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

The strongest folding design bar none, is the Balisong. Because of its unique lockup eliminating the center pin, the Bradley Mayhem http://www.bladehq.com/item--Bradley-Mayhem-Butterfly--766 is probably the strongest of the Balisongs. And it's well within your budget.

Balisongs have two pivot pins instead of one and the Bradley's are stout. In the open position, they support the blade at two points from spine to edge and in the middle! The pivot pins are positioned to more easily shed sand/debris than on conventional folders. They are also more easily acessible for cleaning. The Bradley is made with high quality materials... S30V blade and titanium handles.

The Mayhem is possibly more "indestructable" than any folder heretofore mentioned in this thread.

Just my 2 cents.
 
darrex said:
or EXTREMA RATIO NEMESIS or FULCRUM
NEMESIS.jpg


o_0vfCmbBHOQ7zOzM.jpg


I have one of each model, and they are very strong.
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Beat me to it. "Indestructible" can mean a lot of things depending on how much you wanna push it vs. what it's really going to be used for. Hence, a dozen different suggestions.

Having held these 1/4" thick folding pry bars (the Nemesis) with the back lock though, it's pretty close to the what the OP is trying to describe.
 
Grayman Dua. Thick blade, 5/32", and Ti framelock. However, blade length is only 3" and if you can accept the working edge grind. The edge may not be pretty, but it cuts. The rest of the fit and finish of the knife is spot on. If you need a bigger one, could try the Satu, but that would be over your budget. Good luck.

grayman2.jpg
 
IMO:-- Extrema Ratio's aluminum handles could be replaced with titanium which would make them far more robust. Compared to titanium, aluminum is an inferior handle material for folders in every respect except cost of manufacture. Extrema Ratios high prices do not justify the use of aluminum.

Possibly of less importance, ER's blades could also use an upgrade.... Maybe from the current N690 to M390 steel. If Extrema Ratio started using the best materials, they would be as tough as they look.
 
Vorpal Blade said:
IMO:-- Extrema Ratio's aluminum handles could be replaced with titanium which would make them far more robust. Compared to titanium, aluminum is an inferior handle material for folders in every respect except cost of manufacture. Extrema Ratios high prices do not justify the use of aluminum.

Possibly of less importance, ER's blades could also use an upgrade.... Maybe from the current N690 to M390 steel. If Extrema Ratio started using the best materials, they would be as tough as they look.
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Don't knock aluminum. It can be hardened, and it's used in many applications where anything soft would not suffice. As for N690, it may not be as good as M390 but what is? I have very good experience with this steel both from Spyderco and from ER. I could find nothing to complain about.
 
philwar said:
Don't knock aluminum. It can be hardened, and it's used in many applications where anything soft would not suffice. As for N690, it may not be as good as M390 but what is? I have very good experience with this steel both from Spyderco and from ER. I could find nothing to complain about.
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Are you saying aluminum is as strong or stronger than titanium for handles?
 
I always think of titanium being stronger but not having the same rigidity without being much thicker, which is why $3,000-$4,000 riflescopes and many other high dollar items still choose aluminum over titanium.

Some locking mechanisms might not really fair better by substituting titanium in place of aluminum.
 
I have to repeat:-- For their pricepoint, Extrema Ratio folders do not use the best materials in their handles or blades. They have uniquely strong, massive designs which are not fully backed up by the materials they use. Aluminum is lighter than titanium and far easier for manufacturers to work with. It is also cheaper.
 
I'm over there right now, and here's my two and a half cents:

1. It/they needs to be small enough to always carry with you. I carry a Spyderco native in the pocket and a CRKT M16-13T on the Vest in a slot on my 9mm mag pouch. (Both were available in the big Exchanges over here for about $70 each) My only regret is that both are partially serrated and that makes it harder to sharpen (at least for me). I prefer plain edges and I'd bet 99.5% of your use will be cutting open boxes, wrappers, cords, MRE bags, cloth, line, etc. Mostly very light stuff.

2. Sharpening can be tough if you don't plan ahead. I use progressively finer grades of sandpaper followed by a leather strop with green compound on it, but it is a pain to maintain and store all the supplies. If I wanted easy or didn't have plenty of room in my hooch, I'd go with a spyderco sharp maker setup.

Half Cent- I will likely get something else that will be more of a "trophy" of my time over here, so don't underestimate the value in spending more for something of sentimental value that you will cherish more in ten years than say a clamshell CRKT knife from the AFFES.

I got issued a Gerber and a webbing hook, but the Gerber is too bulky for me to carry all the time (and I usually just bum one from someone nearby when I need the pliers or phillips screwdriver.)

Hope this helps.
 
Vorpal Blade said:
Are you saying aluminum is as strong or stronger than titanium for handles?
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As for comparing the two, I don't know which is 'stronger' (whatever that means) and how big the difference is, or if there are other qualities that make aluminum a very suitable comparable material. I have a few hardened aluminum folders, and I have quite a few titanium folders. I don't notice any practical difference between them. I like titanium but I think it's hyped at least partly BECAUSE it is expensive, not because it's necessarily better. Aluminum is definitely softer, even the hardened variety, so a framelock would need an insert like the LionSpy, but then there are titanium framelocks that have that insert as well. Spyderco and Lionsteel must be on to something there...
 
But there are plenty of titanium framelocks without the steel insert. I have a 10 year old Darrel Ralph ti framelock without an insert. The spring has not moved appreciably toward the opposite scale. I am not aware of any framelock where bare aluminum interfaces with the blade. It would get chewed up.

But without tests to destruction, it's all a matter of opinion. As you might guess, I own more than a few folders with ti handles but none with aluminum. If Extrema Ratio started using titanium in their folders I might pounce because I love some of their designs. If they started using ti and M390....Wowee!
 
Thank you for your sevice!

I think the ZT 300 series or the 350 are all great knives. Personally I prefer my Emersons and HEST folders ( I have a LE and the 2.0). But really all you will need is a good enough knife like the Ontario Rat 1. It's a great buy, for around $30 you can buy 2 or 3 and not feel bad if you lose/break one.

My son is serving and he carries an Emerson and a HEST.
 
About six years ago, the German knife magazine Messermagazin made are real hard core test between a Strider vs. Extrema Ratio. How hard core?

Click this for a short description -

http://www.utrustning.se/viewtopic.php?p=6781&sid=8031628a953714321038715a7fc5b4c5

Here's a more complete view, last entry # 71 - Comparison test : Extreme Ratio Fulcrum IID vs. Strider GB by Messer Magazine

http://www.bluelinegear.com/t-faq.aspx#71whatis

I'm not about to sway anyone's opinion by this academic debate. Your gear is your choice, again depending on how much you wanna push it vs. your intended use.
 
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LOL, 6 pages of responses and the OP already made up his mind on page 1:D(He hasn't been on since either;))

SnowCrash said:
Thanks for the input everyone, I'll probably go with that cold steel recon tanto seeing as it seems to be the most rugged and beat up knife on youtube. I've got an esee izula that I cord-wrapped myself, that should be substantial as well I assume, no real need for a kabar since past engagements seem to all be over 100 feet
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-sh00ter
 
Thank you for all the suggestions.
I handled a few knives at the store the other day and really liked the way the Super Commander felt, but I doubt it would be easy enough to sharpen.
I want to take my spyderco sharpmaker with me but am worried about it getting banged around and the rods cracking.

Still have not made my decision but my current list of considerations includes

DPX 2.0
Esee 5 (if i need that much knife)
Benchmade 375 (again, if i really need that much knife)
Benchmade 275
Benchmade 520
Cold Steel Recon 1
Cold Steel AK47 large
Emerson CQC 8 (or super cqc8)
Emerson super commander
Possibly some sort of zero tolerance, but I'm leaning away from it currently

As you can see I'm gradually lowering my budget, I really would hate to lose or destroy an expensive folder.

When I get back, I plan on getting myself a Lionsteel SR1 TI-violet for edc, don't plan on taking that one on deployment :p
 
I suggest....

Multi-tool - Gerbers slide out pliers are great one-handed and very fast but a Leathermans steel is much better. I use mine alot and for light duty so I prefer the Gerber.

Fixed blade - ESEE 4, 3 or Izula, or CRK Pro Soldier. Good size for carry.


That's really all you need but I'd take a cheaper folder also such as a CS American Lawman or Spyderco Para.
 
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