Need A byte of advice

P

Phyltre

Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
18
Hi, new user here (I've been watching these forums for awhile for candid reviews, I love this place) with a question.

I am in the market for a relatively small, durable folding pocket knife--nothing too expensive, since I don't want to be worried about hurting the thing on cardboard boxes/packaging (one of the planned main uses) and it needs a smaller profile to fit in my pockets (a 2-to-4 inch blade is optimal).

I like the look of tanto-style blades, and the feel of kerambits because they make it so much harder to cut yourself by accident (the faster I can use the knife safely, the better--I don't want to be flashing the thing around, since I am at a university that doesn't forbid pocket knives but frowns upon them being displayed. So out-of-pocket, cut, back-in-pocket is all I'm really going for here.

Now I know that MTech has a tanto folder in kerambit style, but it's nothing but a throwaway. Now, imposing an upper limit of around $50.00, what are my best options? (Either tanto or kerambit would be best, both would be beautiful but I'm being realistic...if anyone has ideas outside of these two, that's cool too.)

Thanks for your time, sorry I've been so verbose and picky.
 
Benchmade Mini-Griptilian or full size Griptilian.

You can also get them in Tanto flavors if you like.

The Axis lock is about as fast as you're going to get without being a switch blade. It's also very strong.

Almost forgot, Welcome to Bladeforums! :)
 
Thanks. The Griptilians look great. Out of curiousity, what are considered to be the best folding knives for mundane stuff like packaging? Any opinions contrary to my ideas?
 
There are a bunch of Spydercos that are great under the $50 mark, the new Delica 4, the Native (which you can even get at Wal-Mart) and Centofante III will probably work for you. They are smallish but have lots of cutting power.

Kershaw offers a few small knives that are great, although I wish they used better steels. You might want to stay away from assisted openers since they could be considered autos by non-knife people. I think Kershaw's Storm is a really good buy at around $30, and the Splinter is a very nice looking knife for around $60. My only problem with Kershaw is that for $40 you can get VG10 and S30V Spydercos instead of AUS8 Kershaws, although Kershaw's designs are prettier.

For the ultimate sheeple friendlyness, carry a SAK with your EDC folder. You can use a SAK anywhere without getting a second look from the people around you (plus you get some pretty nice tools).
 
Hi.

Spyderco is offering a couple of "hawkbill" knives right now. They're sorta like a kerambit.

Out of the blue here, but you might consider the Fallkniven U2. High hardness blade (approx. HRC 64), very sheeple friendly, and so far I have found it to be quite the slicer. I believe you can find them in your price range.

If you choose to go up in price, give the Dodo a consideration.
 
Phyltre-

Welcome to the party. It's always great to have new members and get some fresh blood into the forums.

Two knives that are really too cheap considering their quality are the Spyderco Byrd models and the Benchmade Pika model. Great steel (not the AUS stuff), very tight and well made. And a real steal, IMHO.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10400

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=169

Spyderco has released one of their models to Wal-mart at a very attractive price (too low to be listed). In spite of some of the squawking about the mart they are still one of the only major stores selling guns and knives which counts for something in my book.
 
Now it's coming down to a Byrd versus Griptilian showdown. I'll probably buy sometime in the next few days when I finally decide.

In an unrelated story, this Spyderco (can't/won't afford it at the moment, and it's too big) could probably eat even the toughest packaging as a before-breakfast snack...

C79BK_M.jpg
 
If you want a hawkbill blade style, I have absolutely fallen in love with my Dodo, and the species is dissapearing fast since being discontinued. Go try one if you can, I guarantee you'll go from thinking "This is the ugliest knife ever" to "this is arguably the most practical and ergonomic knife ever."

Once you use it and understand why it looks so weird, it all makes sense and you appreciate its weirdness.

It's only got a 2 inch blade too. And with a name like a dodo, it would be hard to present this knife as an offensive weapon (since we know that people who carry knives are really just looking to stab someone).

You can find them for about that price on ebay if you look hard enough. But it might have gone up since I bought me.
 
Thanks everyone again for the suggestions. Quite frankly I hope to buy all the knives you guys have suggested at some point in the next year or so.

For the money, I think my best bet (to have something quality but still useable around) will be a Spyderco Byrd Crossbill. Now I have one last question: which edge should I get? Regular, Serrated, or Combo?
 
Spyderco Delica @ 37.95 from bestknives.com
Hard to beat it.
:)

FULL SERRATED....One cuttin fool.
 
I've had my Crossbill around for a week or so now, and it's great. Very solid, very practical knife.

There was a slight downside, though--the joint was rather gritty, almost enough to make it hard to open. Having had experience with gritty knives, however, I flooded the thing with WD-40 and used a Water-Pik (it has a needle-precision head) to blast everything out of it. Now she's right as rain.

Not sure why the grit was there, but it was only a temporary problem. Definitely doesn't detract from my opinion of the knife.
 
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