My First Knife

P

pezman

Joined
Aug 7, 2006
Messages
7
I am new to this whole arena, but have in the past few weeks determined that there are numerous times where I find myself in want of a knife. So I have determined to seek out and obtain an EDC knife.

I have read reviews and looked at catalogs, looked around in local stores here in Houston, and generally driven my wife crazy with this.

I am hoping that the broad spectrum of users here can help me narrow my search.

I have a few things I am looking for in a knife:

1. length- between 2.5 and 3.0 inch blade (I am leaning towards PE)
2. handle - thin metal handle - the lighter the better - prefer a solid handle
3. one handed opening - maybe assisted opening, if it has a safety
4. blade - preferably an ATS-34 or similar
5. price - the lower the better - preferably lower than $60-$75

my top contender so far is the Buck Sirus - I love the blade shape and it does come in ATS-34, but it is just a bit on the long side. (I will be carrying it to my desk job during the day, so I don't want it to be too large) I like the Buck ASAP series and the safety is a great feature. I know that the Buck Rush is smaller, and also comes in ATS-34, but I think that it is a bit too small, plus it does not have a solid handle.

I have looked at the Kershaw Ken Onion AO knives, but I don't like the shape and style very much.

I want something good, durable, and stylish, but not something too expensive.

Any suggestions that meet all of my desires?

Thanks all, I have enjoyed going through the archives.
 
I am sure someone else will recommend this, but try looking at spyderco knives. If you look on e bay you might find a Benchmade around the price you are willing to pay. John
 
Sounds like a Spyderco Delica 4 with a stainless steel handle. Can be had for less than $50. One handed opening, solid metal handle that is very thin. Blade steel is VG-10, which, in my opinion has a good balance between edge retention and ease of sharpening.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=210

http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=3797


(Note: The picture at NGK shows a fully serrated blade on a Delica 3 model, but the link is actually to the plain edged, Delica 4 model. They haven't changed the picture yet. Read the description on the Spyderco website for all the correct details and the correct picture.)
 
Yeah the delica or the endure in stainless definatley fits the bill. They are both great knives.

Spydercos are a great bargain.
 
Hi Pezman...

pezman said:
and generally driven my wife crazy with this.
Click to expand...

LMAO....

All I can say is...

Fasten Your Seatbelt!!!

You my friend are embarking on one hell of an addiction....

LOL

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
There are lots of good knives in the range you suggest.
First off--go into a shop and handle a number of different shaped handles and 'try out' how different blade shapes feel for your everyday tasks. Check out what's available in some of the larger internet stores.
Then buy the knife you can't live without.
Greg
treat him easy guys, he's in the early stages of the disease!
 
There are a variety of great knives in your range. There are a variety of Spyderco's Calypso Jr. is my favorite.
Camillus EDC
Benchmade Mini Griptillian
Buck 112, 501,503
Some of these do not have metal handles, but are nevertheless, quite sturdy.
 
For the price, it is hard to beat a spyderco delica. Fantastic value for the knife. The delica is one of my first knives. Got one in 1992.
 
I took a look at the Spyderco Delica - which is a really nice knife. It is a lock-back though, and I am leaning toward a liner-lock or a frame-lock. I have also never really been thrilled with the shape of a Spyderco blade. I know there is really no rational explenation, other than my own idea of aesthetics.

The Camillus EDC is also pretty good, and is certainly a good price. It reminds me a lot of the Kershaw Vapor, which I also have considered. But I really like the look of a solid metal handle. Again with the aesthetic preferences, the hardest thing to quantify.

The Spyderco Endura is even bigger than my current top choice of the Buck Sirus.

I really like the Mini Griptillion, mostly. The AXIS lock is very nice, and the blade shape is perfect, but it has a thick plastic handle which would be less professional in looks, and more bulky to carrry. Really nice though.

I just noticed that Cabela's carries a Buck Rush with a solid metal and cherrywood handle. However, it is not available with ATS-34. Anyone have any experience with this one?
 
Spyderco puts utility first and the shape of the blade is to accomodate the Spyderhole opener and still leave adequate steel for blade strength. You really should go to a store that sells Spydies and try one out before you dismiss them as they tend to grow on you. I would add that the hump on the new Delica is grooved and thus makes a very good place for indexing your thumb or index finger when cutting.
 
I agree with FullerH; you need to handle some Spydies before you discount them. I used to think most Spyderco designs were ugly as sin. Now I love 'em. For your first knives, bang-for-buck is hugely important, and Spyderco delivers. Especially in the price range we're talking about.

As with the Spyders, you might just find yourself liking the Ken Onion knives, too. The modified wharncliffe blade has a strange effect on knife knuts. The leek is one of my all-time favorite knives, and the ergonomics have led me to believe that Ken Onion and I have the same hands.

I also used to prefer metal handles too. I despised all synthetics for a while. Now G-10 is my preference. You just have to use these materials to appreciate them.

The point is, keep an open mind. For your first knife, go with anything recommended on the forums that feels good in the hand and is aesthetically pleasing. Welcome to your new hobby.
 
Honestlty the desire for the metal handle is what will limit you in this price range. The delica is an awesome SS handled knife for this price. Spyderco also makes the following knives in SS, in or barely outside of your price range-
Cricket
Dragonfly
Kiwi
Native
Calypso Jr.
There are also still some Salsa'a floating around out there I found a titanium salsa for $35 a while back
 
The Delica is a modern classic, hard to go wrong with it, the humpback blade and opening hole may *look* a little off-putting, but as has been stated before, Spyderco designs their knives around *cutting* not looks, the Griptilian series are great knives and the Axis lock is a brilliant bit of engineering, i owned a Minigrip for a while, but ended up selling it because it just didn't *cut* as well as my Spydercos, and seeing as the sole purpose of a knife is to *cut*.....

Spyderco designs their knives "in the dark", they focus on ergonomics and cutting performance, looks are irrelavent, and there's no better example of this than the Dodo, a rather "unusual" looking knife, a compact, stout 2" Reverse-S blade in a full-size, palm filling handle, arguably the most comfortable and easy to control blade in the Spyderco lineup, the Dodo has the cutting performance of a knife twice to three times it's blade length

it really depends on how you plan to use your knife (or, rather, *knives*, yes it *will* happen, you *will* get addicted, it's already too late, you came here, joined the forums and posted, the addiction has started), don't pre-judge Spydies on their appearance, it's the least important part of a Spyderco

To paraphrase a short, green philosopher...
"Looks matter not, Judge Spyderco by their looks, you should not, for their ally is Ergonomics, and a powerful ally it is, hmmmm..."
 
MacTech said:
To paraphrase a short, green philosopher...
"Looks matter not, Judge Spyderco by their looks, you should not, for their ally is Ergonomics, and a powerful ally it is, hmmmm..."
Click to expand...
Well-placed paraphrase! :D

I like Spyderco's attention to ergonomics.
 
Ok, so I will need to check out some of the Spyderco knives. I can appreciate well thought-out design and ergonomics, but I am having a hard time finding Spyder-Co knives around here. I have checked Gander Mountain, Academy, Sports Authority, and Wal-Mart.

I have seen maybe 1-3 Spyder-Co knives at these places. Can anyone tell me the location of a good knife store in Houston, TX?

Are there any other good brands to consider other than Buck/Kershaw/Spyderco?
 
I just did a bit of looking around and I must say that, in your price range, the only company using anything like premium steels in their knives is Spyderco. Many others are using good steels, but not steels at the same level as VG-10.
 
pezman said:
I have seen maybe 1-3 Spyder-Co knives at these places. Can anyone tell me the location of a good knife store in Houston, TX?
Click to expand...

There's a "cop-shop" called Pro-Defense, off of I-45 South, near Webster or Clear Lake, I'm not sure which - I haven't lived there for almost 2 years - but it's in a big shopping center with a Hooter's out front. You may be able to find it in your phone book. Anyway, they used to sell knives, along with guns, uniform items, other law enforcement related stuff, but it is open to the public. Maybe you could see some things there?
 
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