I'd go with my Leatherman Core that I edc it's got enough tools that I could use it to fashion more tools and it's got both a serrated sheepsfoot blade and a plain edge blade and I could sharpen it on a rock or chuck of broken coffee mug.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I know butterfly knives are mostly used for entertainment, and we all know why, but I agree they can be a great utility knife. They can be made strong and they are easy to keep clean. They are open construction and the motion of opening and closing shakes out the grit.

I have a large Laci Szabo butterfly made by Fred Perrin. What a beast.

So jealous...

Well, I suppose I can use my imagination to help inform your choice. What if you are five years into this "grid down" scenario and you bartered all your knives and stones off for food over the years. Which folding knife would be the last one in your pocket? I'm adding more information only to assist you in answering. Thanks.

Cold Steel large Twistmaster in CarbonV this is basically a folding fixed blade with a great steel, great utility blade and ergos that make using the knife for extended periods of time whether batoning or butchering, is a great knife and I've got three 1 in my BOB, 1 in my glove box and one suck of to the side for a spare.

In this case I could get a lot more value from me offering to sharpen someone's knife than I could just trading them a stone.

See in a post apocalyptic anything my value as a mechanic/builder/troubleshooter and my 40+ years in the trades would with the many years of living off the grid, (spent 6 years living in two separate places with no electric, phone or dining water with my wife, Good bless that woman ) in all my years so far I've bartered my skills for many things I've needed or wanted.

It's not so much what folder you have as much as how much you know where that knife can be used to fix your problem.

People have become super educated but their lack of common sense when it comes to understanding how the world really functions around them and how to manipulate their environment no matter what knife you pick, you're gonna die anyway.

The knife don't help you survive, it's the practical application of relevant knowledge in everything from psychology to farming that does.

Personally I'm not worried you can survive any situation with a little knowledge and a lot of common sense.

 

[A Justice]

I would probably carry a Kizer because the CHinese will no doubt be involved in this, and I would try to pass myself off as a member of the conquering force. American made knifes would give you away in a heartbeat.

...or actually no, I would get a Lionsteel SR-1 because it has the mystical power of a lock that transforms it into a fixed blade. As the only man on earth with a fixed blade I could sell labor that benefits from owning a fixed blade knife.

Better yet, why not one of those comically large COld Steel deals, so we could cut it up and make several fixed blade knives?

Ok last one... can I have a Halo V 3x? It's not a folding knife, but it's not a fixed blade, andI think I could really pry sewer covers up with it.

 

[ninjarabbi]

I'm going to be weird and say Svord Peasant knife for me. Can't imagine it wearing out, and it's not impossible to learn to open it with one hand. Not much maintenance required, other than keeping the blade oiled, which could prove to be unreasonable. Cheap too. L6 tool steel is quite easy to sharpen, and tough enough to not worry about chipping.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm not going to use it for batoning and you don't need a special tool to adjust the pivot screw. On the off chance the handle were to break you could easily make it into a fixed blade or make new handle scales. I would say an opinel but they have a tendency to loosen and you can't adjust the pivot as easily.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I see subtlety doesn't work.

Anyone who can't handle the topic of what folder you would find most useful in a long-term disaster, please find another thread to troll.

Please, do not tempt me to find another place for you.

 

[shunsui]

The Spyderco Superleaf is a nice knife for the "knife you have with you" category. Not overly large, but well designed with steel liners, compression lock, 4mm blade.

 

[Chris Larrikin]

I like these scenarios because they can be a good exercise in critical thinking and give us the chance to look at these tools we love so much from a different angle. So I'll play

I'm another one for the Svord Peasant. Takes a good edge, holds it well, is tough, easy to maintain and could be repaired with bits and pieces found lying around. The down side would be the time it takes (me) to deploy in the case of an emergency and I suspect it would have some limitations in self defense (errr...yeah...defense...*cough*) situations. But that's what my charming personality is for.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm not going to use it for batoning and you don't need a special tool to adjust the pivot screw. On the off chance the handle were to break you could easily make it into a fixed blade or make new handle scales. I would say an opinel but they have a tendency to loosen and you can't adjust the pivot as easily.

Quote Originally Posted by whetrock View Post
I'm going to be weird and say Svord Peasant knife for me. Can't imagine it wearing out, and it's not impossible to learn to open it with one hand. Not much maintenance required, other than keeping the blade oiled, which could prove to be unreasonable. Cheap too. L6 tool steel is quite easy to sharpen, and tough enough to not worry about chipping.

 

[blame it on god]

Yes, it is implied that you'll need to keep your knives sharp and serviceable in a scenario like this. Besides which folder you would choose (we all know we'd have fixed blades and other stuff out the wazoo), how would you maintain your cutting edge without your Apex, wicked, diamond stones, bench stones, etc.?

Bottom of a coffee cup and the frosted edge of a car window. Worked for my grandpa. It would work for me.