Looking for a knife...

L

Lock1454

Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
885
Hi all,

So I'm looking for a production knife that...:
*Has a good utilitarian blade shape (good sweep and belly to the blade); also
does not have a fragile tip
*Decent steel - at least 440C/AUS8/8CR13MoV
*One handed deployment
*Handle is preferably not thicker than ~.5"
*Is decently low riding when clipped
*Good ergos and jimping - want my fingers to be locked in so they have 0
chance of sliding forward on a thrust cut
*Tops out at around $100 (less is not a bad thing :D)
~Would like to hear ideas for knives that have no length restriction as well
as ones that are 2.5"/shorter

While I'm on my job hunt, I'm going to be helping out my uncle where there is going to be some occasions where I'll be needing to cut some thick stiff plastic packaging and other activities where a sturdy tip and 0 slippage would be nice. But I'd also like the knife to be good for EDC duties that will inevitably pop up.

Of course I'd also expect the knife to have smooth deployment, strong lock up and all of those other assumed things :)

Any ideas? Anything that comes close to fitting the bill?

Thanks in advance :D
 
Griptilian & Mini Griptilian, Kershaw Junkyard Dog, Leek, Chive, Bump, Spyderco Delica are just a few (of many) choices which might interest you. If you raise your price limit to around $125, you can move into a *serious* neighborhood, like the Zero Tolerance 200....whatever blows yer skirt up....
 
With those criteria you have a lot of options. Since you also want it to be an EDC, I'll stick to +/- 3" blades.

Here goes:
- Spyderco Delica 4 ZDP-189
- Spyderco Native
- Spyderco Salt I
- BM Mini Griptilian
- BM Mini Stryker
 
Well since you don’t have a job (don’t feel bad I got canned as well) your probably on a budget. If I were looking for a good high quality knife that wont break the bank I’d pick up either an Delica or an Endura. I have both and can say that in all likely hood they will be better then you expect.
 
Well I'm 'not out of work' as if in I lost my job and massive financial responsibilities: rather I recently graduated from college and am looking for my first job (great timing eh?).

I have ideas in my head of some knives fit my needs (many of which have been mentioned by you fine folks), but I just wanted to see what else was brought up to see if there was something I may have passed up by mistake :) Especially in regards to the ergos and grip, not something you can always get a decent understanding of by seeing a thumbnail picture on a website.

Thanks for the all the suggestions so far guys! :thumbup: If anyone has any other thoughts, keep 'em coming!
 
Was also thinking of staying away from AO blades. Have enough dexterity to be able to thumb open any properly done folder, so I might as well eliminate additional moving parts which could break down. Sadly, this puts pretty much takes the entire ZT lines out of the picture as the only manual knives they have are ~8oz... Sharpened brick anyone? :D
 
If you don't mind going far cheaper, Boker Hyper is great value for the money. Frame lock, G10, low rider clip, Titanium nitride coated 440C blade, open construction, and held together by screws instead of pivot. This is one of the few inexpensive knives following Strider / Hinderer design philosophy. It shares all the advantages of that design (very few spots for dirt/lint/blood to gather, very easy to clean, absolute minimum moving parts) at a tenth of the price. At around $30 a pop, you won't feel guilty for beating the hell out of this knife.
 
Spyderco Delica or Endura. Either can be had well below your price point. I mention either as the jimping on either knife is great. I used a SS E4 in wet conditions and noted no slippage. The FRN model faired the same. Hope this helps.
 
*Has a good utilitarian blade shape (good sweep and belly to the blade); also
does not have a fragile tip

Kershaw Lahar - slight recurve with a full belly and reinforced tip

*Decent steel - at least 440C/AUS8/8CR13MoV

Lahar - VG-10

*One handed deployment

Lahar - flipper or thumbstud non-AO

*Handle is preferably not thicker than ~.5"

Lahar - handle may be a bit thick

*Is decently low riding when clipped

Lahar - low clip in tip down , a little higher on tip up but low enough

*Good ergos and jimping - want my fingers to be locked in so they have 0
chance of sliding forward on a thrust cut

Lahar - flipper prevents fingers from sliding forward, nice jimping on spine of blade, decent finger groove, grippy G-10 and handle drops down in back

*Tops out at around $100 (less is not a bad thing )

Lahar - ~$60

~Would like to hear ideas for knives that have no length restriction as well
as ones that are 2.5"/shorter

Lahar - 3 1/2"

The Lahar is a very solid folder that locks up solid with its strong liner lock. It has grippy G-10 handle scales, with steel liners and has an excellent blade steel - VG-10. I have it and use it as my "hard-use" folder. A bit too big for my EDC requirements but I like my EDC blades to be ~3" or less. For reference, my top EDC is the Kershaw Skyline.
 
Again thanks all for all of the suggestions, greatly appreciated :thumbup:

Ohh, completely forgot about the Lahar. From the videos I have been able to find, using the flipper to deploy the blade requires wrist action; any idea if it can possibly be flippered without the wrist? Kind of a turn off for me (my RAM pampered me with the wonders of a wristless manual flipper), I for some reason am a bit caught up on 'having' to use a wrist action to flick a knife open. But this is definitely getting added to the list of possibilities :D
 
Lock1454 said:
Ohh, completely forgot about the Lahar. From the videos I have been able to find, using the flipper to deploy the blade requires wrist action; any idea if it can possibly be flippered without the wrist? Kind of a turn off for me (my RAM pampered me with the wonders of a wristless manual flipper), I for some reason am a bit caught up on 'having' to use a wrist action to flick a knife open. But this is definitely getting added to the list of possibilities :D
Click to expand...

I have mine adjusted so I can flip it almost all the time with no wrist action using the flipper. I took it apart, wiped off the factory lube and re-lubed using PTFE (teflon based Precision Oiler from Radio Shack). I used LocTite Blue on the pivot screw and tightened so that no blade play was evident but still able to use flipper only. When I use the thumbstuds, I have no problems opening 100% of the time without any kind of wrist action (flip).
 
My first choice would be a JYD-II CB, It has a very smooth action so smooth that you don't even need to move your hand. The ergo's are almost perfect and the blade steel (CPM-D2) is just another plus. This one won't break the bank either http://www.knifeworks.com/kershawjunkyarddogiig-10handlesandvik13c26cpm-d2compositeplainedge.aspx

Picture331.jpg


Another great uitility knife with a good grip, good steel, and great blade geometry is the Mini-Rukus. It's a bit higher in price ($150) but worth every penny when it's time to do work.

Picture509.jpg
 
The JYDII looks like a very nice knife, but that clip just completely kills it for me (would have enjoyed a thumb stud as well, but not a deal breaker). I don't have much in the way of tools or know how when it comes to this type of work, so I wouldn't be able to do much to mod the clip to be more practical and subtle. Kinda sad though, woulda been high up on the list had it not been for that darn clip (looks like a Batman gadget).
 
Lock1454 said:
The JYDII looks like a very nice knife, but that clip just completely kills it for me (would have enjoyed a thumb stud as well, but not a deal breaker). I don't have much in the way of tools or know how when it comes to this type of work, so I wouldn't be able to do much to mod the clip to be more practical and subtle. Kinda sad though, woulda been high up on the list had it not been for that darn clip (looks like a Batman gadget).
Click to expand...

I know I'm not a big fan of the clip either but it works well and is not that bad in person. You could always have STR do a clip mod for you. ;)
 
Seeing as I use public transportation quite oftem, I'm just very wary of much knife/clip showing. I check to make sure my shirt is fully pulled down to cover the visible parts at least once every couple of minutes. And honestly, it probably does seem a bit exaggerated in the pictures, but I still think it would be a massive clip :P But I'll definitely give it some more consideration from your endorsement :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top