Looking for a blade

S

shawmutt

Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Messages
6
Hi folks! Good forum you have here!

Just lurking around, and I have a few quick (and hopefully easy) couple questions.

I used to have a great folding EDC knife by kershaw that, once worked in, opened with the flip of a thumb. Are all kershaws like this--specifically the one you guys seem to like a lot, the Leek?

I'm looking for something utilitarian and can be used for self defense in a pinch. Any suggestions would be helpful.
 
A few questions may help us recommend some things to consider.
1] How long a blade do you want or can comfortably carry?
2] Do you want the Assisted Opening or just one you can easily open quickly which has thumb studs or similar.
3] A big one here -- what price range are you looking at?
 
1. Something that I can throw in my pocket and won't get me grief with LEOs just for carrying. It's been a while since I carried a knife (probably 7 years or so), but I had a kershaw 3.5" blade (or thereabouts, it was less than 4") I was pretty comfortable with.

2. I'm not sure if what I had was assisted opening. The one I had opened really quickly with a flick of the thumb, and that's what I'm looking for.

3. Up to $100.
 
I think others will give their opinion too. For assisted opening in the larger 3-3.75" category, some I have liked are Kershaw Whirlwind, Kershaw Blackout, Kershaw Cyclone. Also, CRKT has the My Tighe. For the under $100.00 category, which is my specialty (reality of a budget), I also like the CRKT M16 series a lot. They are not assisted opening, but open very fast indeed. I think most of these are LEO friendly. Also be sure to check your local county and city knife laws in addition to State laws to be on the safe side.
 
I like the Benchmade 710 D2. it's a bit larger, but it doesn't feel large in the pocket.

The Axis lock lets you flip it open with one hand very easily. And, of course, the D-2 steel in the blade holds a razor edge almost forever.:)
 
Kershaw also makes the Avalanche. Assisted open, 3 1/2" S30V steel. ~$90.
 
Also be sure to check your local county and city knife laws in addition to State laws to be on the safe side.
Click to expand...

I'm from PA, and I honestly think lawmakers thought up the most confusing wording they could in dealing with knives.

Any bomb, grenade, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches, firearm specially made or specially adapted for concealment or silent discharge, any blackjack, sandbag, metal knuckles, dagger, knife, razor or cutting instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise, or other implement for the infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose.
Click to expand...

I guess that means...yeah, I'm not sure what that means. There's no blade length limit, so I suppose if I use it as a tool I'm fine, but if I ever used it in self-defense I'm screwed?

I'm probably overthinking all this, and should just find something that's comfortable, put it in my pocket, and leave it at that. Jeez, I remember being a kid and having a big ol' buck fixed blade on my hip while visiting family in Canada and no one thinking twice! I don't know if its me or the people changing around me.

Thanks for all your replies.
 
shawmutt,get yourself a Spyderco Delica or Endura in the edge configuration that you prefer.tom.:cool:
 
Where it says "the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by ... spring mechanism" can be construed to mean the spring mechanism of an assisted opener. The wording is vague, which means a law enforcement officer can say it means what he wants it to mean, and a judge might well back him up. It would be safer to steer clear of them. There are plenty of one hand opening knives on the market which do not use a spring to open or assist in opening. Spyderco has been making an entire line that way for over twenty years.
 
yablanowitz said:
Where it says "the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by ... spring mechanism" can be construed to mean the spring mechanism of an assisted opener. The wording is vague, which means a law enforcement officer can say it means what he wants it to mean, and a judge might well back him up. It would be safer to steer clear of them. There are plenty of one hand opening knives on the market which do not use a spring to open or assist in opening. Spyderco has been making an entire line that way for over twenty years.
Click to expand...


Vague wording is done on purpose.This is why I suggested a manual opener like Spyderco's offerings.This will tend to tilt the table in favor of the OP.YMMV.tom.:cool:
 
DocNightfall said:
Shouldn't self-defense count as a lawful purpose?
Click to expand...

Let's put it this way. Where I work, not where I live, there is a tremendous anti knife and anti gun attitude. Growing up with LEOs I have an idea where they are coming from in general. Here the bottom line is this: If you ever, God forbid, have to defend yourself, the big question is whether the knife can be construed as being a tool, which happens to be defense capable as well. My knife shop guy who used to work with LE officers said that is why there are certain knives they don't carry which may be considered to be for defense/offense only and not for much else. Of course it all depends on the judge. Sorry I think I just muddied the water.
 
My favorite SD folder in this price range is the Spyderco Endura Wave. You can't flick it open and there's no assisted opening mechanism, but you can open it faster than just about any other folder that's not "waved".
 
I was able to make it to the knife shop and look around. I was like a kid in a candy store. Like the responsible person I am, I set a budget and promptly went over. I got the one that felt the most "right" and went with a Benchmade Nitrous Stryker.

bm913d2sjg.jpg


I have the added benefit of having a first production series, #798 of 1000. I went with the drop point with a plain edge--I take care of my knives and decided to forgo the serrations in favor of maintenance. It is a fine knife, and I'll be putting it to the test for sure.

If you are ever in the Frederick, MD area, I recommend a visit to Edgeworks Knife & Supply. Great selection, the guy I talked to seemed pretty knowledgeable, and the prices were decent (probably find cheaper online, but since the guy helped me out so much and spent a lot of time going through 30 knives or so, I happily paid the premium.)

Thanks for all your help!
 
shawmutt said:
I was able to make it to the knife shop and look around. I was like a kid in a candy store. Like the responsible person I am, I set a budget and promptly went over. I got the one that felt the most "right" and went with a Benchmade Nitrous Stryker.

bm913d2sjg.jpg


I have the added benefit of having a first production series, #798 of 1000. I went with the drop point with a plain edge--I take care of my knives and decided to forgo the serrations in favor of maintenance. It is a fine knife, and I'll be putting it to the test for sure.

If you are ever in the Frederick, MD area, I recommend a visit to Edgeworks Knife & Supply. Great selection, the guy I talked to seemed pretty knowledgeable, and the prices were decent (probably find cheaper online, but since the guy helped me out so much and spent a lot of time going through 30 knives or so, I happily paid the premium.)

Thanks for all your help!
Click to expand...

THAT got my attention. I work in Frederick, and The shop you mentioned is the place I go too. What a surprise. Made my day. Is the Nitrous a Tanto blade?
 
The knife in the picture is the one I bought. They have a bunch of different versions of the Stryker, I'm not sure if he had the tanto version in stock. I think Nitrous refers to the assisted opening mechanism while Stryker is the name of the blade.
 
Thanks. I will go by an take a look. I have known them for several years now. Great people there.
 
Hi Shawmutt, you may know me as "Hephaestus" over on the COG forum. It looks like you picked a winner!

I used to carry a Kershaw Vapor or a Spyderco Native to complement my multi tool, but both are now kept in the cars since I discovered Bark River.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top