Recommendation? Looking for other options to the WE Banter that is close to the same size and quality

T

TexasBulldog74

Joined
Mar 14, 2021
Messages
15
Hey all,

Looking for any advice on knives that are comparable in all dimensions to the WE Banter. I love the feel of the Banter but got a lemon (don't care to go into it, im not here to badmouth) but it's size in all dimensions is just perfect in my hands for EDC.

Ive only been into knives for about a year so im well aware that there are tons of brands out there that im not even familiar with and hoping some here who has a lot of experience with a wide range of brands/models could recommend a knife the same size but specifically the width of the banter. It just falls into my hand very comfortably to deploy and fits perfect in my 5th pocket. I love my Spyderco's but they are just too wide with that big ol' hump in my pocket while at work. I keep quite a few tools/pens/markers in my pocket for my job (QC) so in my experiences so far the Banter is the perfect size.

Thanks
 
bayouace said:
Have you contacted WE? Their customer service is first rate, and they will probably send you a new knife very quickly.
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It was looking like it was going that direction but I put a new edge on it and they didn't want to touch it after that. Oh well, still cuts but it has blade play that just bugs the heck out of me. I just leave it in my glove box now.
 
WE banter is quite a unique specimen in its ugliness, and theres nothing quite like it!

Closest I can think of is the Elementum. Maybe the smaller WE Miscreant? I myself dont like it, but you can try Asher Knives, they have squarish profile and are all pretty thin. CRKT Pilar? Mini bugout? I'm kinda reaching here lol.

If you can find one, try the WE Kitefin. Ultra light, very thin and well designed EDC.

Cheers.
 
Dergyll said:
WE banter is quite a unique specimen in its ugliness, and theres nothing quite like it!

Closest I can think of is the Elementum. Maybe the smaller WE Miscreant? I myself dont like it, but you can try Asher Knives, they have squarish profile and are all pretty thin. CRKT Pilar? Mini bugout? I'm kinda reaching here lol.

If you can find one, try the WE Kitefin. Ultra light, very thin and well designed EDC.

Cheers.
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I love the square body of the banter, thats exactly what im trying to find in something else LOL... I have a Pilar and although a decent knife I am looking for something in a similar quality to the Banter... Have a bugout and mini bugout and they get some good pocket time but its a little narrow. I guess im being very picky hahaha... I was thinking there was something out there that i just didn't know about. Id love to find a Kitefin especially in the Gold/Copper flake but id buy any of them but i haven't found one for sale yet but i actively look a few days a week.. Thank you.
 
I assume you have tried to tighten the pivot screw. It will have blue loctite on it, may have not been screwed in as far as it should be, and the loctite sets.
 
bayouace said:
I assume you have tried to tighten the pivot screw. It will have blue loctite on it, may have not been screwed in as far as it should be, and the loctite sets.
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Yeah, I was working with a few people here when it started to loosen up and even sent it to a guy here who thought he could eliminate it and its just loose. when the blade is extended there is slop if you were to rock the blade forward and back in the direction of the opening of the blade.
 
I personally don’t have the same appreciation for the Banter as you do...but...I have an appreciation for finding a great knife. Sounds like the Banter is your “great” knife.

Why don’t you just buy another? They aren’t that expensive, and you have learned that if you don’t modify or sharpen, then WE will take care of you.

If it turns out to be another lemon, just return it. 😁
 
Sharp & Fiery said:
I personally don’t have the same appreciation for the Banter as you do...but...I have an appreciation for finding a great knife. Sounds like the Banter is your “great” knife.

Why don’t you just buy another? They aren’t that expensive, and you have learned that if you don’t modify or sharpen, then WE will take care of you.

If it turns out to be another lemon, just return it. 😁
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Never hurts to have a backup!
 
Bigbluefish said:
Benchmade Mini Bugout?
Kizer Yorkie?
Quiet Carry Eddy?
Fox Baby Core?
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AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never knew about the Yorkie and Eddy... don't have the $$ for all of them but i ordered the Baby Core and the Blue Ti Yorkie. I love the shapes of those. Thanks so much. I'll grab an Eddy next paycheck or so. Seriously, Thanks again, the body size looks like what im trying to find.
 
TexasBulldog74 said:
It was looking like it was going that direction but I put a new edge on it and they didn't want to touch it after that. Oh well, still cuts but it has blade play that just bugs the heck out of me. I just leave it in my glove box now.
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So it's a $110 knife with no warranty? Wow.
 
Fanglekai said:
So it's a $110 knife with no warranty? Wow.
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if you sharpen it yes, it turns out that way. Its not like its some botched resharpen either, i did a very nice mirror polish on my KME setup with lapping films. Oh well, I loved it until the blade slop started which is why im trying to find a replacement with similar feel.
 
It sounds like the problem may not be a loose pivot but possibly an undersized blade stop pin. In Wich case do you know anyone with a lathe to make a new one?
 
fishface5 said:
It sounds like the problem may not be a loose pivot but possibly an undersized blade stop pin. In Wich case do you know anyone with a lathe to make a new one?
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the play seems to be from the liner lock where it should be contacting the blade and where they meet there isn't any deformation of steel, chips or anything that looks out of the ordinary.
 
TexasBulldog74 said:
It was looking like it was going that direction but I put a new edge on it and they didn't want to touch it after that. Oh well, still cuts but it has blade play that just bugs the heck out of me. I just leave it in my glove box now.
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WE's website expressly states that modification voids the warranty but does not mention sharpening. Does sharpening count as modification or routine maintenance?

Since "repair" by anyone other than them also voids the warranty, you might want to press the above question first. If they really won't help you, then I'd definitely take it apart, thoroughly clean it, carefully inspect the internal parts, and see if it can't be helped with a little tinkering. I've had some funny things happen with budget knives where the solution was a matter of getting the scales seated just right before tightening up the body screws in just the right order.
 
TexasBulldog74 said:
the play seems to be from the liner lock where it should be contacting the blade and where they meet there isn't any deformation of steel, chips or anything that looks out of the ordinary.
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Hopefully I can explain better: A liner lock works by 1) the liner exerting pressure on the tang 2) to press the blade against a mechanical stop of some sort that prevents the blade from travelling any further than 180 degrees. It takes 2 solid points of contact against the blade for the lock to function. So if the stop pin is too small, or perhaps misaligned, then the liner lock can't push the blade into full engagement with the stop pin when the blade is fully opened. This leaves a gap that creates vertical play. But the issue doesn't harm, and cannot be fixed by messing with, the area where the liner lock touches the blade tang
 
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