Need a New Knife

[JNieporte]

The girlfriend is offering to buy me a new knife for "work use" and so I need some help in picking one out. I work in the food service industry, and this has to be a folding knife. Any help you guys can give me would be appreciated. My criteria are below:
Price: Up to $45 U.S.
Handle: Can't be hollow or "skeletonized", because food particles and the like can get into it easily. It should be some kind of plastic, like Zytel. I find that metal handles such as aluminum get slippery when wet, and are harder to maintain.
Blade: At least 2.5" but no longer than 4". Must be resistant to corrosion due to the nature of the food service industry. Must have a stud or hole to use for one-handed opening. Must have a pocket clip. The blade should be half-serrated. I would prefer a recurve-style blade design, but will consider anything except a tanto point, as they are not allowed in the work place (my boss knows nothing about knives).
Uses: This knife would be used to cut open thick plastic bags containing food; opening cardboard boxes; scraping food off plates and silverware; and other random tasks such as this.

Again, I thank you for any input you have.

 

[JPD1998]

I would say you probably want something in Spyderco's line. I would get an Endura 4

http://www.gpknives.com/item/spyderco-endura-4.html

If that's too big than the Delica 4

http://www.gpknives.com/item/spyderco-delica-4.html

 

[Lemon328i]

I'd suggest the Spyderco Salt line if working around foodstuffs. All metal parts of their knives are rustproof including the pocket clip, so you would have no fear using it around water all day.

 

[Tballetta]

I'd suggest the Spyderco Salt line if working around foodstuffs. All metal parts of their knives are rustproof including the pocket clip, so you would have no fear using it around water all day.

What he said:thumbup:

 

[J_Curd]

G-10 handled Byrd Cara Cara.

My Cara Cara is the best value knife I have ever purchased. The price is really impossible to beat currently. I better shut up now before they get more expensive...I need to buy the whole set first

 

[ginshun]

One of the Syderco Salts sounds perfect.

 

[sog]

Spyderco has holes in the blade so... You should't whip out a folder in front of people to scrape a plate and the plate can get damaged anyway. A SOG FLASH ll might be right for you. It has a inky dinky hole for a lanyard in the handle. I got one for 45 bucks.

sog

 

[glockman99]

A Cold Steel Voyager would also be a good choice.

 

[T.K.C.]

I would also suggest something from the Spyderco Salt line.

 

[mnblade]

This knife would be used to cut open thick plastic bags containing food; opening cardboard boxes; scraping food off plates and silverware; and other random tasks such as this.

You're going to be using your own pocketknife to scrap food off customers' dirty plates? :barf:

 

[T. Erdelyi]

How about an A. G. Russell™ Hocho, about $65
A Folding Cook's Knife
This is a knife for food preparation. It is designed to be a personal knife for those who want the finest possible tool for slicing, dicing and otherwise preparing vegetables and meats. It is not a camp knife or a hunting knife, but works wonderfully in the kitchen of a New York City apartment or a Wyoming hunting camp, when preparing a meal is the task at hand. click me for the link

 

[Normark]

Hey Guys....

mnblade writes:

You're going to be using your own pocketknife to scrap food off customers' dirty plates? :barf:

That's what I'm thinking too!!

Yuk!

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

 

[Normark]

Hey T.

That Honcho is Sweet....

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

 

[22-rimfire]

Oops. just read your conditions.... none of the ones I mentioned would qualify (deleted them). But, are you actually going to use a pocket knife to scrape food off plates? That is a new one. I wouldn't consider using a pocket knife for that unless I was camping; how about a putty knife with sharpened edge?

Here is an interesting possibility, but even the reproductions are over a $100. But take a look anyway. In person, these are really interesting knives and are very small. http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=4911

The SOG Flash I might be a consideration (link) or the Flash II which has a 3.5" blade: http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=5027

 

[darklight943]

Personally, I'd use a dirty fork or butterknife to scrape food off of peoples plates. Faucet sprayer is also a great alternative. Aside from that, I'd consider that Honcho posted by TE earlier - that thing is just sweet (first time I seen that)! But keeping it under the $45 mark - I'd consider a Cara Cara G-10 - pretty big folder though, may freak the boss out - or the smaller version of the Cara Cara, the Meadowlark (also in G-10 or FRN scales).

 

[silenthunterstudios]

You're going to be using your own pocketknife to scrap food off customers' dirty plates? :barf:

My thought exactly. Get a piece of wood if you have to to scrape food off of plates, don't use your folder for that. That said, for work, outside of food, I would use a Delica. Fits the bill nicely.

Take into account food safety. Using the same knife that you use to scrape food off of plates, opening napkins, paper plates, etc, is a no no. I don't know what type of environment you work in, paper plates maybe a carry out, but the OSHA or health inspector would shut your business down so fast it would make your head spin.

 

[JNieporte]

I just took a look at the Timberline Workhorse at Knife center fro $25. Looks nice, I think I'll go with it, although I have no experience with Timberline's knives. The knife will be used to open boxes mostly, not for scraping plates. i have a butter knife for that Thanks all.