Looking to upgrade EDC

grelcar

grelcar

Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
268
I am looking to upgrade the EDC knife which I use at work in an office environment. I am currently carrying either a SOG Twitch II or a Kershaw Leek. I would like for the knife to have a tip up deep pock clip and about a 3” blade length. I find the blade shape of the Twitch to be more useful than the Leek’s blade shape. No recurve, serrations or painted blades. I would prefer a frame or liner lock over a lock back design. I want it to have a flipper type opener rather than just thumb studs. I want a quality made knife with good steel, lighter the better. I would like to keep it under $150. I would appreciate any suggestions as to what to look at.

Greg
 
Since when does the sage have a flipper?

How firm is the 3" length requirement? ZT0350 is 3.25", liner lock, assisted flipper, S30V, and within your price range. A tiny bit of recurve though. If it weren't for your budget restrictions, I'd suggest the HTM Gun Hammer, although there's a cheaper and less good Meyerco rendition, I think called the Maxx-Q or something like that.
 
The spyderco ppt is a very nice edc knife but it doesn't have a flipper so i might get in trouble too.
 
The Buck Pro Vantage spends as much time in my picket as any other edc. Two blade sizes to choose from. Very good ergonomics. Can see one at Bass Pro Shop. You ll really appreciate it once you hold it.
 
Kershaw Clash, Zing, and OD-1 and OD-2 are the only ones I can think of that have flippers and are 3" or shorter.
 
Increase your size limit by 1/8 of an inch and a Kershaw Skyline is hard to beat -- or the RAM, which is a bit heavier. The Kershaw Ener-G is also nice and under 3".
 
I'm not really locked into the 3" length or the price, just some ballpark numbers. The tip up and riding fairly low in the pocket are important to me.

I have looked at a Sage and find the thumb hole opening awkward, probably just not used to it. Also would perfer someting not made in China.

I have a Vantage Pro which I EDC when I'm in jeans, great knife. Want something a little lighter and smaller.

I'll take a look at these suggestions. Would really like to find something something high end than what I am currently using.

Greg
 
Most of the best flippers that I've seen in that price range are Kershaw/ZT, although you're not going to get "light and small" from Zero Tolerance.

RAM is a good knife for sure, although it's not a framelock or liner lock.

There are knives out there that fit the bill, but not the budget. I'd look over the Kershaw line and see what you can find.
 
CRKT has a couple of nice designs by Ken Onion: the Ripple and Eros. Both are very light/thin, have the silky-smooth IKBS pivot with flipper deployment, and are pretty darn handsome if you ask me. Neither carry especially deep though. I have the Ripple and think it's pretty classy... :thumbup:

ripplewine01.jpg


ETA: and both are tip-down only with the pocket clips... :/
 
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grelcar said:
I have looked at a Sage and find the thumb hole opening awkward, probably just not used to it. Also would perfer someting not made in China.
Click to expand...

The sage and PPT are both made in taichung, Taiwan, not china. BIG quality difference between the two when it comes to spydercos.
 
I was going to say the OD-1 also for the size, very good opening mechanism, but don't know if it has as much belly as you want though. Kershaw Knockout is a flipper close to the size you want, with good belly, very nice looking and listed at 3.6 ounces. OD-1 was my personal favorite Kershaw so far - opens so nice without springs.
 
my top 'office carries' (smaller, lighterweight blades, ok to pull out around almost anyone) all come up short in some category of what you're looking for:
-buck vantage pro small - deep pocket carry, flipper (flipper is not that good on the small compared to the large), s30v steel. it's a LOT smaller than the large if that's what you've alreay got. might be worth a look if you have and like the large, b/c it's quite a bit smaller.
-benchmade mini-griptilian - love mine, not a flipper open (i've got the one with the spydie hole). everything else fits, except not a super deep carry.
--i had but got rid of the benchmade mini-barrage - not a flipper, but assisted open. good one, fun AO, just didn't make the rotation enough. also not a deep carry clip
-spyderco chaparral - thin, nice lines, lightweight, s30v steel. not a flipper, and it's a linerlock. love this one, but comes up short in 2 diff categories for your want. great deep carry clip, though
-sebenza insingo & sebenza classic smalls - blows the budget, not a flipper, but awesome knives. i prefer the lines of the insingo myself, both are great. not super deep carry, but made really really really well.

if you like the sebenza's overall look but they're too much scratch - bradley alias???

to second the ken onion ripple- i really liked the initial look, liked the flipper action, just didn't fit my hand at all. kind of odd, but made it a pass for me. nice knife, though.

---
also, STR has a forum under 'Makers' here on BF. and he can make a deep carry clip for a LOT of knives. if you find one that fits all the other categories, check with him re: making you a deep carry clip. i think about $30ish usually. good luck in your hunt!
 
I really like what I see in the Knockout. It's a little bigger than I am looking for for office and casual carry. I may pick one up to carry in rotation with my large Vantage Pro.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I hadn't considered the possibility of changing out the pocket clip.

Greg
 
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CRKT's M16 comes in a varity of blade styles and handle material. They all have a flipper and ride quite low in the pocket with left, right, tip up and tip down options.
 
I know it has been mentioned, but the Spyderco Perrin PPT is definately worth taking a look at. Don't be put off by the Taichung, Tawain origin as these are some of the best built, best fit/finish knives I've seen in a while! I have two from there (Vallotton Sub-Hilt is the 2nd), with a third on the way (Gayle Bradley).

But the PPT is a great smaller knife and is one of my dress up carry's when I have go with a three piece!
 
Kershaw Speedform II?
3D machined G10 scales kinda look like CF; 3 1/4" Elmax blade - a little more upmarket.
Locking liner, reversible clip. Though I don't see it in the photos, they say it's a "Flipper."
Not sure how "deep pocket" the clip is - I usually yank 'em, and really deep-pocket carry. Removal looks to leave some funny mounting provisions which mar the otherwise sleek appearance on the backside.
Fairly light, ~ 3oz.
Appears to have the Blur's handy angled thumbstud.
MSRP in your price range - probably available for less.
I haven't had the chance to handle one yet, but have been thinking it looks like a nice office EDC (except I'm not a huge linerlock fan.) May be worth checking out.

- Tom
 
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