Looking for an outdoor folder

L

Locust

Joined
Sep 30, 2008
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539
I am looking into buying a good outdoor folder. I want to use it for general around the camp type tasks, and as a supplement to a six or seven inch blade when camping. I also want to use it when going to parks or trails or anywhere out doors something on the belt might not be the best idea. It needs to be one hand open and close, no autos or assists, and I want to keep it under $80. A definite bonus would be if I could use it in winter gloves. So far a CS Recon 1 seems to fit the bill but I was wondering what you guys think.
As a side note I figured I would mention that I have a CRKT M16-12 as my work EDC and was wondering if that might work. The open construction makes me concerned about dirt, sand, and mud. Plus most reviews I have seen do not seem to choose tantos or partial serrations for out door stuff.
Thanks for any help and advice.
 
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I would take a look at a Kabar Mule.:thumbup: Never had one but everything I've read about them has been positive!!
 
Looks good but I should have mentioned that I find operating lockbacks awkward.
 
You can in fact open and close a lockback pretty easily. All of Spyderco's lockbacks are easy to do one handed (see YouTube).

My pick at $80 would be a Spyderco Paramilitary, from the BST forums here. You can usually find one between $75-90 lightly used. It's a very tough knife with incredible slicing ability, a comfortable size for pocket carry, so it would make a great companion for a larger fixed blade.
 
CRKT M16 also come in spearpoints, I have one and it is a workhorse knife.

SAK makes a good 4" folder called the One Hand Trekker. Locking blade, typical toolset. Makes a useful accompaniment to larger fixed blade.
Amazon has them for $21.99 (free shipping with $25 purchase)
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Sw...e=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1225826882&sr=1-3

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I like the SAK idea. Nothing says camping quite like em.

Are you looking for a knife to use soley when you have a big chopper around (for camp tasks?)

I'm wondering if youre looking for a thinner slicer or a brute of a knife. I have a Buck/strider that works well camping and is around your price point.
 
I've used my Benchmade 550 Griptillian while camping for years and it has performed flawlessly.
 
Spyderco Military. It works well with gloves, and is very light for the size of the knife.
 
For about $90, you could get a OHT and a mini-grip, which would be just perfect. The Mini-Grip come with a thumb hole if you have a hard time opening thumb stud knives with gloves.
 
jim preston said:
For about $90, you could get a OHT and a mini-grip, which would be just perfect. The Mini-Grip come with a thumb hole if you have a hard time opening thumb stud knives with gloves.
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your right, that would be sweet! +1
the OHT is one of my favs, it has so much and you can
get it in the original combo edge, or PE.
 
CRKT M21 SF(G) or similar. Closing can be a little tricky, but you really can't beat it for opening.
 
I really like my gerber gator, you can get them with or with out the serrations. Think I paid around 30 to 35 for it.

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CRKT M16 also come in spearpoints, I have one and it is a workhorse knife.
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How well does the open frame handle dirt and mud though?

The military and paramilitary are both nice but I cannot find them anywhere for under $110 which is way too high for me.

Are you looking for a knife to use soley when you have a big chopper around (for camp tasks?)

I'm wondering if youre looking for a thinner slicer or a brute of a knife.
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I'm looking to use it for a variety of tasks. I must admit I have not yet done as much camping as I would like to so I'm not that familiar with all the necessary tasks yet. Mostly this will either be used when I'm going somewhere a larger blade would be overkill, overly conspicuous, or likely to impede movement. By impede movement I am referring to a situation where I had to squeeze through narrow rocky cave walls and the 6in fixed blade I was carrying kept getting caught no matter how I adjusted it for carry.

What is an OHT?
 
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One Hand Trekker ALL THE WAY:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I take mine hiking, camping, and skiing:D

:cool:Steven
 
+1 on bm Griptillan. It is a great knife and i used mine for a solid 6 months before i upgraded to the more expensive mini Rukus.
 
Ohooh, please don't ban me;)

I think the AXIS lock isn't the right lock for outdoor use. If your knife will get dirty, and it will, they lock doesn't work anymore. I have a 710, and with only a little dirt it doesn't operate anymore. Last time it wouldn't even close without considerable force. Compressed air didn't work, just as WD40. Needed to get the knife open to clean it... And it wasn't even really dirty, I did the same tasks with liner/frame/compression and backlocks, and everything was fine then.

I really believe that an Axis lock is the worst lock for heavy use, it is strong, but very unreliable with dirt around. I have seen to many fail to consider tha lock an option.

Maybe just an Buck 110, it's an proven design.
Or, if you don't like backlocks, I would consider a Para/Military.

Just my 0.02 cents, don't flame me for it:)
 
Go with one of the backlock spyderco's. You can find millies and para's for around $110, more like $135, but it's definitely worth it. Hard use knives at their best.
 
Tom v S said:
I think the AXIS lock isn't the right lock for outdoor use. If your knife will get dirty, and it will, they lock doesn't work anymore.
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That's strange. I've seen videos of people taking an Axis lock BM and buryind it in sand and mud, bringing it out and opening and closing it just fine.
 
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