Most indestructible folder you can think of to take on infantry deployment?

I've got a lot of Benchmades (and others).

Much to my surprise my favorite so far is the 950 Rift. I don't usually care for any radical designs, and the handle on the Rift looks like it was designed by H. R. Giger, but this one works. The reverse-tanto point is thicker and more obtuse than most blades of equivalent length, it has full liners and generally works well and inspires confidence, much more than, say, a Griptillian (I have two).

All that being said, no BM I've seen so far inspires a tenth as much confidence as my ZT0551.

I've said it elsewhere recently and I'll say it here, though- for the current going price the Ontario RAT-1 is an INSANE value. Sturdy, yes, but also a great all-round working knife design, which counts for something. For your $300 limit you could buy ten of them.
 
I love the HEST Folder...TANK! D2, Titanium, frame lock, great grip!! I love the blade profile as well! This is my armageddon knife. If I had to carry only one this would be it. It is a great knife for a great price...plus life-time warranty!! Hinderer XM Titanium Series!! TANK!!!!! I dig the flipper too!! I love them but they are big cash!!! I would carry this over the HEST if I had the cash...but the HEST is just fine...you can get two HEST folder for one XM...that is if you can even find an XM! These are my picks for indestructible knives!
 
I would go with the Hest 2. The ZT's are too heavy. The hogue is a good bet as well but fairly untested.
 
Email Rob Orlando and get in on this next run of XM18's. No sense in spending $300 on a standard production knife unless its the best and the Hinderer will only run you about $360 since you're active military. Next run is shipping in 2-3 weeks so get in on it! It is definitely worth the extra $60 above your limit to get a Hinderer especially considering if you don't like it you could easily sell it for more than you got it for when you got back from deployment.
 
How about a Spyderco Superleaf? I think it gets far too little mention as a hard use folder. Compression lock is on par with the triad in terms of strength, open design makes it easy to maintenance, 5mm thick VG-10 blade should ne crazy tough, and G10 over steel liners. The stop pin and pivot are both massive and it doesn't scream "Military!" so it shouldn't be a huge issue to carry it while you're off duty. It also comes in at under half your budget. Spend the rest on a good MT and a small prybar.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
How about a Spyderco Superleaf? I think it gets far too little mention as a hard use folder. Compression lock is on par with the triad in terms of strength, open design makes it easy to maintenance, 5mm thick VG-10 blade should ne crazy tough, and G10 over steel liners. The stop pin and pivot are both massive and it doesn't scream "Military!" so it shouldn't be a huge issue to carry it while you're off duty. It also comes in at under half your budget. Spend the rest on a good MT and a small prybar.
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The OP doesn't like spydercos. ;)
 
Hey Snowcrash I have a Cold Steel American Lawman that still has lot's of life in her, if you'd like I can send it to you?
 
Another vote for your choice from the ZT line.

0300 would be my pick but as others have stated, the 0200 is an amazing bang for the buck bombproof knife.

If size and weight is a concern, the 0350 is extremely stout for a liner lock.

Any of these are well under your price range and have a solid warranty backing them up.
 
While I love the American lawman I've spent sometime with in the sand NOT FUN, the aus 8 is tough the lock is stout and overall the knife is over the top tough but I have found it's weakness and it's name is sand. I would go with a leatherman multintool and small fixed blade or frame lock for ease of maintenance
 
MikeC said:
While I love the American lawman I've spent sometime with in the sand NOT FUN, the aus 8 is tough the lock is stout and overall the knife is over the top tough but I have found it's weakness and it's name is sand. I would go with a leatherman multintool and small fixed blade or frame lock for ease of maintenance
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Would your Lawman not lock up? The only folding knives holding up long term without issue when I was in deployed in Iraq (2003 and 2004-05) was Cold Steel and Spyderco traditional lockbacks. I was sharpening, inspecting, and talking knives with the whole unit of 80-120 who were working on sand and concrete for 14-16hrs a day. I had a Voyager, Endura, and Native that were in the sand more than once and never had a problem.
 
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BJE said:
Cold Steel recon 1, well under your budget and tough as nails.
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Yeah bro, I would go for replacement ability in that situation. Besides, who else is going to leave the ace of spades stuck with a knife in the commie, jk.
 
These take some abuse!!

poronui060.jpg
 
anything that zero tolerance makes

cold steel american lawman/ recon 1

benchmade triage/ rift

anything emerson makes
 
Take a look at the Kershaw Knockout. I am currently comparing it against the Lawman. With MADE IN USA for the Kershaw it may win the battle.
 
If by not having shipped out yet, you mean basic training, then don't buy anything now. It'll just be something that you can't touch for a few months so why not use the time to save up and get what you want with no compromise.

As for an actual suggestion, I know I'm Mr. Overkill when it comes to knives in the field but I carry a few knives at all times. Some guys will give me crap for having 3 knives on me, but I am well prepared and the weight is a non-issue. Blade one is in my right pocket... Mine is a PE Griptilian now that I lost my Rift. A good slicing folder for everyday stuff. Blade 2 is in my left pocket. I have a fully serrated Endura that I ghetto-waved. I hated this knife when it was given to me, but when paired with a plain edge and when used for its intended purpose, its a beautiful combination. Then I carry a fixed blade on my armor. I have two set ups for my two sets of armor. One is a Scrapyard War Dog that sits behind a utility pouch under my right arm (may get moved up on my chest somewhere). The other is on my smaller set up, and its a Busse Active Duty that's tip up on the left side of my chest.

Your needs may vary, but this is what works for me. My Rift was nice because of the open back, i could just blow out any dirt or grit that got in it (and it will). We'll see how the Grip does in that regard. I ALMOST got in on the next run of XM-18s, but couldn't bear the thought of losing that thing overseas.
 
I am a huge ZT guy, and I think my recommendation would be a ZT 0500 blem from Kershawguy. it is big, thick, relatively light, easy to manipulate with gloves, and is completely sealed so that sand and such won't get in the pivot. you won't have to take care of it much, and it is SOLID. shoot, you could get one of those and a couple of recon 1s or american lawmen and still come in under budget. taking 2 pounds of knives would be AWESOME.
 
I say get 2x of the Recon 1 folders. Don't go with any assisted opening or automatic folders.
 
First things first thanks for your service.

My advice is as follows. Buy ya three Large Voyager Triad locks by Cold Steel, and one multi tool (I'd go with a Vic with all the fixin's ) and still not spend what the Strider or Emerson would cost you. I like the Strider fine don't get me wrong but you don't want to spend that kind of money for a sandbox knife. I'd take one Voyager with me and beat the snot out of it. If you do that and lose it you have a back up and big deal its a cheap knife and when you get home you have a new one to play with all over again with no sad stories to tell about the $400 folder laying somewhere in the middle of god knows where!

The Recon 1 will pretty much fit the bill also and even though more expensive than the Voyager series you could likely still buy three or more and its still far cheaper than just one of some of the other knives suggested. And the CS are tougher knives! Honestly I have absolutely no issues with the edge holding of these blades Cold Steel sells. I read a lot of people complaining about the AUS8 but none hold water to me. I don't know how much better you could ask than a stone washed professional looking blade that sharpens back up to biting sharp in five seconds combined with a lock so strong you could practically hammer the thing into a tree so deep you couldn't even extract it to get your knife back! For the kind of uses these category of knives see the AUS8 is actually among the better choices. By the time you actually use the knife most steels, regardless of what it is are going to be somewhat sharp with nicks and the vague semblance of the edge it was for most guys and when its like that once the edge is rounded some by use and digging in dirt, sand, and punching open ration cans I'm sorry but AUS8 works just fine!

The other choices are fine to look at and own, I own some of them but honestly you are going to the sandbox. Get a beater you don't have to worry about that you can trust. Doesn't get much more reliable or strong than a Triad locker!

STR
 
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