Lost a few knives......help me pick replacements please

Jestersinthemoon

Jestersinthemoon

Joined
Apr 6, 2008
Messages
252
Hello all,

I just returned from my honeymoon about 3 this morning, and while the trip was amazing overall, I did have a bit of a mishap on the way. On the flights, somewhere between Los Angeles, Tahiti, and Bora Bora one of my bags got ripped open and all of the contents spilled out. Some were recovered, but I lost a good bit of clothes, some expensive headphones, some nice grooming products ( including a nice double edge razor and a straight razor ) and, most importantly.........several knives.

So, we are going to file a claim with both the airline and our travel insurance, but there is no question that I'm going to have to replace the knives I lost. That is where you may be able to help me out. I know I had one of my Benchmade 710 M2's in there along with a Hinderer XM-24, and a Mcusta Damascus Tactility, and a fixed blade in there, as well. I am assuming the insurance will simply reimburse, though, so I don't necessarily have to buy exactly what was lost

I'm hoping that if I try to describe the types of knives that I like, you might be able to give me some recommendations........

First off, let me say that I love my Benchmade 710's. I have one in D2 and another in M2 and love them both. I do know that they have a new model out in a special steel, but I don't need a 3rd 710. As a wedding gift, my fiance bought me a Lone Wolf Harsey D2 d/a Auto. I hadn't previously been really into autos, but this one did it for me. I think it is the Double Action aspect. I also got a Kershaw G10 Leek, which I also love for a smaller blade. So, I'm really into D/A Autos and Assisted Opening knives. However, it doesn't have to be. In particular, I am desperately looking for an A.G. Russel Acies right now.

Hopefully that give you an small glimpse of the type of folders that I like. The fixed blade that was in the bag was probably a Boker AF-5. I am definitely fond of double edged daggers, but I also like a good number of fixed blades like the Chris Reeve Pacific, CRKT FTWS, Busse Battle Mistress, and ZT 0100.

Of late, I have begun to lean towards higher quality steels, when possible. As long as I have been a fan of knives, I never really put much focus on blade steel, but I have lately really been seeing a big difference in performance out of the higher end steels.

So, can you recommend one or two folders and a fixed blade you think I might like? Thank you much for any help that you can offer!

Jester
 
Just curious, why were you carrying multiple knives through multiple airports and on your honeymoon?
 
Good luck getting reimbursed for any of the knives in the bag. I predict a struggle, and ultimate frustration with getting reimbursed for the knives, etc.
 
Fixed: Scrapyard 911/Swamp Rat R9 are a hell of a deal

Folder(s): Zt 0560/1, Spyderco Laci Szabo (I have one on pre-order), possibly a nice custom? There's endless choices out there. Sorry to hear about the lost knives. That really sucks, but at least they'll reimburse you.
 
If you can afford a honeymoon in Tahiti amd Bora Bora I don't think you have an issue with replacing a couple of knives, and anything I would recommend would likely be too "normal"

Sorry about the lost stuff don't get me wrong.

Must have been an awesome trip!
 
I would advise against a zt100. Although the handle is very comfortable and is a gorgeous blade, the recurve makes its uses as a bush craft blade limited. Also, even though the blade length is 5 inches, the actual sharpened edge is less than 4.5. I owned mine for 6 months and found a bk7 a lot more useful
 
RemyKaze said:
Just curious, why were you carrying multiple knives through multiple airports and on your honeymoon?
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Glad I'm not the only one that was wondering this.
Bigfattyt said:
Good luck getting reimbursed for any of the knives in the bag. I predict a struggle, and ultimate frustration with getting reimbursed for the knives, etc.
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ifi don't know the knife laws in the countries mentioned, but there might be something that the insurance companies can use to refuse payment based on that alone. Vacationtime calls for a small Victorinox and maybe an Opinel. Carrying over $1K in knives on a trip is too risky for this reason alone, not to mention potential legal ramifications invovled in the destination country.
 
Here are my suggestions:
Best bang for your buck = sypderco Para military 2 (great ergos and pretty light, not too pricey)
Mid range= I like the not often talked about benchmade barrage 851 (better steel and nice look!)
2nd mid range= zero tolerance 200 zdp 189 steel- composite blade if you can find it
High quality = CRK umnumzaan (or sebenza) --> clearly
Bush crafting Fixed= well I love the bark river bravo 1 - one of the best I have used for bush crafting or survival, the convex shape of the blade is really something
Aggressive fixed- DPx hest fixed knife or a esee
 
ripped open and spilled out? convenient that happened to your bag containing FOUR knives. confiscated I'm guessing, anyway what the guy above said sounds good.
 
Sorry to hear about your loss. :(

Hauling said:
ripped open and spilled out? convenient that happened to your bag containing FOUR knives. confiscated I'm guessing, anyway what the guy above said sounds good.
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Yep, there's a good chance the bag 'ripped' open and 'spilled' it's contents only after someone saw the contents on a scanner.

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Welcome to Bladeforums, by the way.
 
RemyKaze said:
Just curious, why were you carrying multiple knives through multiple airports and on your honeymoon?
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Long story, but the short of it is that one of them was left in the bag from a previous trip, another was in the car and I didn't want to have it stolen in long term parking ( ironically, I felt more secure with it coming with me ), the third was a gift from a groomsman, and the fourth was brought with me.

.........Oh, and for the guy who said that if I can take a honeymoon to French Polynesia, I can afford to replace them.........not really. I just paid for a wedding and saved up for 2 1/2 years to pay for this trip. I'm by no means rich. My wife and I simply save up for things that we appreciate.

I really never thought that anyone had purposefully stolen them. You should see the bag. It was absolutely destroyed......but I guess you never know nowadays. As far as fighting for the claim.......I can see that possibility. I've used this travel insurance before, though, and they have been very good about dealing with issues that we have had before with unforseen travel mishaps. Of course, insurance companies are always hard to deal with. In fact, my wife's grandfather is having a fit right now because the Ritz-Carlton's valet badly messed up his car, but their insurance refuses to acknowledge it.

Anyhow, thanks to everyone who offered suggestions. I never have time to research knives anymore and its always great to get advice from those who are much more knowledgeable than I.

Thanks again!
 
You just wait until that new wife of yours puts you on a budget, laddie! She'll buy you a nice $25 folder and then your life will sink into one of lies and deception. It may not happen immediately, and maybe you're fortunate and she'll help you live a lavish life of fine wines and great food. But my standard of living took a definite nosedive when I got married. She still doesn't understand why a person would need more than one knife and worse, one gun! Comparing them to jewelry helps, but not always. I just assumed that when I got married, stuff I bought with my own money was okay.

Geesh, stuff can get complicated!

Good luck with the new folders! I'm more of an advocate of great steels in fixed blades, but in folding knives Benchmade and Spyderco seem like a good way to go. Chris Reeve is still way too rich for my blood, but some day? For self defense, it's hard to beat...drum roll please...Cold Steel's new Voyager series. I wasn't overly thrilled with what I saw and felt it was a good time to draw the line; however, I changed my mind. They weren't just smaller Spartans as I'd thought. They're pretty decent knives and feel great in the hand!
 
RevDevil said:
Not that I ever recall. There is a ZT0350 with a full ZDP blade and another with a ZDP composite blade.
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I recall... and it was definitely it was a typo on my part its the zt0350 I was referring too. I think it was wishful thinking haha. Anyway it's a great knife with tight ergos. Requires some know how to sharpen so if you are not proficient then just be prepared..

Good luck!
 
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