Looking for three different knives for different roles

M

Mr. Bob

Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
195
I'm looking for 3 knives to fill 3 different roles. Right now I usually carry SAKs and occasionally a Cara Cara 2.

Beach knife- I work beach volleyball in the summer and have to untie knotted rope rather often. I had been considering some sort of marlin spike. Any suggestions? I'd like it to have a clip (as I wear basketball shorts most of the time) and be easy to clean since sand gets in everything. I have a Vic small Tinker that I used last year that I could use again, but it's rather difficult to carry without pockets and isn't quite perfect for this use.

Carry knife- I've gone through a lot of popular folders and found them lacking in several ways, usually in lockup. I prefer simple straight lines, a 2.5-3" blade, manual opening, reasonably affordable and easy to replace if necessary, and with a solid lockup. I don't need batoning strength or anything as much as I want to avoid that annoying lock rock while doing simple tasks. Any recommendations that don't include a Delica, Leek, Chill, KaBar Dozier, Buck 55, Half Ton, CRKT M16 (like the feel, do not like the thin liner lock),...? I have a few others that lock up solidly but I dislike for other reasons. As much as I like fixed blades I live in the city and would rather just a simple folder for day to day tasks. I may end up just sticking with SAKs as I have been.

Budget TACTICAAALLLL fixed blade- I'm looking for a 5-6" (could go bigger but then it stands a smaller chance of ever being carried) knife that can do some stuff in the woods but leans more toward a thinner, leaner profile; not a heavy chopper. Primary use is keeping next to my bed and cutting cake and stuff. :D Any suggestions?



Thanks!
 
I really dont know what kind of price range you're in, but here's what I think.

Spyderco Salt

Benchmade mini Griptillian

Coldsteel SRK or Recon Tanto.
 
Thanks guys, but I've no real interest in any more Spydercos and am optimistically hoping to top out at $100 for the three.
 
$100 for three?
That doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room.

Well here's what I've come up with...
1.) I would say get an H1 Spyderco Dragonfly(I know you said no spydies but this is your best option).
Or just get a Spyderco Salt knife of some sort.
Or even a Spyderco UKPK
2.) Kershaw Scamp - put some tuff-glide in the pivot and you're good to go.
Kershaw Vapor
3.) Get yourself the BenchMark fixed blade for around $20. Here's the specs:
·Stainless steel full tang construction
·Stainless steel Torx® rivets
·Texturized black micarta handle
·Lanyard hole
·8-5/8" overall
·Nylon belt sheath

These are probably your best options for staying at or under $100 for all three.

Scamp + Dragonfly + BenchMark Fixed Blade = Around $89.85
Vapor + Dragonfly + FB = Around $89.85
Scamp + UKPK + BenchMark Fixed Blade = Around $80.85
Vapor + UKPK + FB = Around $80.85

Good luck!
 
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Thanks, but I'm quite set against Spyderco and I'm looking for more of a spike knife for rope knots. I do have a Scamp but it's too smooth on the lock side and is bigger than I want.
 
(1) Schrade 735RPB Mariners Knife, @$30
Schrade-735RPB-rw-72673-88528.jpg

(2) Kershaw Skyline, @$35
31031-DEFAULT-l.jpg

(2a) Boker Exskelibur II, @$40
BOP002.jpg

(2b) SOG Twitch II, @$40 (it is assisted, though)
pic1.jpg

(3) Mora Bushcraft Series Force Sandvik, @$35
41VPb8o5ArL.jpg
 
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1: Vic Helmsman. Has a Marlin spike. It's easy to add a pocket clip to a SAK.
8836633722910_SAK_0_8993_2W__S1_42519_eps_1.jpg


Another option is to just go ahead and buy a marlin spike, and carry it with your carry knife.
 
Or you can make yourself a marlinspike; it's simple. Grab a bolt of the appropriate size (something around 1/4" thick), and grind the end into a point & smooth out the threads, on a bench grinder. Then, using some cord and some internet resources, tie a Turk's Head or Monkeyfist knot around the head of the bolt, leaving a loop to clip to. I've made a couple this way, and they work great!

As for your recommendations... For a beach knife, there's nothing better than one of the Spyderco Salt series.

For the other two uses, the other members here have posted some good recommendations...
 
For a total package under $100 you may be hard pressed to do. But I will make a couple of suggestions that might help.

For a marlin spike knife, the only one I know of with a pocket clip, is the Myerchin marlin spike knife. The 377 series, also called crew knife, has a marlin spike and 3" sheeps foot blade. The blade is either straight or serrated. They have four different scale materials to chose from. The older ones were made Japan and do not have a pocket clip, these will have 5 notches on the back of the blade by the grip. The ones with the pocket clip do not have any notches on the back of the blade.

For a carry knife, you might look at the Cold Steel Voyager medium series of knives. They have a 3" straight or serrated blade with a clip or tanto point. Also, a pocket clip.

Fixed blade knives I will leave to others for suggestions.

Bill
 
Difficult to get for <$100
This looks like a good rigging knife, titanium, and could be carried on cord around the neck, thus not needing to clip on basketball shorts, but would eat up the budget:
Could get the larger or smaller version, plain edge, or serrated, if you are going to be cutting a bunch or rope or netting. http://www.myerchin.com/TF300.html
You could continue with the Cara Cara 2 for EDC, until you save some more $, or find something that you can't live without.
And get the above mentioned Mora for fixed blade, for a bit over $100 total.
 
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