Looking for a solid, hard-working folding knife!

I

Ichop

Joined
Jun 25, 2013
Messages
277
Hey guys, it's Sunday.. which means lots of spare time and the urge to buy a new knife...

I could use a quick recommendation from you all; I'm looking for a tough, work knife. Yes, I'm aware that I could be using various tools (hammers, prybars etc) for tougher work, but for the sake of choosing a knife, please help. And yes, I do have a fixed blade for extreme tasks (BK2!), so folders only.

I've "narrowed" it down to the following, but I would welcome any suggestions of similar knives.

Strider SNG/SMF (what's so good about these? seems like it's the go-to hard use knife of many, I'd like your opinions)
Hinderer XM 3,3.5,4? (I can get direct pricing, hence bunching them in this group)
ZT 0300/301/302/303? (lots of money saved... but speedsafe?...)
Spyderco Tuff (looks good, but Spyderco won't re-blade me apparently..)
Greyman Satu (is the pocket-sword overkill?)

Budget is at 300-400, looking for a tough knife with a focus on blade thickness and titanium elements.

Also, I've tried these knives and ended up getting rid of them, just wasn't for me.

ZT0560, ZT0550, BM 810 Contego, BM Rift, Emersons

Thanks for your time guys!
 
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Strider SNG is my choice its got amazing ergonomics, great blade shape with top notch steels. It comes in many handle option including lego, DGG, and CC as well as colors and Ti side finishes (I love their flames Ti). If you can over look its lack of titanium then benchmades 275 adamas is definitely a contender for extreme abuse. Also if your looking at grayman the Satu is huge so I would way look more towards the DUA
 
Well if you sent back the 560, then I wouldn't go with an XM-18. But the ZT's you listed are awesome.
 
You didn't specify size, so I'm gonna recommend the DPX HEAT/HEST/HEFT folders. 2,5",3.1" and 3,5" blade respectively
I have a HEST and its pretty awesome, made by Lionsteel (I really like their RotoBlock, no chance of unlocking when you grip hard)
Not that the lockup isn't rock solid without it, its somewhat sticky though at first
I also love the stonewashed titanium, it just looks and feels great.
I know RYP has some "history" on this forum, but I can say their customer service is alright
 
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XM-18, and if you don't like it you can sell it for double (which Hinderer seems to endorse so don't feel bad). Then you could get one of your other knives on the list for cheap and go out for food and drinks to celebrate!
 
All great knives on your list but for me I would go Strider SMF! Best hard user out there IMO and yes opinions vary. Tuff and SNG would be great choices also.
 
My money is on the SnG with a flat ground blade. Striders just work. Plus part of that hefty price tag is one of the best warranties out there. As long as you don't pimp the knife, you can just do about anything to it and know that Strider will fix it no questions asked. Plus they're awfully light for the size, while being extremely strong (for a frame lock of course).
 
No titanium but you'll have plenty o' ca$h left over for a few steak & lobster dinners... ;) L6 is a pretty tough steel, imo. The Svord Peasant is a great knife for dirty jobs and makes a fantastic landscaping folder.

peasant01.jpg


Good luck, OP! :)

-Brett
 
I think I've about narrowed it to the XM-18 3.5 or SNG.. Really hope the "lock rock" issues I hear about aren't bad as it'd be a pain to have to send it back and forth. I can appreciate their warranty... But it's not something I'd like to have to deal with every few months..

Any thoughts on the Strider issues from first hand users?

Also, I've heard the XM is significantly different from the 0560 in terms of solid construction, and lack of the sticky lock (the reason I resold my 0560)

If I got that Svord, I'd be eating good for awhile!

On the note about the Southard, is the Southard spine thick enough to handle hard work? I looked up the stats, and it seems to look tough on paper. Any first hand experience?

Thanks for the replies so far guys!
 
Here's a thought: If you want a solid, hardworking knife, why do you need to spend $300-$400? That price is going to get you pretty or cool first and hardworking second. I understand that you'd like titanium elements, but are they really worth paying several times as much? They don't necessarily make for a better knife.

I recommend my favorite folding knife, the Cold Steel Recon 1. Do I own more expensive knives? Yes. Do I like them as much? No. It's a no nonsense, simple knife with an incredibly strong design, excellent ergonomics and great geometry. Great build quality and F&F. It's a tool built to do a job, and nothing else. Three different blade shapes, four different sizes, plain edge or half serrated. Japanese AUS8A steel that's been vacuum and cryo treated. Solid G10 handles with no useless liners to add dead weight. Strongest folding knife lock in the business. No blade play - a problem that plagues knives that cost many times as much. You can get one for less than $80.

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Kwon, you should work for cold steel if you dont already.

you got me looking...

I hear striders are very tough, havent played with one but looking.
 
While the cold steel lock might be very strong, the G10 handle on other hand tends to bite into my hand when I used it to cut things. For some reason, the inside edges of the G10 handle (where the blades goes into when folded) is rather edgy and can bite into the palm of the hand. That's when I stop being a fan of Cold steel and saw other higher quality knives on the market.
 
HwangJino said:
Kwon, you should work for cold steel if you dont already.

you got me looking...

I hear striders are very tough, havent played with one but looking.
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If I lived near Ventura, California, I would.

LadyEarth said:
While the cold steel lock might be very strong, the G10 handle on other hand tends to bite into my hand when I used it to cut things. For some reason, the inside edges of the G10 handle (where the blades goes into when folded) is rather edgy and can bite into the palm of the hand. That's when I stop being a fan of Cold steel and saw other higher quality knives on the market.
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Everyone has different experiences. I do see what you're saying if I squeeze onto the handle for dear life, but overall I like the ergonomics a lot.

Define "higher quality".
 
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I have not "squeezed" onto the handle for dear life. I merely held onto it, cut wood, branches, etc and the inner G10 edges bit into my palm regardless. It did the same for the Raja II and Spartan. Everyone does have different experiences but the design remains the same, hence I left for better knives that will not do such things as what I mentioned. Higher quality would be ZT 0550, Kershaw cyclone, Spyderco Tuff, Benchmade Grip, etc.
 
LadyEarth said:
I have not "squeezed" onto the handle for dear life. I merely held onto it, cut wood, branches, etc and the inner G10 edges bit into my palm regardless. It did the same for the Raja II and Spartan. Everyone does have different experiences but the design remains the same, hence I left for better knives that will not do such things as what I mentioned. Higher quality would be ZT 0550, Kershaw cyclone, Spyderco Tuff, Benchmade Grip, etc.
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I have not had the same experience. I guess our hands are just different or something?

You didn't define anything, you just named knives that you like better. I have a Griptilian and I think the Recon 1 is the better knife in most respects - especially build quality, clip retention, lock and handle material. Also, the clip doesn't look like an erect phallus.
 
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I got a SnG like a week ago and am really enjoying it. Has great feel, ergos and is tough as nails while quite light. For pure feel, it's probably my favorite folder right now. That being said I've been on a folder binge lately and also gotten a 801, Military, BM onslaught, Zt 200 and Rat 1. In terms of use and comfort most are close and the Rat 1 does most everything I expect from a folder. Other favs are my para 2 and Ritter Grip.











 
Kwon Kwang said:
I have not had the same experience. I guess our hands are just different or something?

You didn't define anything, you just named knives that you like better. I have a Griptilian and I think the Recon 1 is the better knife in most respects - especially build quality, clip retention, lock and handle material. Also, the clip doesn't look like an erect phallus.
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You asked me to name higher quality knives, not knives that I liked, as simple as that. Anyways, we're going off subject.

Back on subject, Ichop, have you looked into three sister folders?
 
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