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+1 excellent in the hand, disappears in your pocket, and the VG-10 holds an impressive edge.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Looking for sturdy work knife
- Thread starter TrueBlade1
- Start date
+1 excellent in the hand, disappears in your pocket, and the VG-10 holds an impressive edge.
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2014
- Messages
- 40
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions,
I took a look at the Tuff Lite and looks like a great knife for the money. That maybe the next knife I buy but it will have to wait a bit. I've already spent my limit for the time being. I ordered the AL and it should be here Monday.
Don't want to beat a dead horse, but I'm going to have to give a shout out for my Kabar Mule and why I love it so much.
1. Ergonomics like I would have never believed! Most knives that I have looked at have 2 dimensional ergo handles, meaning that they have a flat cut-out handle with varying types on grip. My Mule has a custom molded feeling 3D grip on it that really feels like it was molded for my hand. Love that! And I have absolutely no worries of it rolling in my hand. I know some will say that the grip inserts are gimmicky and I understand that, but you have to wrap your hand around a Mule just once.
2. Very sturdy blade design, I love how the tip is reinforced (much like my Code 4) The serrations on the Mule give serious cutting and sawing power, deeper and larger than Cold Steel serrations. The blade steel is Aus8a just like the Cold Steel knives.
3. The lock release has a smooth fluid motion, not a gritty or grinding feeling. And although a small point, the lock release has a finger shaped depression that releases very comfortably.
4. The entire inside of the knife is coated with a solid teflon coating, I've noticed that many reviewers don't like black coated knives, but I like the rust resistance and smoothness it gives to the knife.
5. Although heavier and bulkier than other knives I have looked at, the grip and feel of this knife in my hand more than makes up for the added weight. Also I used this knife hard (not extreme or reckless but hard) and I have confidence in my Mule to use it as hard as I want. Today I've been scrapping paint off an old picket fence to prepare it for repainting, and the Mule worked like a champ to cut away and scrape in areas where my scrapper couldn't reach.
Defiantly not an EDC (unless you like carrying a tank around) but wonderful as a hard use knife. I live in the country with acreage, so there are always hard use tasks for me to do.
Ohh, did I mention I got it as a freeby? Ah ah ah best freeby I ever got online!
I took a look at the Tuff Lite and looks like a great knife for the money. That maybe the next knife I buy but it will have to wait a bit. I've already spent my limit for the time being. I ordered the AL and it should be here Monday.
Don't want to beat a dead horse, but I'm going to have to give a shout out for my Kabar Mule and why I love it so much.
1. Ergonomics like I would have never believed! Most knives that I have looked at have 2 dimensional ergo handles, meaning that they have a flat cut-out handle with varying types on grip. My Mule has a custom molded feeling 3D grip on it that really feels like it was molded for my hand. Love that! And I have absolutely no worries of it rolling in my hand. I know some will say that the grip inserts are gimmicky and I understand that, but you have to wrap your hand around a Mule just once.
2. Very sturdy blade design, I love how the tip is reinforced (much like my Code 4) The serrations on the Mule give serious cutting and sawing power, deeper and larger than Cold Steel serrations. The blade steel is Aus8a just like the Cold Steel knives.
3. The lock release has a smooth fluid motion, not a gritty or grinding feeling. And although a small point, the lock release has a finger shaped depression that releases very comfortably.
4. The entire inside of the knife is coated with a solid teflon coating, I've noticed that many reviewers don't like black coated knives, but I like the rust resistance and smoothness it gives to the knife.
5. Although heavier and bulkier than other knives I have looked at, the grip and feel of this knife in my hand more than makes up for the added weight. Also I used this knife hard (not extreme or reckless but hard) and I have confidence in my Mule to use it as hard as I want. Today I've been scrapping paint off an old picket fence to prepare it for repainting, and the Mule worked like a champ to cut away and scrape in areas where my scrapper couldn't reach.
Defiantly not an EDC (unless you like carrying a tank around) but wonderful as a hard use knife. I live in the country with acreage, so there are always hard use tasks for me to do.
Ohh, did I mention I got it as a freeby? Ah ah ah best freeby I ever got online!
Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
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- 27,591
In the Maintenance forum section check this thread here some good advice.
G2
edited to add: I posted a review on the Mini Tuff Lite, ended up getting BOTH the Mini and the regular, they are pretty sweet knives too, Seen here
As to the Kabar Mule, haven't held one but just looked at a video and I can see what you like, good contours on the handle, the raised areas look like they'd provide good grip too. and at that price, probably tough to beat for a hard use knife.
G2
edited to add: I posted a review on the Mini Tuff Lite, ended up getting BOTH the Mini and the regular, they are pretty sweet knives too, Seen here
As to the Kabar Mule, haven't held one but just looked at a video and I can see what you like, good contours on the handle, the raised areas look like they'd provide good grip too. and at that price, probably tough to beat for a hard use knife.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2014
- Messages
- 40
AntDog,
Your right on, if I had taken the time to look at the Recon 1 Mini before I looked at the A.L. I definitely would have pulled the trigger on it. I really like the ergo on that knife maybe just a touch better than the AL, especially the finger choils, only the Recon Mini is a 3 inch blade where the AL is 3 1/2 inch. (I realize I was asking for a 3 inch knife but I've fallen in love with a bit longer blade). I will be buying the Recon Mini in the near future I'm sure
Your right on, if I had taken the time to look at the Recon 1 Mini before I looked at the A.L. I definitely would have pulled the trigger on it. I really like the ergo on that knife maybe just a touch better than the AL, especially the finger choils, only the Recon Mini is a 3 inch blade where the AL is 3 1/2 inch. (I realize I was asking for a 3 inch knife but I've fallen in love with a bit longer blade). I will be buying the Recon Mini in the near future I'm sure
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- Nov 19, 2013
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The recon 1 is one of the safest knives i can think of. Lock up is unbeliveably solid. Zero blade movement and zero chance of lock failure.
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- Apr 3, 2001
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- 27,208
If you like a longer blade, you could always go with the Recon 1. (not the mini or the XL - just the regular Recon 1) The whole series of Recon 1 knives are built very stout. They are all made very similarly in design as well. Just in different sizes. I would highly recommend any of them without hesitation. Like Ulf Krogstad said - the Recon series of knives are very safe, and the locks are absolutely ROCK SOLID with zero blade play in any direction. I have the Recon 1 XL in my pocket right now. I've already used it twice today! Great knives. And welcome to the forums!
Hey Ulf - I think I saw a pic of your recon on another post. That is one sexy beast! The more wear they get on em, the better they look.
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2014
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- 40
I see what you mean about the solid lock on the Recon 1, I'm going to get one probably in the next few months just cant decide on the Mini or regular I like them both.
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- Apr 3, 2001
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- 27,208
Do you have big hands? If you do, get the regular recon. The mini is a stout knife, but it is a little small for someone with big hands.
I wear size XL gloves and the regular recon fits my hand like it was made for me. The mini is a little small but still feels great. You really can't go wrong with either one. They are both sold at such a great price that you can try both of them and sell the one you don't want. Check em out on "the big river website". I think they're both right around 40 bucks!
I wear size XL gloves and the regular recon fits my hand like it was made for me. The mini is a little small but still feels great. You really can't go wrong with either one. They are both sold at such a great price that you can try both of them and sell the one you don't want. Check em out on "the big river website". I think they're both right around 40 bucks!
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- Nov 19, 2013
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Completly agree.
. Nothing worst than a knife that doesn't get used. Don't have any safe queens. Though i don't have the kind of $ to drop $600 on a knife either. All my blades got scars and they like doing rough stuff. They tell me that's what their there for and they can handle it. 