Recommendation? Manual Folders That Can Be Open/Closed Single-Handedly?

[Steely_Gunz]

The Adamas from Benchmade is a solid one handed hard user. I've been carrying the auto version of the mini most days, but they offer a really sharp mini in carbon fiber with bronze furniture and Magnacut. I actually like Cruwear a bit more than Magnacut, but if I were in the market for a hard use EDC I would give them a look.

I've got the full size auto, full size manual, mini auto, and mini manual. I would say it's my favorite overall folder design

 

[norcalAF]

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K390 steel. Best box cutter and holds a sticky sharp edge for days

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154CM steel. Excellent box cutter

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Cruwear steel. Decent box cutter with second best edge retention

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3V Steel. Easiest to operate gloved and slices like a laser

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M390 steel. Extremely easy to operate gloved and once you put a real edge on it - it’s a slicing machine

All are roughly 3.5-4 inch blades - all make great users.

This is the way!

 

[Count Zero]

Great... Now I want a Demko AD20.

You ppl are horrible!

 

[donnord]

I would also recommend the hougue deka. I think you can get magnacut or 20cv in 2 blade shapes. I agree, the manix is not like a good axis lock. Was very stiff and hard to pull back. Benchmade has alot of options too. I'd personally pick m4 if I was getting a benchmade for the respectable heat treat. I like the spydie hole version of the griptillian.

Why no sheepsfoot or wharncliffs? I'd think that would cut the best for boxes.

Edit, reread your post with gloves on. I don't wear gloves usually but would like to think an axis lock would be harder to manipulate with gloves. I'd recommend a spyderco endura. The large hole makes it very easy to open one handed even with gloves, has a good flatter but not wharncliff blade shape, and the lockback is the best one I've ever used, it is actually easy to use and close one handed and I'd think more reliably with gloves on. It's quick too. I had to open and pour 50 bottles of peroxide the other day and had to flip it out cut and close and put back in my pocket 50 times in a row and It was just fine. You could get a k390 endura and save a couple hundred bucks for another knife too. I don't think it gets more robust or reliable than a lockback. I've been using mine everyday for 6 months opening closing it no less than 30 or 40 times a day and it's as solid as day 1. Drop shut smooth with no play. I don't expect it to wear out in years.

I was gonna say Hogue Deka as well, I was the same position and landed on the Deka, Mostly cause Blade HQ has the magnacuts on sale for 104 ish. I know folks complain about the scales, I have some micarta ones on the way too, and a first gen clip. Still less than $200.00.

 

[Count Zero]

And after coming down from a three day on-line research sperg-out, I ended up ordering a full-sized Benchmade Adamas w/ a Cruwear blade.

 

[sgt1372]

And after coming down from a three day on-line research sperg-out, I ended up ordering a full-sized Benchmade Adamas w/ a Cruwear blade.

One of these?

 

[Count Zero]

sgt1372 Nope. Black.

 

[sgt1372]

sgt1372 Nope. Black.

Corrected. Interesting choice considering all of the possibilities.

Just goes to prove there's something for everyone in the knife market.

Congrats on your purchase!

 

[JBoone]

I just ordered a K390 Endela wharnie on sale to be a box slayer. My 5th K390 - am concerned that the wharnie will be gone in K390 soon but just guessing

 

[Count Zero]

Corrected. Interesting choice considering all of the possibilities.

Just goes to prove there's something for everyone in the knife market.

Congrats on your purchase!

I was initially leaning towards the Microtech Amphibian, but after watching a vid of its lock-up suffering catastrophic failures, I decided instead on the Adamas, especially since finding a MIA Demko was proving an impossibility.

 

[Stringjam7]

Spyderco Military 1. That’s all you need

This is one knife I always put at the top if I'm going to be wearing gloves. Big thumb-hole deployment and easy lock-bar access for one-handed use, and slicey blade geometry that makes it great for going through stuff like cardboard.

 

[luethge]

I was initially leaning towards the Microtech Amphibian, but after watching a vid of its lock-up suffering catastrophic failures, I decided instead on the Adamas, especially since finding a MIA Demko was proving an impossibility.

Microtech fixed the amphibian lock - I’ve got a few and use them like I hate them , no lock issues whatsoever

Ironically though, the full sized Adamas pops closed once in a while- don’t stab it into tree stumps





I carried the original black one daily for 7 years.. I tried to break it and failed.



09/23 to present day amphibians are rock solid

 

[vinprom]

Thanks for the responses so far.

About the Manix. Two things, 1) I'm working w/ gloves on, so manipulating the lock isn't always easy, and 2) the lock itself is gritty and always feels like it's fighting me to actuate.

In terms of intended use, I'm looking for something that I can use to process boxes and that can stand up to being opened/closed upwards of 200Xs a week w/o failing after a couple of months of being "on the job". So something w/ a robust design that could, in a pinch, also conceivably serve a secondary "tactical" function. I'd just as soon get a fixed blade, but in the general environment in which I work that might not be the best choice atm, whereas a beefier folder wouldn't really raise an eyebrow.

The bold is mine. Svord Peasant. Not an automatic or assisted, one-hand opener, and your hand is the secured lock. A little shorter (3.25") and non-American (New Zealand), no worries of failure due to numerous opening/closing, just strop accasionally and boxes will be processed in a timely manner. Simple and reliable knife. Also within your budget.

 

[Count Zero]

Microtech fixed the amphibian lock - I’ve got a few and use them like I hate them , no lock issues whatsoever

Ironically though, the full sized Adamas pops closed once in a while- don’t stab it into tree stumps

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I carried the original black one daily for 7 years.. I tried to break it and failed.

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09/23 to present day amphibians are rock solid

I thought the recent lock-up related probs were only w/ the newer runs of Mini Adamas?

As for the full-sized one I have on order, if it shows up w/ any lock rock I'll just send it back.

 

[luethge]

I thought the recent lock-up related probs were only w/ the newer runs of Mini Adamas?

As for the full-sized one I have on order, if it shows up w/ any lock rock I'll just send it back.

The Adamas won’t close on you if you treat lit like a knife, just don’t chop or stab with it. The amount of surface area on the tang that the lock bar comes in contact with seems to less than other Benchmade knives I’ve owned. The Adamsas is still one of the best knives out there despite the the potential for lock slip under “hard use”.

 

[Count Zero]

The Adamas won’t close on you if you treat lit like a knife, just don’t chop or stab with it. The amount of surface area on the tang that the lock bar comes in contact with seems to less than other Benchmade knives I’ve owned. The Adamsas is still one of the best knives out there despite the the potential for lock slip under “hard use”.

Well that's the problem, isn't it, that the Adamas is being advertised/ promoted as just that, a hard-use, outdoors/tactical-ready knife?

 

[luethge]

Well that's the problem, isn't it, that the Adamas is being advertised/ promoted as just that, a hard-use, outdoors/tactical-ready knife?

I’m sure I’ll upset many people with what I said - I’ve had the the Adamas full size close unintentionally more times than any folder Ive had.. I’ve probably had about 9 of the full sized models over the last 13 years. I did go out of my way to use and abuse a few of them though. The Adamas is still worth owning in my unsolicited opinion though though. I’ve broken Emerson’s doing stupid stuff that the Adamas wasn’t effected by.

 

[Count Zero]

I’m sure I’ll upset many people with what I said - I’ve the the Adamas full size close unintentionally more times than any folder Ive had.. I’ve probably had about 9 of the full sized models over the last 13 years. I did go out of my way to use and abuse a few of them though. The Adamas is still worth owning in my unsolicited opinion though though. I’ve broken Emerson’s doing stupid stuff that the Adamas wasn’t effected by.

Still...

I thought that the lock fail problems were only w/ the Mini, and not the full-sized.

Hmmm.... Looks like it might be back to the drawing board for me then.

 

[Maximumbob54]

If the Adamas doesn't work out and dexterity in gloves is good enough I would try a Paramilitary 2. The regular in S45VN should work or you can find them in all kinds of wild steels.

 

[luethge]

If you wanted a knife you could really beat on and not worry - Cold steel AD10 is a good choice. The Adamas is a great knife.. I just wish the lock up was a little better than it is. I’ve had many Benchmade knives and rarely encountered any issues with any of them.. besides the Adamas. The Demko knives are more expensive but the lock up is unrivaled ln my experience.. both triad or shark lock configurations.