Looking for knife advice

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egroeg555

Joined
Jun 4, 2006
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I had a Kershaw Scallion (partial serration) for a number of years, but it was stolen last summer. I really liked the knife and I'm considering buying another, but I was doing some research and some sources indicated that the steel used on the Scallion (420HC) is not very good steel.

My primary use for it was backpacking. This worked well because it was small and lightweight.

Do you have any suggestions regarding this? Is there another knife similar to this knife, but better?

If I do get another Scallion, it seems to me that I would need to sharpen it. I've tried to sharpen knives before, but was never able to get a really good edge. Any tips or suggestions on sharpening?
 
How much are you willing to pay? You've set out every other guideline, but not price.

If you're willing to spend a bit more than a Scallion, take a look at Spyderco and Benchmade, they're probably the two that will get most recommended by fellow BFers.
 
Do you want an assisted opener? or is that not a big issue for you?

If not, a Spyderco Delica or Endura with FRN handles would be worth looking into. The steel is good, and they are light weight.
 
The assisted opener is not necessary and I was hoping to stick to around $50.

Pretty much all the knives I'v owned have had metal handles. It seemed to me that that was the way to go. Are the nylon/plastic handles good? I had assumed that the nylon would wear and compromise the useability of the knife.

Benchmade seems pretty expensive. With spyderco, does FRN mean nylon handle?
 
Fiber Reinforced Nylon, so yes. And I have both metal and FRN knives. I prefer metal, just because it has a nice heft to it, but FRN won't let you down. The guy who runs Spyderco (Sal Glesser, he's a mod on here) certainly knows his stuff, and wouldn't sell it if it was questionable (except the Byrd line, but that's another story :p)
 
FRN is fiberglass reinforced nylon, so yes. Although, they do make an all steel version of both knives i mentioned.

I don't think with normal use, that the handles would wear down to the point that it compromises the useability of the knife. But personally, i prefer steel too, it just feels more solid.

(Bob, you beat me to it haha)
 
FRN is fiber reinforced nylon. Very durable material.
Thera are many Spidercos around $50 with FRN or SS handle: Native, Delica, Endura and many others and most of them great knives with very good blade steel. If freehand sharpening is a problem (I can not do it myself), think about Spyderco Sharpmaker. It is around $45, comes with DVD, very easy to use and makes knives very sharp. Current production of Spyderco have VG10 or S30V (depends where it is made: Golden or Seki) steels (exept Salt) which has very good edge retention, much better than 420HC.
Goog luck.
 
If you want something similar in size and materials to the scallion, but with better blade steel. Check out the Spyderco Stainless Steel Cricket. It's right in your price range. I've owned a couple Crickets as well as a Scallion, and the way it feels and cuts were far supurior they way i saw it. The lock was better and more reliable too. My Scallion had a very weak liner lock that closed under pressure readily. Here are the measurements of the Cricket compared to the Scallion:

Cricket:
length overall 4 9/16" (116 mm)
blade length 1 7/8" (47.5 mm)
length closed 2 3/4" (70 mm)

Scallion:
Blade Length 2 1/4
Closed Length 3 1/2

That Scallion is a bit larger, but the Cricket feels and cuts like a much larger knife than the Scallion IMO.

29steel.jpg
 
Yes, any of the spydies or maybe even a,
Benchmade Griptillian in any steel flavour.

They are owned by many here as well.

Oh, and a Spyderco Sharpmaker, it'll keep your things sharp.

WR
 
I would say get the standard Kershaw Leek. They are assisted openers but, have a stainless handle (which I prefer since my preference is mostly for metal) and, are extremely well designed. A little bit bigger than the Scallion but, more useful and just as easy to carry. Runs about $40 in Wal-Mart or elsewhere.
 
rnhood said:
I would say get the standard Kershaw Leek. They are assisted openers but, have a stainless handle (which I prefer since my preference is mostly for metal) and, are extremely well designed. A little bit bigger than the Scallion but, more useful and just as easy to carry. Runs about $40 in Wal-Mart or elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Seconded:D

The leek is a little bigger, but not much more difficult to carry, in fact not difficult at all. The xtra size will def. come in handy and it's shape and design are by the same creator, so it's right up your alley if you loved the scalion. There are many styles and a few steel options. s30v is a better steel if you don't mind the price. For me the frame lock is the way to go, it locks tight and is thinner than the liner locks. The leek is my fav. all purpose pocket folder, thin, lightweight, reliable. Check out a search on "leek" and you'll get tons of pics and info. here's a couple of links for you.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=403067

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=403354

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401228

The last link is very interesting and should provide you with some ideas.
 
Thanks, this is a lot of great and helpfull information. I'm leaning towards the Cricket at the moment. The strange blade shape turned me off at first, but it's growing on me.

As for the leek, it does look nice, but if I got it i'd probably want to get the better steel and thats too expensive.

Feel free to post more information. I'd appriciate it.

Also, where do you buy your knives? I was looking on amazon.com and I saw some stuff there that looked resonably priced.
 
Get another Scallion! If it worked for you through years of backpacking then that carries a lot more weight than whatever reasearch you dug up on the net. YOU are the Scallion expert! :D
 
WarRaven said:
Yes, any of the spydies or maybe even a,
Benchmade Griptillian in any steel flavour.

They are owned by many here as well.

Oh, and a Spyderco Sharpmaker, it'll keep your things sharp.

WR
Click to expand...

I second the vote for a Griptilian!
 
Well, you do have a good point stevekt.

The Griptilian does look like a very nice knife. I probably would get a mini Griptilian if money was not an issue.
 
I'd also recommend the Grip but if money is an issue you may also want to look at the Spyderco Native, an excellent knife in an excellent premium steel that's very affordable and also at Walmart for $40. Good luck! :D
 
egroeg555, I dont know what a grip costs in the states off the top of my head.

But i always err on the side of a better mouse trap, if the grip is close to your alotted budget,go handle one in person,really.

I find it is better to throw a couple extra bucks at something that is going to be on you for a long time to come,then to purchase something half assed and wanting something else.

And it always nice, to have a decent knife that will take an edge and HOLD it for a little longer then some lower end units do.

Now, bear with me, i am no rich man either, however when i want something like this or a decent watch or a flashlight, i will spend the extra coin for the better product and feel much better with my choice in time to come.

Oh, yeah, i do own a scallion,chive ect aswell, they do not see pocket time at all, my Benchamdes and Spydercos fill this role of actually going into the world with me, i want quality out on the road or in the bush, not an Asist opener or full auto, i want it to workand do it well.

Secondly, if you buy decent, you can get a decent buck back for it, that is not so easy with lesser equipped items in todays age, Blue books still say,get the bigger motor for a reason.

Last thought, even though i am not rich, i will scrape and save to get he item needed if it comes to that, or charge and pay it off.

You did say you lost that knife sometime ago, could you not wait a little longer and up the anti a bit to get a better class item?

Though if you cant wait,get what your budget will allow now, though most of us here, like the potato chip, cant stop at one, maybe you can and have the willpower not to want anything else after this purchase.Time will tell, and if it goes like us, you will wind up with some BM's and spyders in your sock drawer.
Then them little purchases of $20-45, will look and be quite lonely collecting dust as they dont have the same allure or quality of a better mouse trap.

I dont wish i could stop at one myself, there is too many beautiful knives out there that i want, and too little money. So i watch and wait for the ones that i really like and are made well, and have stopped or atleast slowed on the lesser built items so i have more the better ones.

Sorry, long winded one. I just felt the difference in quality can be extreme for a few dollars while still staying under $200, theres a wide margin in there, and a lot of crap that costs good coin too.(I am not saying that the Scallion or chive is crap in this at all.)
So please everyone, dont take that the wrong way.

Happy media multiplying with what ever you do choose, and make sure you pop back and give us your angle on it and its uses.

WR
 
Wow, thanks for saying that WarRaven. It does make a lot of sense.

Regarding the Griptilian, you said "in any steel flavor" What are you referring to? The handle? From what I could tell, there was no steel handle option. Also, would the mini version be just as good quality as the larger?

Do you guys purchase your knives online or in a store? I live in Maryland and the only stores that sell knives (that I know of) are outdoor stores like REI or Sunnys. Neither of these sell many knives. Wallmart has been mentioned. I'll have to check them out. I didn't realize that they sold knives.
 
Yup no worries, i would rather help open a freinds eyes to options then have non or limited if i can bro.

I meant was with the steel flavour,that the grip can be had in a few different steels,the blade that is.

Right from the 440 series of steel and up.

I believe the 440 series is the lower costing ones, and every bit as good as the higher end steels, just slightly less then them, but not like say something like 410 or 420, there the edge will go to hell, you could pry a bit with them steels but that is not what knife is made to do imho.

440 and up will keep a smile on your face for time to come bro, just like his bigger brethen.

Also, i want to add again, that the kershaws are damn fine little knife, just i believe the lower end ones to be more of a entry level knife then say novice type. Thier now coming out in exotic steels on them and priced accordingly, they really try to make thier customers happy at kershaw, great CS there too.

Oh, the grip is substantially thicker in the handle and filling in the hand then the slimmer scallion, this may make a difference to you. I believe it better to fill the mitt, then to cramp it trying to use it along time anyways.

WR
 
OK, so I found a site that seems to be good. http://www.knifecenter.com/

Their location is pretty close to me.
Their site says appointments only, but I think that I will only be able to make a good decision by atcually holding the knives. So, I'll have to go over there.
 
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