Need Advice

Z

ZorrosGirl

Joined
Mar 19, 2001
Messages
5
I'm looking for a folding knife that can is a
good defence and utility knife, that is a one
hand opener that is easily and quickly deployed and costs around $100 or less. It should also maintain a sharp edge well. I'm probably asking for the kitchen sink, but any recommendations? I'm new to this, so I'm
not sure which brands are good and which ones
to stay away from. Thanks.
 
First of all, Welcome to the forums.

As for your question, thats a big one and one with MANY answers. The best thing you can do is to check out the search function here at the forums and look around for awhile.

In the $100 or just below catagory you have a very big list to choose from. Id say try taking a look at Spyderco, Cold Steel or Columbia Knife and Tool(CRKT)



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Keith D.Armacost
"The wireless telegraph is not difficult to understand. The ordinary
telegraph is like a very long cat. You pull the tail in New York, and it
meows in Los Angeles. The wireless is the same, only without the
cat. " AE
 
You will find many, many options from either Spyderco or Benchmade. The Spyderco Military or the Benchmade AFCK would be my first 2 choices.
 
Welcome ZG, If I were you I would start right here,

http://onestopknifeshop.com/store/

You can look up the companies and models mentioned in this thread, plus many, many others. Take some time, look at a lot of different knives, and make a list of the knives you like and their prices. Next you can go to the Review section and do a Search of your favorites to see what others think of your choices. These reviews are mostly by people who own those knives, use them and are pretty savy as to what makes a good knife. If you see a knife you like, but it isn't mentioned in the Search, well than you may want to post a question here about it. This is a pretty hard group to stump when it comes to knives. Everybody is an expert, just ask them.
wink.gif

Where should you buy your knife when you finally deicde on which one. Well right here of course...

http://onestopknifeshop.com/store/

Where your education began. These are also the guys that run this sight and keep it free so folks just like you can and I learn about which knife is just right for them.

Maybe even after you find your knife you'll stick around and find out why some us of become KnifeKnuts with sometimes dozens or even hundreds of knives. Why people start off looking for a good $100 knife and end up being able to justify buying $1000 + knives. For someone new you don't know who any of us are, but I'll tell you. Many of us came here just like you did, but there are also long time collectors, makers, manufacturers and just about any aspect of the knife community you could think of. Many of them are going to be interested in what you decide on, so please let us know?

Enjoy the trip.

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"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site
 
Zorros Girl, there are tons of knives that you can buy that might fit the bill. How large of a knife do you want? Generally speaking, a 3" blade will be legal in most places although some places like federal buildings require 2.5" and some places like courthouses allow no knives at all. If you get an everyday knife with a more than 3" blade, check your local laws to see if you are legal. A great sturdy knife in the 3" category is the Benchmade 705 Axis Lock ($90). Less expensive knives like Spydercos: Natives, Delicas, and Calypso jrs. s can be had for around $50. The Columbia River S2 medium size can be had for around $70, this knife is extremely solid with an integral lock and titanium handles.

One thing you said is that you want a knife that will hold an edge. Even a great knife will lose its edge if you use it regularly. Invest in a good sharpening kit like the Spyderco Sharpmaker. It comes with an instructional video and it makes sharpening very easy with no scratches to the blade. If you are a sharpening novice, avoid serrated or combo edge blades.
 
Go and check out the REKAT Carnivour Cub. This is my recommendation. No, its not the end-all and be-all, but it will definitely fit the bill.

I have one, and it never has left my reach since I got it.

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Sean

If you find you must throw something at me, please make it a custom.

"May your blade chip and shatter"- Dune Fremen fighting saying
 
I love my new Miltary. It looks like it was unduly assaulted by an ugly stick, but it sure does cut a lot better than my CRKTs. I cut boxes and blister packs all day Sunday, and its edge is still as good as when I bought it. I even had to hack through a fishing rod while I was rehandling it. No problemo on that job. That 440V is some amazing steel.

The handle feels and looks a little odd at first, but shines when you go to use it for the first tough job. The shape, coupled with that grippy G10 gives you an ultimate amount of control. The Military feels like true extension of my hand.

I'm really starting to take to the Spydie hole for quick deployment too. The extra-large hole in the Military makes for very consistent opens. Even a totally uncoordinated goof like me can get this puppy opened up without having to think twice about it. And you get a ton of reach with the Military, which in my totally unknowledgeable opinion of self-defense, has to be a good thing. The Military is like some sort of small folding sword!!!

I don’t have a thousand knives to compare to the Military too, but it’s absolutely sensational for general chores. I’m not sure it would be my ultimate pick for self-defense when sitting next to my Crawford/Kasper Folder, but it seems like a close second. And the Crawford/Kasper couldn’t touch the Military for the usual cutting chores.

My CRKTs all cut well, but solid matter trembles at the sight of my Spydie!!!!
eek.gif


While I sit here writing this, some Friday the 13th Part 99 is playing in the background. If those stupid kids had been carrying Spydies, that Jason guy would have been neatly disposed of in the first scene.
biggrin.gif


If you get past the looks, the Military will do quite nicely.
 
Welcome to the forums! Say "hi!" to Zorro for me ...

Asking for the kitchen sink isn't entirely unreasonable ... I always use my new knives in the kitchen to see how sharp they are and how comfortably they fit my hand for work, not just display.

Defense is more in the mind than the hand. Robert Heinlein wrote, there are no dangerous weapons, just dangerous men. If you expect a knife to defend you, you'll find it just sits there in your trembling hand while the bad guys all know what to do with theirs.

Any knife that can slice a melon or carve a turkey should do fine convincing a mugger that you're more trouble than his time -- and skin -- is worth. Unfortunately, you do have to be ready in your own mind to use it on him. Not a pleasant prospect.

What knife, what knife? You need a few very specific recommendations to begin with. For your first knife, avoid serrations. They are specialized, and you don’t want more than a 3” blade, on which they will take up too much slicing length.

Check out the Benchmade Model 705 - McHenry & Williams Small Axis Lock which goes for $105.99 but you may find discounted on our Exchange forums. The axis lock is very strong and is ambidextrous – useful in a utility knife. The McHenry–Williams design is relatively innocuous.

A new possibility is the Camillus/Darrell Ralph EDC (Every Day Carry) which is $49.99 in 420HC, a good steel, or $64.00 in 154CM, a great steel. It’s not ambidextrous, but the integral lock is super-strong, and the handle is extremely ergonomic.

Another good choice would be the Cold Steel Medium Voyager – 3” Clip Point blade for $52.99.

Look at these, see what each has to offer, along with the variants, like tanto point, serrations, larger sizes. After a while, some of the logic of the different styles, sizes, lock types, and steels will begin to make sense – then you can start buying too many knives, like the rest of us.
 
ZG,

It depends on where you live as to what the longest legal blade length is. If you don't care about the legality, that's another story (but we won't go there!).

I agree with everyone above, but especially with Buzzbait. I'm partial to the Spyderco Military myself. The bladelength is a tad under 4", though. The Spyderco Wegner feels real nice in the hand, and is good at utiliy chores also. Spyderco also has some shorter blades that should fit the bill for you. The Native may be just the ticket.

Whatever you get, make sure to practice with it much! Many of us here "Flick'n'fold" ('Flick' them open and 'fold' them closed) while doing any number of other things, just for the sheer joy of it and for the practice. In a self-defence encounter, speed and accuracy are both important.

And as PhilL said, please let us know what you pick. We're just curious that way!
smile.gif




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Champions make improvements as fast as losers make excuses.
 
Welcome the BladeForums! ZG, we don't have a length limit in Ohio. We are both lucky and unlucky. Lucky, if you live in an area where the Police really aren't too concerned about blade length. Unlucky, if you live in an area where the Police set an arbitrary limit on their own. I have found that the average length Police deem to be OK to be 4".

My personal preference would be toward the BM AFCK. There are plenty of others out there.

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If ignorance is bliss,
why aren't more people happy?
 
i've read only one review of it thus far, but the Timberline Discovery sounds very interesting. It has "assisted opening" which means you start opening the blade, and then the knife takes over and instantly finishes the job. The knife has a new lock system. The reviewer, who is an engineer, was highly impressed.

I can't remember what steel the blade is. Believe it is ATS34, but can't be sure. That is a decent steel, if tempered right, holds an edge well. Roger at Bayou Lafourche has a great price on this knife. He's also very willing to discuss knives and tell you what he thinks of them. Another dealer I checked wanted $19 more than Roger is asking.

Hope this helps,

I also second the recommendation for the REKAT Carnivore Cub, and suggest looking at the REKAT Pioneer as well.

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
I would go for the Benchmade 750 or 710. I am sure you can get an ATS-34/154CM model in both if you shop around. If you get lucky try to find an M2 710, but I doubt you will find one for that price point.

The Spyderco Military is also a fantastic knife, but I doubt you will get one for less than $120ish.

W.A.

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"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
Founding president and member number 1! Wana join?
 
Welcome to the Forums ZG.
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I haven't heard a bad suggestion yet. I favor the REKAT Carnivore Cub and if you can find REKAT Pioneer II that knife also. Good knife hunting.
smile.gif


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A Pat on the Back is only a few inches from a Kick in the Butt.
 
Welcome to the forums ZG. Any of Spyderco's lightweight models will serve very well. The Delica, Native, Calypso Jr., or Merlin in the 3" range. The Endura or Matriarch for larger models. Spyderco provides great customer service and support and has one of the larger selections going. Good luck and enjoy.

Paul
 
I will have to say Spyderco Native. Great all around knife. This picture from 1 stop knifeshop shows the serrated version. Plain edge is also available. native picture


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Brian
The first knife was probably used to cut stuff.
 
I see you're also from Ohio. If you're anywhere near the Canton area, Kames has a real good selection of knives you can look at. Their prices are not discounted, but the young fella that works there is pretty knowledgeable.

Top three.
Benchmade.
Spyderco.
Cold Steel.

Worthy of consideration.
Outdoor edge.
Camillus.
CRKT.
Boker.
Gerber.

*Avoid.
Browning.
Smith and Wesson.
Case.
Kershaw.
Bear (M-someting or other.)

Never buy.
Anything labeled "surgical stainless"
Anything on the home shopping network.
Anything made in pakistan.

*The only reason I suggest avoiding these brands for an inexperienced buyer is that you pay extra for the name or the packaging, or the ratio of quality vs price is less than the others. A $35.00 Outdoor Edge Impulse for instance is twice the knife a $30.00 Smith and Wesson is.
 
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