Looking for a Particular Style for EDC

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FordRanger

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Mar 16, 2015
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Before I begin I'd like to say that when I registered it said that "Ford Ranger" was a blocked username because of a spammer.. I'm not him!! Haha I'm just a fan of the truck I drive.

Anyhow, I am a twenty year old college student but was born and raised in the woods and was in a scout troop. (Didn't make it to Eagle regrettably but it was out of my control) I've had tons of experience with knives of both high and low quality, much more than most my age.
I'm looking for a new EDC to replace an old one, and I used it for pretty much everything, but I just didn't like the styling of it so I'm going to ask here to see if I can find what I'm looking for. What I want is a moderately priced (less than $75) (so I can use it every day for things it probably shouldn't be used and not cringe when it breaks) black blade/framed knife with wood scales, and a 4 inch or more blade. I thought this would be easy to find, I even googled it, but it just isn't. I want the black/wood because I like both traditional and some tacticool styles, and also because I'm a "gun nut" and black/blued steel just looks beautiful with stained wood.
So here's a rundown of specs:
-$75 or less
-4in blade (or round about, more than 3 3/4 in and less than 5)
-black frame and blade
-wood scales (doesn't have to be real, but I'd like it to at least resemble wood haha)
-Tip-up right hand clip. I don't care if it can be changed as long as tip-up is an option.

I like more traditionally shaped knives and blades, like Case and Buck, but seriously I'd like to see anything you might know of that fits my criteria. I've seen a few Boker knives that fit the bill but they were on the small side and way too pricey for me to go beating the heck out of them. Also one knife I really liked the looks of was the Coast Fx411 but it has no pocket clip and isn't really sturdy enough for everyday use IMHO.

Alternatively, If you know of an Opinel 12 or Buck 110 with a tip-up clip, thumb stud, and less handle thickness, I'd be sold! It doesn't quite fit my requirements, but they're both good knives. My Buck 110 is my most treasured knife as I've had it since I was about eight, and Opinels are near and dear to me as well.
 
Save for an extra week and get a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 for about $105 or so. You won't regret it.
 
I think the buck 112 is basically a thinner buck 110? Don't quote me on that, though. That bio you posted sounds scarily like me.... like, a lot like me, lol.
 
Oh! A Sebenza knife might fit you really well, as well. But I think they're a little above the price limit. Not for sure, but pretty confident.
 
BackInKentucky said:
I think the buck 112 is basically a thinner buck 110? Don't quote me on that, though. That bio you posted sounds scarily like me.... like, a lot like me, lol.
Click to expand...

Nope. The 112 Ranger is not any thinner than the 110. It is just a short version of the 110.
 
The Spyderco PM2 is a knife I've been looking at for a while now but its not really what I'd like to carry and use everyday. I like Spyderco and have had and used a few in the past, but all of the wood handled models I've seen are way too pricey for me to beat up on them. Great knives, and sometimes I carry nicer knives, but between work, camping, and the woodworking I do in my spare time I need a knife I'm willing to beat up on. Plus the PM2 is on the small side per my parameters.
I have a 112 with finger grooves, and its a good knife but it's closed size is rather similar to the 110, but it has a much smaller blade, making me not like to use it.
Sebenza has some very attractive knives that I would never take outside of my house for fear of something happening to them. I can just see it flying out of my pocket and into the river while I'm fishing! I like their style though.
I'm thinking I should just get one knife for when I want a "tacticool" knife, and then get a traditional folder with a tip-up clip. I wish I could get a Cold Steel Lone Star Hunter with wood scales and a black finish, that would pretty much be perfect. I've never held one though, so I might not like it in person. Anyone got one and like it?
 
I don't know of anything that fits your description...at least not in the world of knives that currently interests me. The old (discontinued) Benchmade 690 would have been a good candidate, except the blade isn't even close to 4 inches.



There's the Spyderco Sage 4; which is not only too small, it doesn't have a black blade.
(I don't have one, but images are easy enough to find)

There is always the custom scales option; but it will likely cost you as much as the knife.


You could always just put wood on one side. (One side of this is titanium; but people do two different colors of G10, so why not wood on one side?)


If you're into traditionals, it might be worth posing your question in that subforum.
 
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That Benchmade looks perfect. I wish that more brands used wood these days, but I do understand the advantages of more durable materials. Those ZT's have some pretty crazy woodgrain, that makes me want to find a knife I like and carve out some scales for it from a scrap of birdseye maple I have. I could probably epoxy them to the frame to keep them from falling apart if they cracked. Again this is a rough use knife so scratches and scrapes come with the territory. I just want my EDC to have some personal style to it instead of just being a typical black or steel colored knife like everybody has.
 
FordRanger said:
-$75 or less
-4in blade (or round about, more than 3 3/4 in and less than 5)
-black frame and blade
-wood scales (doesn't have to be real, but I'd like it to at least resemble wood haha)
-Tip-up right hand clip. I don't care if it can be changed as long as tip-up is an option.
Click to expand...

Hate to say it, but I'm not sure if this exists. A lot of companies don't have a ton of options in that size range, and the ones that do the most(Cold Steel) don't tend to use wood scales. Then, black blade plus wood scales is pretty uncommon as well, as wood scales are more common on knives for the "outdoors"/"bushcraft" crowd, and the people who tend to go for those generally dislike the "tactical" style of black blades. Add in the fairly low price point(which rules out customs or a production knife+custom scales) and I really don't think you're gonna find something that matches what you're after.
 
If you can find one?--- a Benchmade bone collector 15050-2 May be as close as you can get?,,,, no black blade but oh well!!! Also more than your price range!,,,,???????
 
I like a good challenge, but the only thing I have found so far that is close to your requirements is the Boker Magnum High Peak:

31fzbgnU-EL._SY400_.jpg


The blade is too short, but on the plus side they are well under your price point. (They also appear to be maybe disco'd, but still available.)

I don't know what to expect quality-wise with Bokers at this price point (~$20). The only knife I have from them is a Kwaiken, which I like, but it retails in the $100 range.
 
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