My search for a quality pocket knife

S

soulmist

Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
4
First off, I would like to take a moment to say hello to the BladeForum community, and thank anyone who reads or responds to my post in advance.

Second, I'd like to ask for some of your thoughts on a good pocket knife for my upcoming outdoor activities in Maine this spring. I will be hiking and backpacking through the mountains for somewhere around 6 or 7 weeks straight. (I'm looking to pay around 20$ per knife, and I want at least 2 knives for the trip.)

Knowing this in advance, I decided to set out and find myself a strong, powerful, unique, and quality blade for my adventures. The poor stock of knives in local stores quickly drove me to the internet, and that (I quickly realized) only brought me to more hesitation and confusion. To start with, I'm only 20 years old and pretty new to the "knifing" trade, so I have no idea what any of the "good" quality brand names are. Another big problem is the inability to actually see the blade in person and “feel” if it’s right for me.

What I mean is that I have a very strong feeling that when I find the knife that is right for me, I’ll be able to “feel” it in my hand as though a part of me was in my blade and vice versa. I’m looking for something that suits me personally: a weight that’s heavy enough to feel substantial, a handle that fits my hand comfortably, and a blade that satisfies my aesthetic tastes (maybe a bit serrated – something more towards the navy seal look as opposed to the classic swiss army blade) I should also mention that I’d prefer one blade to have the pure silver / steel look and the other with a pure black / navy seal look. (blade and handle)

Originally my searches led me to a site selling Maxam knives. I was happy to note a low price range and an impressive assortment of choices. (Many of which seemed aesthetically pleasing to me.) However, knowing better than to blindly purchase an item I know little about online, I spent an awful long time searching for reviews online. Finally, after a great deal of effort, I found my way to a post on this forum that helped to confirm my reservations about the “Maxam” brand (one I’d never previously heard of.)

Well, first off, thanks for saving me the 40$ I would have spent on a bunch of rubbish knives! Second off, it’s a shame to see so little posted about the quality of such no-name brands. I hope this post might help others from falling into the same trap I almost did.

Anyway, this post is a little too long already. I was basically just wondering if any of you had any suggestions on brands. Also, if you could post links or pictures of your favorite pocket knives and why, that would be really helpful too! I’d like some feedback on why one brand is better than another and so on.

For example, I’m definitely not bringing my swiss army knife with me; I’ve found that personally, despite the popularity of the name, the knife has been a disappointment for me. The blade so thin that I doubt it would be of any use on the trip. I need something that can chew through dirt, branches, maybe even stone :] (I’m hesitant to make the leap from pocket knife to sheathed blade however… just looking for something powerful that satisfies its owners.)
Thanks again for all who took the time to read this long (probably dull and uninformed) message. And thanks to any who respond!

- soulmist
 
First I welcome you to the blade forum. I know you are new and young but my first suggestion would be to take the Swiss Army knife with you. You may be surprised at how handy one of those little guys are. I have had one in my pocket for a number of years and a Swiss tool (it's bigger brother) on my belt along with it.

Secondly I'd rather see you spend $40 or $50 for a better quality knife than $20 each on two cheapy knives. All you are going to get for $20 is something like a Winchester China made at the local Wal-Mart. I certainly would hate to see you have to settle for a second rate knife in the event that you really needed it.

The best inexpensive knife I know of right now and perhaps one of the best deals going in the knife world at this time in my opinion is a Camillus Becker Necker. You may even get one on Ebay for around what you are hoping to spend.


Good luck and again welcome to the forum.

Steve
 
Steve is right! :D

1) Welcome to Bladeforums!
2) Bring a SAK or multitool, preferably with a saw.
3) One good $40 knife will be MUCH more than twice as good as two $20 knives.

If you are hung up on the tactical look, you may be able to get by, but I don't really recommend them for weeks of hiking in Maine. You would do better getting a small, strong fixed blade. Folders don't take well to dirt, fixed blades do.

The masters of that kind of woodsrambling have to be the Scandinavian knives. You could pick up a Swedish Mora (#1. In Sweden this is the basic knife. ) or the really nice Mora 2000 (#2000. This is the Swedish version of a survival knife) and have a fixed blade that can practically fit in your pocket, or get a Becker BK-10 Crewman that's a bit larger and will tear through anything you face.
 
Thanks so much on pointers about the money issue! Now that I think about it, I'd rather spend more money on one knife if it will stick with me for many years of my life.

As far as the fixed blade issue goes, however, I don't know if I'd be allowed to bring one with me on the trip. The event is university managed, and I think that the knife might get taken away from me if doesn't fold into my pocket or isn't made to hang from my neck.

So far I have been attracted to styles such as

the Smith & Wesson Swat, Model SW3500:
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2273

the Colt Python II
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2570

Gerber's Paraframe I
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5087

perhaps a fixed blade that could hang from my neck? I remember seeing some talon-like blades that appeared as though they might be helpful...
 
soulmist said:
strong, powerful, unique, and quality blade... a weight that’s heavy enough to feel substantial, a handle that fits my hand comfortably, and a blade that satisfies my aesthetic tastes
Click to expand...
For a lower priced knife, a Buck 110 or 112 would meet your requirements very well. They can be had for around $30 from Wal-Mart, they're well-made and pretty much a classic in the knife world.

110.jpg
 
We can find you a folder or neck knife if that's what the trip organizers would be happier with. (That also tells me you won't be entirely on your own, which makes a difference!)

Check out the Spyderco Endura, a very popular model, or the Delica, same knife, smaller size. Both of these have been around for years, and hold up under heavy use. They also cut very well. I wouldn't recommend serrations unless you plan to cut a lot of fibrous material, like rope, or cardboard. At the most, get a partially serrated version.

Also take a look at that Becker Necker BK-11 that Steve mentioned.

A dull knife is like a flat tire. If you aren't into sharpening (yet :) ) then at least get the Lansky Spyderco Knife Sharpener to maintain the edge.

I remember seeing some talon-like blades that appeared as though they might be helpful...
Click to expand...
Talon shapes (hawksbills) are specialized. You need a general purpose blade at this point.
 
soulmist said:
So far I have been attracted to styles such as

the Smith & Wesson Swat, Model SW3500:
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2273

the Colt Python II
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2570

Gerber's Paraframe I
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5087

perhaps a fixed blade that could hang from my neck? I remember seeing some talon-like blades that appeared as though they might be helpful...
Click to expand...

Of those three choices I would go with the Gerber. Gerber's are good knives, and have a good edge, but the ones I've owned tend to rust quickly if not cleaned daily. I have a small Paraframe and it is pretty cool. My normal choice of knives is Benchmade or Emerson, but if I want a GREAT knife and a GREAT price, I would look at CRKT(Columbia River Knife and Tool). http://www.crkt.com/ftws.html, or http://www.crkt.com/catalog.html They are great knives, most based on custom makers designs but at a reasonable price. The M16 line is probably the most popular.

If I were going on a backpacking trip, I would personally carry two or more knives... In case one broke or was lost. Not sure of your price limit... Probably get two Paraframes for $60-70.. Not a bad deal.. I used to(to dang busy anymore) backpack 2-3 times/year in backcountry in Smokey Mtns. I care a SOG Seal 2000(12"fixed) in my belt, and Benchmade AFCK, or Emerson Raven, and a Gerber Multitool. I usually carry AFCK clipped to shoulder strap and Raven in Packed in pack just in case AFCK is lost or broken.

I have a Emerson LaGriffe that is a neck knife with Talon like blade, but honestly, it is useless for anything other than last ditch self defense. Sharp, but blade shape makes it difficult to use for much... CRKT makes one one as well.
If you wanted a useful neck knife, look at the CRKT 1st Strike 2703. They have it for $35 @ One Stop Knife SHop(1sks.com) Might be a little big, but shouldn'tbe to bad to carry


Hope this helps. Good luck. Enjoy your trip...
 
theres verry few folders that i trust, one being the 806d2 AFCK http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=806d2. you get what you pay for. i sudgest buying a fixed blade fighting knife like a kabar usmc fighting knife or a benchmade fixed blade. kabars are around 40 bucks and are real tough knives, you can chop fire wood and do tough tasks that most folders would break doing. benchmades are alot more but there also alot stronger.

if you have to buy a folder get something like a 806d2 AFCK. im a fairly young guy and even though i use my knives hard i expect my 806 to outlast my self and my kids. even if i do some how break it all i have to do is send it to benchmade and it will be repaired or replaced ususally with out any questions asked.

surf the benchmade forums, awhile back there was a guy who sent his knife off to be sharpened and for a quote on repairs. he had used it for a few years and the clip had gotten scratched up. while he was trying to remove the clip to replace it (they will send you free clips opon request) he striped the screws in the titanium liner and somehow managed to scratch the blade real badly. he wanted to know how much that it would cost to restore the knife.

a few weeks later the knife showed up, it was not only sharpened but every thing except for the g10 scales that were still in great shape was replaced at no charge.
http://benchmade.com/benchmade/testimonials.asp

a 20 buck knife might last you 2 months of hard use but a benchmade will last you a lifetime.
 
At $20 for a knife you aren't going to do much better than a KaBar Dozier. They get all kinds of praise on these forums. Also for an inexpensive yet quality neck knife take a look at the Camillus Arclite. One other thing, I know you said you wanted to avoid swiss army knives and multi blade knifes in general but you just can't go wrong with a good Victorinox knife, especially on a camping or hiking trip. Something like the camper or the rucksack are perfect for this use...you can even get most of them with black scales if thats more your style.

hope this helps

Jamie
 
First off make sure you know and understand the rules of where you will be doing the backpacking. I know some, if not many, places don't allow campfires so a large knife to chop firewood might not be necessary. Also know how you will be preparing meals, will you be doing real cooking or making meals in a bag? If you make meals in a bag then a SAK will work out just fine. I would suggest that if you have a SAK bring it along anyway, it couldn't hurt. Those blades are really nice and sharp, and the extra tools bring a lot to the table. If you have a model with a saw you would be hard pressed to find any other knife of that size, or even any other pocket knife, that would out cut that saw when used for wood.

As for finding two knives for $20 a piece that would be good for you, that is a difficult task. If I absolutely needed to get two knives for about $40 total I would probably go for a Camillus ArcLite neck knife(fixed blade), and a KaBar Dozier folder. Neither one is a great do all end all knife, but will stand some use and are good entry level knives. I really see no need for a FB knife though, and would rather recommend that you spend all of your money on one good knife.

If you can stretch your budget to like $0 you can get a Camillus EDC. I think it is a great design by a well known and respected custom maker, Darrel Ralph. It is made from a premium steel, 154CM if you get that version which I would recommend, and is a good strong frame lock folder. Spyderco is always a good choice too, and at the $50 proce point the Delica or Endura are always recommended.

Before going out and buying anything sit down and really think about what you will need the knife to do. Post back with a more detailed list of things you expect to need to do with the knife. Honestly I doubt you will really need a super heavy duty Rambo style knife for a backpakcing trip. That is especially true if it is a group trip sponsored by your school.
 
Hmm, not much I can add. Most everyone here knows more than I do, anyway.

What I do know, though, is that even on a backpacking trip, most sheath knives don't go over well with sheeple from a university (I go to IUB, and that's in conservative Indiana, and it still doesn't go over well.)
 
There is also the new line from Spyderco called Byrd. They are decent knives with good steels for about $20 a pop. Don't expect the finish you get from a more expensive knife but they are no junk.
 
dont let others dictate to you what you can or cant carry, if its within the written law carry what you want. just because somebody with a metaforic stick up there butts for lack of a better term dont like it dosent mean that you should bend to there every whim.

when i quit working on cars and moved to parts people thaught that i was odd or crazy for carrying around a fixed blade kabar. i could have conceaded to the riticual and such but my knife was with in the law so i carryed it, 6 months later every body in parts is carrying a knife and im not the only one with a kabar or a benchmade.
 
I would strongly recommend that you take the Swiss Army knife for lighter tasks (and the tools can be pretty handy). Then take the $40 that you earmarked for two knives and spend it on one. One knife in the $40 range will be better than two $20 knives, with few exceptions. Since you want a knife for heavy duty tasks, I assume that you are looking for one that has a blade larger than 3". So, for a good folder with a 3.5-4" blade in the $40 and under range (I found all of these for $40 or less online) you should look at:

Camillus Heat http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4770
Benchmade Pika http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4732
Buck folding hunter (a classic, solid knife that can be bought at wally world for $30)
Buck Hilo http://www.newgraham.com/images/Buck_Images/B179_00_LARGE.jpg
Kabar Mule http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5229
Gerber AR3.5 http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3253
Smith & Wesson large HRT http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2256

All of these have decent steel, but not the latest and greatest. That is probably the right choice for someone who is not really adept at sharpening, since a lot of the new supersteels can be a bear for the uninitiated to sharpen (and if you are going to spend long periods of time in the woods, you will need to bring sharpening equipment with you).

Of course, for $40 you can buy four large Opinels, and when you break one you have backups. They are great cutters.

If you move your budget up to the $50-60 range, some really great options are out there, I personally think it would be worth it to look at that range if you want a good knife to take on extended trips in the backcountry.
 
Well guys, again, I must thank you all for your helpful responses. You've brought some important things to my attention. First off, I've realized that I should clarify a few things about my trip, as it may help your analysis of the knife best suited for my cause.

I should also mention that looking over and reviewing all the knives mentioned, I feel most inclined to purchase the Camillus Arclite as a fixed blade to wear around my neck on longer hikes. As of now, however I'm still hesitating to choose a folding lock-blade that suits me (price and appearance.)

As for the conditions:
I'm not fully aware of the events that will take place on the trip, as I am not on the planning team. I am, however, privy to the situation I'll find myself in. As mentioned before, the trip is University sponsored (UofM) and thus, being enrolled in classes while i'm up there, I partially feel that bringing a sheathed blade like the Arclite might ruffle feathers. Is there a law against carrying such blades without a liscense? I was under the impression that any blade (just the blade or the whole length of the knife?) over 6 inches requires a liscense to be carried. If that's just my imagination however, I don't think there will be much of a reason for them to take away my knife.

Well either way, I'd like take a second blade incase my Arclite gets taken away or I lose it. So aside from the price of the Arclite, I'm willing to spend about another 40$ on a folding blade that will meet some of the following conditions I imagine I'll encounter: Cutting rope, wood, possibly wire, fishing, stripping bark, (I don't know enough about knives to come up with other sceneros in my head!) I hope that at least helps out a little more...

I should mention that the hikes we'll be on will consist of parties of 10 or more hiking up the mountainside, and that there will be no more than one or two parts of the trip in which I'll be entirely alone in the forest. Aside from that, there will be of course no electricity of any kind, and i'll be pretty much wearing the same pair of clothes the entire trip. Hmm stinky. Thank God for fresh water streams.

As far as hunting for food goes, I doubt we'll be doing much of that, as the group will have one of its leaders making regular trips to a town some miles off for supplies and food once a week.


I am aware that knives require constant care and I'm planning on bringing a sharpening stone and some oil to care for them after use. Anyhow, I suppose it's perhaps a bit clearer now that I don't need as advanced a knife as it might have appeared i did before. However, I'd prefer being prepared for the worst of circumstances with a knife I could depend on.


Wow, now that you posted the links to those knives Iamburtiana, I'm really impressed by the Buck Hilo. I tried to find it from google before and was unsucessfull. It really looks my style though!

http://www.newgraham.com/buck_outdoor.htm

(that's the link to the site page for those who are wondering)

So as it looks so far:
Knife 1)Buck Hilo
Knife 2)Camillus Arclite
 
These knives may not be your style, but are good knives for good prices:

Benchmade, Mini-Pika
Benchmade, Pika
Benchmade, Mini-Griptillian
Spyderco, Delica
Spyderco, Dragonfly

There are also a good number of cheap, decent knives for sale in the Knife Exchange section.
 
Hi there.

As others have said, take the Swiss Army. It will come in handy more than just on this trip. Not to mention that they're good knives to have while learning to use a knife. You may be starting a little late in life, but it's ok. I'm 23 and have been using knives since I was 6, and most people around here have been using knives from an early age, so we may take a lot for granted. If something isn't clear, just ask again.

You seem to be a little caught up on the aesthetics of the knife, don't worry about that. Knives are made to be used, so use them. If they look too nice, you won't want to use it... so it's a easte of money.

Again, like others have said, a good fixed blade will save your ass out in the wilds and will do things that a folder can't do. I have a lot of folders, and I trust a lot of them not to close on me, but when I'm out there I like the stability of a fixed blade a lot more. And fixed blades don't always have to be huge. My hiking knife is a Camillus Pilot Survival Knife... 5 inch blade with a sawtooth spine.

When I'm hiking I usually have three knvies with me: A Victorinox of some sort (I've got several), a Kershaw Vapor II (habit.. it's my work EDC so it seems to go where I go) and the Camillus PSK. All those knvies together would probably cost under $100 if you know where to look.

But, if you're going somewhere tricky and hard to navigate, you can't go wrong with an RTAK :D . But I doubt that's something you'd want to carry on this trip.

And yes, Maxam is crap. A kid I work with seems to be in love with my knives but can't afford anything really. He came in with a Maxam that he wanted me to sharpen. With some fairly low pressure torque I was able to make the liner fail, so I took the knife apart for him and bent the liner a little more in hopes that it would lock up a little tighter... the only thing that did was make closing the liner difficult at best and damn near impossible. The blade, made from 420 surgical stainless, didn't seem to have been heat treated.

The most important thing is to find the knife that suits you best. Make sure it's of high quality and good steel with a good, solid handle. If it's a folder, make sure the locking mechanism (AXIS, liner, whatever) is sturdy and safe. Keep it clean and sharp, and a good knife will last forever.

My favorite online place to get knives is Best Knives. There are other places with good selections and good prices. I've been fairly pleased with Brigade Quartermasters as well.
 
soulmist said:
Wow, now that you posted the links to those knives Iamburtiana, I'm really impressed by the Buck Hilo. I tried to find it from google before and was unsucessfull. It really looks my style though!
Click to expand...

Buck knives are very nice for the price. Even though a lot of their blades are from 400 series stainless (440C in the case of the Hilo), I wouldn't worry about them at all since Buck's heat treating process is as good as it gets.

If you go with the Arclite, do yourself a favor and use that skeleton handle as a place for a good length of paracord. Not only will it give you a better handle, it'll be a good place for a small length of cord if you need it for something (anchoring your pack to a tree, etc.).

The best price I can find for the Arclite is $19.95 at Best Knives.
 
KaBar said:
dont let others dictate to you what you can or cant carry, if its within the written law carry what you want. just because somebody with a metaforic stick up there butts for lack of a better term dont like it dosent mean that you should bend to there every whim.

when i quit working on cars and moved to parts people thaught that i was odd or crazy for carrying around a fixed blade kabar. i could have conceaded to the riticual and such but my knife was with in the law so i carryed it, 6 months later every body in parts is carrying a knife and im not the only one with a kabar or a benchmade.
Click to expand...

Generally that would be good advice, but as it is a school sponsored event some strings might be attached. I wouldn't want to take a knife that would cause problems for me with my school. In this instance I think the better thing to do is just concede to whatever the rules set forth by the trip leasers make. As for what your peers think, well don't worry to much about that.

I doubt that you will be needing to cut much wire or wood on the trip. If all you want to do is trim some branches of such then a SAK would work great between the saw and the blades. The next best thing would be a large FB knife, that you don't want to carry with you. An ArcLite and some other decent folder that has already been mentioned would serve you well for many years. Stop worrying so much about what the knife looks like, it is just a tool and other things should be put before appearance. Generally SPyderco knives are thought of as fugly, but great using knives because they were designed to be used. Some of those knives that were designed with looks first will never stand use.
 
Bob Dozier's production folding hunter goes for around 20.00 new and it's a pretty great knife considering the cost. It comes in two blade shapes and can be found at AG Russell's website.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top