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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Must-Have Knives
- Thread starter zalen97
- Start date
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- May 19, 2007
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- 7,745
Everyone should have:
An opinel for slicing 6,7,or 8
A mora for beating on
a victorinox super tinker, pioneer-x or farmer for utility
a Leatherman Rebar for tools
a Spyderco Delica or native 5LW for EDC
Each of these are in my opinion, the best value in their category. Yes, spending more will get you more. But everything should be compared back to those, you'll find what about knives you like and don't like. They are all pretty easy to maintain, easy to get and well known. Almost everyone could get their hands on one, and apart from the EDC category which you might have to adjust due to local law, pretty safe to carry. From that point you can go classier, tougher, meaner, bigger, smaller, whatever it is.
Every other knife should represent enough of a boost in its category to justify its higher price.
An opinel for slicing 6,7,or 8
A mora for beating on
a victorinox super tinker, pioneer-x or farmer for utility
a Leatherman Rebar for tools
a Spyderco Delica or native 5LW for EDC
Each of these are in my opinion, the best value in their category. Yes, spending more will get you more. But everything should be compared back to those, you'll find what about knives you like and don't like. They are all pretty easy to maintain, easy to get and well known. Almost everyone could get their hands on one, and apart from the EDC category which you might have to adjust due to local law, pretty safe to carry. From that point you can go classier, tougher, meaner, bigger, smaller, whatever it is.
Every other knife should represent enough of a boost in its category to justify its higher price.
Eliteone2383
Gold Member
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- Jun 26, 2015
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For me
Sebenza/Inkosi
Olamic 247
Griptillian
Victorinox Ranger
Esee 6
Leatherman wave
Sebenza/Inkosi
Olamic 247
Griptillian
Victorinox Ranger
Esee 6
Leatherman wave
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2013
- Messages
- 3,415
Looks like most people are basing their opinions on collectors value (though not necessarily monetary value), I'd like to go a slightly different direction and list my must-have-for-work-knives. The knives I couldn't do my job without (I'm a farmer and a stonemason)...
Folders:
Gayle Bradley (this one knife has done more work than the rest of my folders combined!)
CF Sebenza 21 (gets worked hard around the farm but I leave her at home during the week, not cause she's not capable but because I'm not willing to loose it at a job site)
Cqc7 / spyderco P'kal (these two are on the same line cause it's either one or the other, I never carry them at the same time. I use them for self defense [though thankfully I've never actually needed to call on one for that purpose] and rope duty; "rope duty" means they're kept in my back left pocket and shaving sharp to cut a horse free when a rope gets caught and a horse freaks out)
Zt0350 (alternate to GB when I want to mix it up a bit)
Fixed blades
Esee 4
Kabar mk1
Bk2 / bk22
Mora (I buy 6 at a time and use them as sod knives then give them away when they get to bad. It's not worth my time to sharpen a totally dull $12 knife)
Fallkniven A1 (new purchase, plan to alternate out with Esee 4 / Bk2 / MK1)
Folders:
Gayle Bradley (this one knife has done more work than the rest of my folders combined!)
CF Sebenza 21 (gets worked hard around the farm but I leave her at home during the week, not cause she's not capable but because I'm not willing to loose it at a job site)
Cqc7 / spyderco P'kal (these two are on the same line cause it's either one or the other, I never carry them at the same time. I use them for self defense [though thankfully I've never actually needed to call on one for that purpose] and rope duty; "rope duty" means they're kept in my back left pocket and shaving sharp to cut a horse free when a rope gets caught and a horse freaks out)
Zt0350 (alternate to GB when I want to mix it up a bit)
Fixed blades
Esee 4
Kabar mk1
Bk2 / bk22
Mora (I buy 6 at a time and use them as sod knives then give them away when they get to bad. It's not worth my time to sharpen a totally dull $12 knife)
Fallkniven A1 (new purchase, plan to alternate out with Esee 4 / Bk2 / MK1)
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- Feb 23, 2000
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- 1,363
A very generalised question.
Certain Classics just stamp what knives are all about. Classics in class or style. What they are made of is so very secondary.
Folders:
A Victorinox penknife.
A Victorinox mutlitool penknife, Hunter?
An Opinel No8, or even No7.
Buck 110.
A Case Canoe knife. Any manufacturer that you fancy.
A Leatherman, Wave or Charge TTi.
A Chris Reeve Folder; whatever you fancy. Just to show what can be done. Large Inkosi or tiny Mnandi??
A Spyderco; Military?
A Benchmade; 940?
Fixed:
Mora, any of the cheaper options.
Loads of Kitchen knives, and every kitchen needs a paring knife and a bread knife; but the Victorinox Large Chef's knife stands out as the main blade for a kitchen.
A hunting or Bushcraft Knife, 41/2 to 6 inches. Too many to choose from, but I like Survive Knive's GSO (high cost) and Tervara (low cost). The Cold Steel SRK or Master Hunter 3v, or even a Fallkniven if you must. Have several. Basically its a on the belt sheath knife.
A machete, as done by Tramontina; in truth any that are long and thin.
Big knife such as the Esee Junglas, big Becker, or a big Busse; just so you realise that they maybe fantastic, best in class, but they really aren't that useful. I like the Skrama due to the design giving some more usefulness.
A dagger, like the F/S. To realise how useless a double edged blade is. Good for opening letters.
Kukri to know why they are best left to Gurkhas. Forget the machete thin ones.
A flexible fish filleting knife, because its the only way to do it.
A Stanley knife.
Lastly,
A Small Forest Axe or full sized felling axe. Just proves knives are rubbish as chopping tools.
A Foe and Maul.
A Bow saw or Silky Saw.
Certain Classics just stamp what knives are all about. Classics in class or style. What they are made of is so very secondary.
Folders:
A Victorinox penknife.
A Victorinox mutlitool penknife, Hunter?
An Opinel No8, or even No7.
Buck 110.
A Case Canoe knife. Any manufacturer that you fancy.
A Leatherman, Wave or Charge TTi.
A Chris Reeve Folder; whatever you fancy. Just to show what can be done. Large Inkosi or tiny Mnandi??
A Spyderco; Military?
A Benchmade; 940?
Fixed:
Mora, any of the cheaper options.
Loads of Kitchen knives, and every kitchen needs a paring knife and a bread knife; but the Victorinox Large Chef's knife stands out as the main blade for a kitchen.
A hunting or Bushcraft Knife, 41/2 to 6 inches. Too many to choose from, but I like Survive Knive's GSO (high cost) and Tervara (low cost). The Cold Steel SRK or Master Hunter 3v, or even a Fallkniven if you must. Have several. Basically its a on the belt sheath knife.
A machete, as done by Tramontina; in truth any that are long and thin.
Big knife such as the Esee Junglas, big Becker, or a big Busse; just so you realise that they maybe fantastic, best in class, but they really aren't that useful. I like the Skrama due to the design giving some more usefulness.
A dagger, like the F/S. To realise how useless a double edged blade is. Good for opening letters.
Kukri to know why they are best left to Gurkhas. Forget the machete thin ones.
A flexible fish filleting knife, because its the only way to do it.
A Stanley knife.
Lastly,
A Small Forest Axe or full sized felling axe. Just proves knives are rubbish as chopping tools.
A Foe and Maul.
A Bow saw or Silky Saw.
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2013
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- 5,648
From my collection,
Victorinox Classic and Farmer
Opinel nº8
Leatherman Wave, Supertool, Micra
Mora Companion
Spyderco Dragonfly 2
CS Recon 1
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- Mar 4, 2017
- Messages
- 66
Buck 110 is a must-have. It is a classic. A Victorinox is also important to have as a collector. Multi tools aren't really my style, but swiss-army is just one of those that you have to have no matter what. I'd say a must-have is whatever suits your style. Whatever you like, go for it.
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2016
- Messages
- 6,630
must have knives... lol, this is just going to end up as "whats your favorite knives" thread.
a flipper from ZT, whatever model you that looks good to you, ZT quality and flipping action are great and designs are stellar.
lionsteel TM1 (carbon fiber or micarta) the backlock with bearing pivot is blis!
Custom knife factory - any model really, i have a Sokhoi 2 and love it. multi row bearings, drop shut action, really smooth
Reate, WE knives, Rike knives... these are the 3 leading chinese manufacturers of high quality knives, Custom knife factory is also manufactured in china as well.
speed safe sucks, but everyone should have one, i would suggest the ZT 0770CF its offered in a few different steel (sprint runs).
i dont recommend benchmade because you pay way too much for questionable fit and finish. but... get a 940 or a 940-1 and send it back to them to fix blade centering and or action, then send it to someone to a pro to sharpen it with a guided system (benchmade are the worst at sharpening knives). anyways, buy used for better pricing. no one should be selling a benchmade for MAP pricing, they simply are not worth what they are being sold as givin the fit and finish. even still, comparable knives are cheaper.
anything from Olamic
Spyderco... any model, they really have a lot of good ones, manix2, PM2, delica, endura, etc. they offer them in sprint runs with whatever steel you want usually.
for those with low cost in mind, Buck 110 and onterio rat 1 or 2 (depending on size you want).
most of the suggestions above my post i wont ever pickup, just me. as this is one of those, share your favorite knives threads that is just worded differently but posted at least once a week.
a flipper from ZT, whatever model you that looks good to you, ZT quality and flipping action are great and designs are stellar.
lionsteel TM1 (carbon fiber or micarta) the backlock with bearing pivot is blis!
Custom knife factory - any model really, i have a Sokhoi 2 and love it. multi row bearings, drop shut action, really smooth
Reate, WE knives, Rike knives... these are the 3 leading chinese manufacturers of high quality knives, Custom knife factory is also manufactured in china as well.
speed safe sucks, but everyone should have one, i would suggest the ZT 0770CF its offered in a few different steel (sprint runs).
i dont recommend benchmade because you pay way too much for questionable fit and finish. but... get a 940 or a 940-1 and send it back to them to fix blade centering and or action, then send it to someone to a pro to sharpen it with a guided system (benchmade are the worst at sharpening knives). anyways, buy used for better pricing. no one should be selling a benchmade for MAP pricing, they simply are not worth what they are being sold as givin the fit and finish. even still, comparable knives are cheaper.
anything from Olamic
Spyderco... any model, they really have a lot of good ones, manix2, PM2, delica, endura, etc. they offer them in sprint runs with whatever steel you want usually.
for those with low cost in mind, Buck 110 and onterio rat 1 or 2 (depending on size you want).
most of the suggestions above my post i wont ever pickup, just me. as this is one of those, share your favorite knives threads that is just worded differently but posted at least once a week.
Hello,
I'm 55 years old. My first knife was a "Cub Scout" knife. Knives that had a particular impact on me over the years:
- Randall Made Knives. Models 1, 2, 14, 12 Smithsonian bowie. Traditional American.
- Tony Bose "Saddleback" folder. Superb example of a master craftsman's work.
- Rockstead Kou. Amazing production knife.
- Murray Carter neck knife. I appreciate his traditional Japanese knife making.
- Roselli Carpenter. Simple. Functional.
Regards, Adam
I'm 55 years old. My first knife was a "Cub Scout" knife. Knives that had a particular impact on me over the years:
- Randall Made Knives. Models 1, 2, 14, 12 Smithsonian bowie. Traditional American.
- Tony Bose "Saddleback" folder. Superb example of a master craftsman's work.
- Rockstead Kou. Amazing production knife.
- Murray Carter neck knife. I appreciate his traditional Japanese knife making.
- Roselli Carpenter. Simple. Functional.
Regards, Adam
sharp_edge
Gold Member
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- Jul 30, 2015
- Messages
- 5,924
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2007
- Messages
- 3,285
Custom Buck 110
Spyderco original Manix
Scrapyard 711
Spyderco Para 2
Case Rancher Sowbelly
Spyderco original Manix
Scrapyard 711
Spyderco Para 2
Case Rancher Sowbelly
SpySmasher
Lead Guitar
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2016
- Messages
- 5,016
I don't think I would consider ANY "I must have" knife an "everyone must have" knife. Know what I mean?
I don't really think there are any "must haves". As others have said, we all have different tastes, budgets, and needs.
Then again, I don't collect. I just buy based on my needs/uses. If I was a collector, I suppose I'd focus on genres, or categories that were of interest to me.
Then again, I don't collect. I just buy based on my needs/uses. If I was a collector, I suppose I'd focus on genres, or categories that were of interest to me.
I'm not a collector. For me,knives are tools, so I don't consider any one particular brand or model a 'must have'. I wouldn't tell anyone Snap-on was a must have, but I would consider a decent 1/2" open/box end wrench a must have in a tool box. So my must have list is based on style of knife.
My list would be:
A good 2.5" - 3.5" modern folder - this might be the most used knife in anyone's "tool box" of knives. It's always with you in your pocket, gets pulled out for duty on an almost daily basis, whether slicing an apple, cutting rope, breaking down boxes, or just opening a letter. Everyone can find a use for one, no matter what your profession or daily needs are. Mechanics, plumbers, hunters, hikers, stock boys, desk jockeys, and everyone in between - they can all benefit from a good, modern folder in their pocket. Doesn't matter if it's a $600 Sebanza or a $70 Leek, it'll get used fairly regularly. Traditionals will work too, but a modern, one handed folder will serve a wider range, since often, your other hand is busy holding something.
3"-4" drop point fixed blade. Again, it's a tool that has proved its usefulness time and time again. Small enough to not be overkill for most tasks, big enough to actually do most tasks. Hiking, camping, hunting, farming, or just working in the yard, a fixed blade in this size will do just about anything that a 5" or larger will do. If you need to chop, get an axe. If you need to clear brush, get a machete. If you need to cut, slice, thrust, etc, a 3.5" blade will do 95% of the knife tasks you will ever need.
A good multi-tool. When your toolbox isn't within reach, you can improvise a lot with a multi. You might not be able to rebuild an engine, or raise a barn with it, but when you're out in the field, and need repair in a pinch, a Leatherman Wave will go a long way.
Finally, a good hand axe. If you gotta chop, nothing beats it, and you can, arguably, even hammer or baton with it. Nothing breaks down large material like an axe.
Everything else is all specialty tools. Not must haves, unless you do those types of jobs regularly.
- A large fixed blade is nice, but there's not really anything you can do with it that can't be done with either a smaller fixed blade or an axe.
- A mechete or Khukri is very useful if you're in the bush a lot, or need to clear land by hand, but for urban dwellers and suburbanites, even those of us who are outdoors a lot, hunting, fishing, or camping, it's a very specialized tool that won't get used much.
- Lots of people would list an SAK as must have, but for me, a multi, even a small one like a LM Squirt or Juice, surpasses it in functionality. Think of it like the difference between a traditional vs. modern folder. Same purpose, but with a more updated tool-set and functionality of design.
Like I said, I see knives as tools, first and foremost. What I consider must-haves, are based on what I find most useful on a regular basis. Though they're in my toolbox, I can live without an impact gun, torque wrench, etc. - but a 1/4" ratchet, some basic combination wrenches, and a philips and straight screwdriver take care of 75% of the things I need to do.
My list would be:
A good 2.5" - 3.5" modern folder - this might be the most used knife in anyone's "tool box" of knives. It's always with you in your pocket, gets pulled out for duty on an almost daily basis, whether slicing an apple, cutting rope, breaking down boxes, or just opening a letter. Everyone can find a use for one, no matter what your profession or daily needs are. Mechanics, plumbers, hunters, hikers, stock boys, desk jockeys, and everyone in between - they can all benefit from a good, modern folder in their pocket. Doesn't matter if it's a $600 Sebanza or a $70 Leek, it'll get used fairly regularly. Traditionals will work too, but a modern, one handed folder will serve a wider range, since often, your other hand is busy holding something.
3"-4" drop point fixed blade. Again, it's a tool that has proved its usefulness time and time again. Small enough to not be overkill for most tasks, big enough to actually do most tasks. Hiking, camping, hunting, farming, or just working in the yard, a fixed blade in this size will do just about anything that a 5" or larger will do. If you need to chop, get an axe. If you need to clear brush, get a machete. If you need to cut, slice, thrust, etc, a 3.5" blade will do 95% of the knife tasks you will ever need.
A good multi-tool. When your toolbox isn't within reach, you can improvise a lot with a multi. You might not be able to rebuild an engine, or raise a barn with it, but when you're out in the field, and need repair in a pinch, a Leatherman Wave will go a long way.
Finally, a good hand axe. If you gotta chop, nothing beats it, and you can, arguably, even hammer or baton with it. Nothing breaks down large material like an axe.
Everything else is all specialty tools. Not must haves, unless you do those types of jobs regularly.
- A large fixed blade is nice, but there's not really anything you can do with it that can't be done with either a smaller fixed blade or an axe.
- A mechete or Khukri is very useful if you're in the bush a lot, or need to clear land by hand, but for urban dwellers and suburbanites, even those of us who are outdoors a lot, hunting, fishing, or camping, it's a very specialized tool that won't get used much.
- Lots of people would list an SAK as must have, but for me, a multi, even a small one like a LM Squirt or Juice, surpasses it in functionality. Think of it like the difference between a traditional vs. modern folder. Same purpose, but with a more updated tool-set and functionality of design.
Like I said, I see knives as tools, first and foremost. What I consider must-haves, are based on what I find most useful on a regular basis. Though they're in my toolbox, I can live without an impact gun, torque wrench, etc. - but a 1/4" ratchet, some basic combination wrenches, and a philips and straight screwdriver take care of 75% of the things I need to do.
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