Need advice on choosing 4" utility folder

J

J - rod

Joined
Feb 25, 2001
Messages
1
Here is what I am looking for in a knife.
- Around 4" of blade length
- clip or drop point style blade
- hard, moderately tough, moderately stainless steel (ATS-34, CPM440V, BG-42)
- Price less than $100
- light weight handles
- I prefer very grippy handles over long-haul comfort. I like rubberized handles with lots of grooves and texture!
- moderately sharp tip (sharp, but not too delicate)
- 50/50 plain/serrated edge
- pocket clip on left side (if you are holding the knife blade down, tip away from your body)
- I do not need the knife to be super-burly, but would like quality construction that is not too heavy
- Lock type: I like liner locks because of the easy open/close, but have heard that they are not all that strong. I do not neccessarily need a super strong lock, but I also don't want something chintzy that is not going to work.
- I realize I can not "have it all", but these are my preferences

Some knives that I am considering, but not limited to:

Cold Steel Voyager 4", clip point
Dislikes: handle is not as grippy as I would like, the very small serrations look hard to sharpen, and the clip is on the right

CRKT M16 3.9" tanto
Don't like the tanto shape or the clip on the right side, but otherwise looks pretty sweet

SOG Pentagon Elite
looks pretty good, but have heard the liner-less handles and liner lock are pretty wimpy. Handle doen't look too grippy, either.

I would appreciate anyone's experience and opinion to help me make a choice. Thanks in advance. J-rod
 
Welcome to the Forums, J-rod.
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My #1 suggestion would be the Benchmade 710S. It fits your criteria to a "T". It has arguablly the best lock (Axis Lock) of any folder, ATS-34 blade with a slight recurve geometry for excellent cutting performance, lightweight, very rugged. A very well executed knife design. Benchmade stands behind their products with a lifetime guaranty. It can be had for just over a $100. I'm sure there are many other knives that fit the bill, but I stand behind my suggestion 'cause I feel the 710 is one of the best hard use folding knives ever made!

Russ
 
If you can do without the serrations, the Cold Steel Large plain Clip-Point Voyager is an excellent knife.
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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
Benchmade AFCK. Mine is exactly as you described and still serves me well.

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"Come What May..."
 
Spyderco Military, if you shop around you should be able to find one at or near $100. It cost a little more, but you may want to take a look at the REKAT Carnivore, another good solid knife with a strong lock. The Benchmade 710 would also be a good choice. Not really a bad knife in the bunch, see which one fits your needs best. Happy knife hunting!
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A Pat on the Back is only a few inches from a Kick in the Butt.
 
i will add the 710 plain blade. GREAT knfe. if u take off the stud, it is very streamlined, and opens with just a flick. i LOOOOVE the axis lock. strong, AND easy 1 hand closing. just an all around Awesome knife. but, too big for me to carry safely, as the draconian laws here dictate sub 2.5" blade lengths. ....
 
Everyone's recommendations are great knives! I would add that the crkt m16 is also a great knife and I keep one with my tools. FOR THE MONEY you will not find a tougher knife! (their large Craford/Kasper or Point Guard might also fit the bill)
By the way you could get TWO of the CRKTs for less than $100!

[This message has been edited by Jason Burns (edited 02-25-2001).]
 
Cold Steel Voyager, Spyderco Endura, and the Outdoor Edge Magna with aluminum handles are my favorites.
 
I'm gonna have to say AFCK. They rock, and the G-10 is ribbed for your pleasure.... I mean to enhance your grip on the knife.

You can pick up an old one in ATS-34 or M2 pretty cheap now in NIB condition, and the new ones coming out in 154CM and M2 dropped in MSRP as well.
 
BM710 Hands down. Has done everything I have ever asked it to do, lots of knife for the money, solid lock, nice little recurve on the blade, tip up carry....

What more could you ask for? (actually a lot, but it's close enough to perfect for me
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)

 
Yeah, you want to try the Benchmade 710.

My great uncle used to call me j-rod
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go to onestopknifeshop.com and get ya a Emerson CQC-7 for $99.95 and ya wont regret it - take my word they rule!!!!!!!
 
Benchmade 710S. Period.

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The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog. - Ambrose Bierce
Most dog owners are at length able to teach themselves to obey their dog. - Robert Morley

iktomi
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by J - rod:
- Lock type: I like liner locks because of the easy open/close, but have heard that they are not all that strong. I do not neccessarily need a super strong lock, but I also don't want something chintzy that is not going to work.
- I realize I can not "have it all", but these are my preferences</font>
Click to expand...

I'd also say the 710 meets your needs pretty well. It's the best 4"-blade utility/defense knife out there, IMO. Don't know if it can be had for <$100 though, so you may be out of luck there. Whether the handle is grippy enough for you or not, I dunno.

BTW, the problem with liner locks isn't strength -- they're plenty strong. The problem is that the liner lock format is extraordinarily difficult to reproduce in a reliable manner, because it is susceptible to numerous movements that will cause accidental closure unless a number of subtle features are all done exactly right. As a result, they tend to fold up on users at exactly the wrong time, at a much higher rate than any other lock format.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
Cold Steel Voyager 4", clip point
Dislikes: handle is not as grippy as I would like, the very small serrations look hard to sharpen, and the clip is on the right</font>
Click to expand...

Otherwise not a bad choice

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
CRKT M16 3.9" tanto
Don't like the tanto shape or the clip on the right side, but otherwise looks pretty sweet
</font>
Click to expand...

Well, being a liner lock would knock it off my list. But the tanto shape would also knock it off my list. I hate it for general utility work.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
SOG Pentagon Elite
looks pretty good, but have heard the liner-less handles and liner lock are pretty wimpy. Handle doen't look too grippy, either. </font>
Click to expand...

Not one of my faves either. There is a version with the Arc Lock, which is very solid, and you won't have to worry about the lock at all. I'm not a big fan of the blade format though.

In this class, the Spyderco endura, an inexpensive zytel-handled knife, is one of my faves. The Benchmade Ares is also a contender, but again, probably much more than $100.


Joe
 
I would have to say the Benchmade 710, for reasons stated above, or the Spyderco Wegner. The Wegner is one of my all-time favorites. It is one that I could not do without.

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Dennis Bible

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[This message has been edited by shootist16 (edited 02-27-2001).]
 
I just ordered up a 710 plainedge in M2. It has long since been the crowd favorite, and I can tell you first hand the the Axis lock is the best thing going out there.
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It would be my recommendation to you.

-IPR
 
First, Welcome to the Forums!!

Gotta put in another vote for the 710. IME it's the best knife to fit your requirements (and mine
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) Strong, secure, fully ambidextrous, around $100. For a little more you can get one in M2, which is even better than ATS-34.

I believe that Cold Steel's serrations are impossible to sharpen. And I think the Voyager has a FRN handle. The 710's SS liners & G-10 scales are much stronger & provide a better grip.

CRKT makes good knives, but the blade steel is not as good as ATS-34, the bead blasted blades tend to rust, and no liner lock beats an Axis lock.

The SOG PE I handled had the ergonomics of a stick. The 710 is much more comfortable and secure.

Oh, did I say that the knife you described is a BM 710? I think that's what you're looking for.

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"To give is a need, to receive is mercy." - Thus Spoke Zarathustra
 
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