Looking for a good pocket knife.

J

jayinhk

Joined
Apr 25, 2006
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Last month, I bought a very nice little custom folder for a steal of a price: $60. It had a 440C tanto blade and mammoth molar slabs. It had an Emerson-style wave on the blade that I really liked. Unfortunately, I forgot to take it out of my pocket at the airport and promptly lost it. :(

I'd like to find a replacement knife to fill its role. I guess I can foot up to $80 or so. I'd like to keep the blade length under 3". I'd like some kind of natural handle material (bone, wood, stag, etc) and a locking blade. Lockbacks would be good, but a linerlock is fine too. I'd also like it to have a thumb stud, and a waved blade would be great. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
 
A hawkbill blade would be great too. Am I going to have to go custom? Or is there someone who could professionally wave a knife that meets my specs?
 
That's a good suggestion. I own a waved Delica IV and have thought about carrying it, but I really want something a little smaller, and dare I say it, prettier. I'm thinking about a navaja/Laguiole-style knife that I'll wave myself unless someone can do it for a reasonable price (the only tool I have access to is a Dremel with cutting wheels) as I'd rather not overheat the blade.

I'd really like it to be silver-nickel or stainless with natural inserts.
 
jayinhk said:
That's a good suggestion. I own a waved Delica IV and have thought about carrying it, but I really want something a little smaller, and dare I say it, prettier. I'm thinking about a navaja/Laguiole-style knife that I'll wave myself unless someone can do it for a reasonable price (the only tool I have access to is a Dremel with cutting wheels) as I'd rather not overheat the blade.

I'd really like it to be silver-nickel or stainless with natural inserts.
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Have you considered Queen Cutlery products? I personally own from them a Schatt & Morgan File & Wire Daddy Toothpick and a Queen Cutlery Swing Guard w/ a honey amber stag bone. Both are excellent knives that would suit your requirements but their blade is over 3 inches, so I guess too long for you.

Though I am sure they have offerings with shorter blades. Check them out:
http://www.queencutlery.com/catalog.htm

As far as Laguiole's are concerned, I am personally waiting on a Robert David Laguiole...they are cheap enough and with attractive materials (the one that is in the mail for me atm, has handles made with snakewood)...problem is that their blade is 3.6 inches, hence too long for you.

If you'd be willing to forgo the natural material in the handle, I'd suggest either a Fallkniven U2 or U4...

I am racking my brains but I can't think of anything else now...sorry.
 
Thanks for the suggestions :) I just bought a Spyderco Kopa with mother of pearl and abalone inserts. I'm hoping STR can wave it for me! I also bought a Japanese-made Laguiole-style knife with bone inserts.

Queen Cutlery's knives are wonderful BTW! Although I really want something that locks and has a thumb stud/thumb hole.
 
jayinhk said:
Thanks for the suggestions :) I just bought a Spyderco Kopa with mother of pearl and abalone inserts. I'm hoping STR can wave it for me! I also bought a Japanese-made Laguiole-style knife with bone inserts.

Queen Cutlery's knives are wonderful BTW! Although I really want something that locks and has a thumb stud/thumb hole.
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Anytime. The funny thing is that in an earlier version of my answer to you, I was mentioning the Kopa but I cancelled that part as any Kopa is way beyond your $80 maximum price.

Re. Queen Cutlery: they DO make knives with locks...mostly lockbacks, some with liner lock (and as you have noticed too, some don't have locks at all). You can see if they have a lock by either the description or the item number, as they put an "L" right after the # (example 41LACSB) when a knife of theirs has a lock of any type.

They indeed have some really nice stuff and at VERY good prices. Talking about great knives (with locking mechanisms) at around $50-60...Best places I know that sell them are Knifeworks and Chestnut Ridge Knife Shop (I bought Queen Cutlery stuff from both these shops in the past)...

Congrats on your purchases!

EDIT: of the two QC knives I own, this one is a lockback. Check the pic and tell me it's not a beauty (ok this one is in the $70ish range though)! :)
http://www.chestnutridgeknifeshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=43&products_id=322
 
I got the Kopa for $115 including international shipping. :)

Knifeworks is one of my favorite places to buy knives, but shipping adds $35 to my order, so I usually shop around to try and get the best deal. Surprisingly, eBay's usually the best way to go.

I really like that QC swing guard. I've always wanted a swing guard. I guess they don't make traditional-style knives like that with thumb studs though!
 
jayinhk said:
I got the Kopa for $115 including international shipping. :)

Knifeworks is one of my favorite places to buy knives, but shipping adds $35 to my order, so I usually shop around to try and get the best deal. Surprisingly, eBay's usually the best way to go.

I really like that QC swing guard. I've always wanted a swing guard. I guess they don't make traditional-style knives like that with thumb studs though!
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Oh I didn't know you were outside the US. Yeah in that case I understand that shipping can be quite an expense. Looks like you got a darn fine deal on that Kopa by the way. I have been thinking of getting myself one with a gyraffe bone handle, maybe one day...

Knifeworks is my favorite shop where to buy. I always give them a try first as in all my dealings with them they have been PERFECT at 100%.

Yeah, I love swing guards too, I think they look might fine. Thumb studs + swing guard? If you find one let me know, as I'd be curious to see it, but I guess, as you have, that they don't exist as thumbstuds and the classic look just clash too much, IMO.
Now that I am at that website I linked for you to see the QC Swing Guard, I am soooo itching on pulling the trigger on the QC Swing Guard in African Curly Zebra Wood. Got-to-refrain-from-it...:D
 
Zebrawood is sexy stuff! I quite like the hardwood, but since I deal with so much of it nowadays, I wanted something extra special. I really, really miss the mammoth tooth folder I lost. :(

I carry several knives, but I wanted a small locking folder for weak side pocket carry that can also be used for protection if need be, which is why I want a Wave on the knife.
 
If wave is not a must, the doublecross by kershaw (?) is what comes to mind with the elegance you described. Saw a YouTube review sometime back, and most recently, G2 (BF member) review of the BM bone collector video. Nice small gentlemanly knife, one clipped, one wharncliffe.
 
Wow, I like that Double Cross! Unfortunately, I'm also left-handed, and I can't see how I'd get one of those open quickly. Then again, I wanted it for my right front pocket. If I could open it with either hand, that would be even better. Thanks for the suggestion. :)
 
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