Need a rock solid WORKER folder

I would suggest looking into the ZT 0300, ZT 0550, ZT 0560, Emerson Commander, Emerson CQC 8, Emerson CQC 7, Benchmade Griptilian, Benchmade Axis Striker.
 
Somehow I trust what blues is saying ;)

Basically my vote would go to a bm 810, but the lock is maybe a bit too delicate / not as gloves compatible as it could be.
 
You should heed Blues advice, I'm a carpenter and the only knife I would carry when I did forms was a Kudu cause they are cheap.

If you get him something expensive tell him it is not for work.
Concrete will mess up all your tools and clothes.
 
not really high end, but an AUS8 Voyager or Recon 1 will give soft and easy to sharpen steel, toughest lock, excellent ergos for gloved hands, nice thumbstud for use with gloves, decent edge length and easy to clean scales/construction for well under $50...

Just my $0.02
 
Blues Bender said:
Sorry, but there is no such thing. I'm safely assuming that your brother is going to treat that knife like a manic gorilla and beat the hell out of it. I know what concrete work entails, I've done it...

I've used a folder for doing concrete, and they are almost useless. Things like cutting plastic sheets against pea gravel or CA6 is like dragging your edge against a pile of stones, literally.
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"When E.F. Hutton speaks...."
 
1234 said:
Spyderco Endura,, stainless steel handle & combo edge.


1234,,,:D
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I love that knife, but pinned construction and non removable pivot. You get grit and dirt in there and it will never be as smooth again.
 
If he knows nothing about knives, buy a few COLD STEEL products, or Benchmade Griptilians. Give him one, then when he says "I lost it" or "I broke it" just give him another one. There are some great options for Cold Steel with XHP blades, and Griptilians are hard workers with durable handles. You can get the blade replaced on the Grip if needed, ZT offers this as well.

I am against giving beginner knife fans high end knives because they have not developed the appreciation that comes with working up through the various price ranges and buying it yourself. Plus a cold steel and a Strider/Hinderer/etc. will probably appear to be of similar quality to someone who hasn't handled many quality knives.
 
Moxy said:
I love that knife, but pinned construction and non removable pivot. You get grit and dirt in there and it will never be as smooth again.
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If that is a concern get the FRN version, with screws.


1234,,,:D
 
Blues Bender said:
Sorry, but there is no such thing. I'm safely assuming that your brother is going to treat that knife like a manic gorilla and beat the hell out of it. I know what concrete work entails, I've done it...

The point of a knife is to cut things, and that line of work has many abrasive things to be cut, that edge will be toast in no time. He'd be better off with Stanley with replaceable razor blades so he can always have a sharp edge at the ready.

I've used a folder for doing concrete, and they are almost useless. Things like cutting plastic sheets against pea gravel or CA6 is like dragging your edge against a pile of stones, literally.
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He's not wrong. There are some high end utility knives though. Milled titanium things that accept disposable blades.

No folder is going to hold up to concrete work, but he may still want to slice and apple at lunch. Maybe buy a custom utility knife AND a folder?
 
I would get a Spyderco Native 5 with G-10 scales. Not extremely high end, but no slouch. My hard use work knife for years was a Schrade 250T (two blade Buck 110 sized knife). I think a nice Buck 110 would be appreciated.
 
Seems like a recipe for disaster. But if he knows when to use a utility knife rather than a folder:

Gayle Bradley 1
Manix2
Native5
PM2 - the Cruwear dropping right now is concrete gray... might be a nice reference.
Styker
484-1
0562cf
0801
 
Officer's Match said:
The 15 line (mini and standard) make for a really versatile user too, combining the front tanto "chisel" with a mild recurve that makes the edge cut "bigger" than it is. Also, the 15's are the most "blade efficient" (blade to handle length ratio) Emersons I've seen.
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I have to agree with the post above.

My Mini 15 handles dust, grit, and general abuse just fine at work.

2u6d0d5.jpg


However, I just cut and split granite. I don't prep forms and pour concrete. For the really abusive stuff I defer to Blues and agree with a razor knife.
 
brad2008 said:
My brother does concrete and will be doing my sidewalk soon. I wanna tip him with a nice folder. I'm looking for something rock solid, high quality and built to last in the concrete world. As far as price goes I'm looking for higher end.



Suggestions ...
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I can appreciate the idea that you wish to gift a nice knife to your brother. A very thoughtful gesture, to be sure. But unless *he* is a knife-guy as well, a high-end knife may be lost on him. Most of my friends and family could not tell the difference between a Hinderer and a CRKT.

Never, ever, ever gift a high-end knife to a non-knife person. Seriously. There is no point. It ends in discord. In my experience, it'll just be abused beyond all reason, or worse, sit unused and forgotten in a drawer someplace. Personally, I'd rather break a knife than lose one... YMMV.

Lots of great options for decent quality knives to be had for less than $100. Maybe snag a Cold Steel Recon 1 for him: tough knife, reasonably affordable, no one cries if it is destroyed. Or maybe get him a classy little folder he wouldn't dream of using on the actual job-site but might just use to peel an orange at lunch. A nice little Case or Great Eastern traditional folder might be suitable.

But if your bro is indeed a knife-guy, go to town! He will probably even be able to tell you what knife he's been drooling over lately, and *that* (whatever it is) would make a heckuva present...

Good luck, OP! Sorry for the ramble... :)

-Brett
 
As far as usefulness goes, I would suggest you look at havalon. I work construction and have destroyed some really nice knives. My main work knives for a few years have been serrated Spyderco Salt series. Edge retention is not much to brag about. I have thought about the havalon knives and they have a double bladed knife with one robust main blade and smaller replaceable blade. It looks like the best of both worlds for a work knife. Take the rest of the money and also give him something that he will like, be it work or otherwise, buy his type of knife, what he wants.
 
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