Looking for a good traditional knife for daily work....

H

heheheq

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Dec 7, 2009
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I'm looking for a knife that is good for slicing open cardboard boxes, cutting through tape and thin sheet metal, but still able to be carry-aroundable. I'd like it if it was good for cutting meat also.
I want the blade to be less than 4 in
 
First of all, unless by "thin sheet metal" you're talking about aluminum foil, I'd suggest using a tin snips for cutting metal if you value your blade at all. Any folding knife sharpened correctly and maintained will do all those things. Except for cutting sheet metal (which I wouldn't subject ANY of my blades to!) you might be happy with something as simple as a Gerber LST lockback. These can take a great edge, are very slim and light. I'm sure I'd have no problem cutting through a juicy steak with mine if I really wanted to!!
 
Perhaps something with a locking blade, like a Buck 110 or the like. They aren't very expensive, but can be had in some good steels.

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Andy
 
Perhaps a Sodbuster or Sodbuster Jr. Case and Queen both make em. I like Case's CV a lot.
 
Not good for sheet metal.

However, a Buck 110 is hard to beat (one on my hip now).
 
I've found a Cold Steel Stockman with Carbon V to work great for EDC tasks at work and home. Its one of the rare ones I don't hold back from throwing into hard work.
 
heheheq said:
I'm looking for a knife that is good for slicing open cardboard boxes, cutting through tape and thin sheet metal, but still able to be carry-aroundable. I'd like it if it was good for cutting meat also.
I want the blade to be less than 4 in
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A sodbuster would be perfect, except for your sheet metal requirement. Personally, and what I did when working locksmithing and construction, I would recommend a sodbuster, and a set of tinsnips in a belt sheath. That will work better than any compromise blade you can come up with.
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
Perhaps something with a locking blade, like a Buck 110 or the like. They aren't very expensive, but can be had in some good steels.

232999458_8df52ca125.jpg


Andy
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My vote goes for a lockback as well. Buck 110 or 112. I carry either one or the other everyday along with a backup slip joint. Vic alox, trapper or sodbuster of some kind. I carry the Vic alox soldier as a backup more so than the others do to the type of work I am involved in. They are all very good users for the $$. You can spend under a hundred dollars (maybe even stay under $80) and have a larger stout tank of a lockback backed up with a good slip joint and they'll last you your lifetime if taken care of.
 
Go to Wally world, buy 110. Don't take photo of it cutting "thin sheet metal" and post here...... or we will all be fit to be tied....but it will do it.

300Bucks
 
heheheq said:
I'm looking for a knife that is good for slicing open cardboard boxes, cutting through tape and thin sheet metal, but still able to be carry-aroundable. I'd like it if it was good for cutting meat also.
I want the blade to be less than 4 in
Click to expand...

Like the others, I'd be a bit shy of cutting sheet metal. For cutting lots of cardboard and anything else there's a lot to be said D2's durability. And for a traditional blade, that would lead you to a Queen.

Assuming you are up to rebeveling the blade (they have a tendency to come a bit dull out of the box), you might consider a Queen Mountain Man Lockback in D2. The blade length should be just a bit shy of 4" as they are 4 1/2" closed.

Q-3LACSB.JPG
 
Depends on your definition of sheet metal... car body, or similar, no way. Pop cans, no problem. Half way in the middle; I've cut a lot of furnace/heat ducting with a folder when I absolutely had to, worked well, but it was super sharp and a good custom in stainless 154CM; high in abrasive resistance... but it took a lot of sharpening afterwards to be 'razor' sharp again. Maybe the D2 like the queen shown- I wouldn't want to do it though... Wouldn't recamend 1095 or the like in carbon unless its done harder than ususal by a custom maker- even then its gonna play hell with the edge, and need major work afterwards. The 110 would stand up to as well, but daily sharpening would be a must if you want to keep doing it, or cut anything else afterwards...

But as they've said, stay away from the metal cutting, these traditional knives are just not made for it, and won't stand up to much of it and stay a nice knife for long. A sheetrock/utility knife to carry along with your folder for such tasks would be a much better idea.

G.
 
I have never tried to cut metall but for the other things a sodbuster jr is a good strong tool, (among others)
That lockback in 1095 knarfeng showed seems to be a knife for hard work. A knife like that but one inch shorter would fit my bill.

Bosse
 
I would go with a Stockmen, like a Buck 301. This sounds like you need three different blades. Stockmen is specially designed for this.

God Bless
 
The only metal I've cut with a slip-joint is when I need to open a tin with a Scout knife or SAK. Otherwise, uh-uh.

Sounds like the OP could use an Opinel, good all rounder. But, he's gone all silent.
 
ditto to knarfeng. got my queen lockback out of mailbox sat. going to rebevel it in one hour.good users for miscelleanious cutting. i rotate between queen mt. man & gec mdl 23 .
 
Queen traditional pattern with D2 is a great recommendation. Great prices as well.
 
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