Need help finding a high quality "sleeper" knife

craytab said:
Just a thought to consider. If you want this knife to have the ability to flex into an emergency SD roll, I think a lock would be extremely valuable if not totally necessary.
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I wholeheartedly agree with that. If the OP wants to go with a traditional, then a lockback is the way to go.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
The Al Mar Eagle is really your best bet for something still fairly lightweight. They are a little expensive considering the materials, but the finish isn't good, it's great.

Compared to say Elmax, the AUS8 won't perform that great, but Elmax isn't on the table for you. You want a semi-traditional knife like the Al Mar or GEC and in that world, tool steels don't reign. 1095 does. Al Mar's AUS 8 will outperform GECs 1095 all day.
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Thse meet your requirements and although yo have to learn to open with one hand you will be able to do it and the blades are sharp and tough.
 
The only issue I have with the Al Mar Eagle suggested is that personal experience has shown me that anything over about 3" will look scary to non-knife people, especially one with a stiletto-like profile. If that's not a problem for the OP, it's a good option.
 
Give you a temporary fix for your knife choice..... Victorinox One Handed Sentinel. It could easily be a permanent fix as they are so handy. It is one of the 110 mm series and has the liner lock. It is a single layer knife with tooth pick and tweezers. Blade length is 3". I carry it's cousin everyday which is the two layer Adventurer (essentially a big Tinker model). The Boy Scout version is still available and it has a side lock button which is very easy and safe.

You may not consider it a "high quality" knife, but it is certainly well made and very functional. Easy to sharpen. Blade length is just about perfect for me as an edc.
 
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ddcronk said:
To reiterate for those who don't want to read through the whole thread - this knife is NOT primarily for use as a defense weapon. It is an everyday tool, used for the many little daily tasks that a pocketknife is suited for. However, since it is a knife, and will be traveling with me everywhere, I do want it to be sturdy enough to use as a defensive weapon, if, God forbid, the need arise.

I am really leaning towards the GEC/Northwoods stuff, and honestly, if those brands had better availability, I probably would have already made a purchase. Unfortunately, due to their limited production runs, the knives I like most are either very hard to find or very expensive in the secondary market. I find myself much more attracted to bone or stag handles than most wood, though I make an exception for African blackwood. Also, I tend to like spear point, wharncliffe, sheep's foot and clip point blades, in that order.
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If you're sliding into the world of traditionals, you might point your browser to this thread in the Traditional forum for more eye candy than you can imagine.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...tional-Knife-quot-are-ya-totin-today/page4457


If you like bone, you might look at Case knives. Their CV is quite nice. Fit and finish is not up to GEC by most accounts but more readily available. The Case Backpocket might be in your preferred size range.

If you want a large spear point and can live with ebony, you might look for a AU SABOT GARONNAIS. The Garonnais is on my to buy list. Really nice review here.
[video]https://youtu.be/S4fKPmT592w[/video]

Edited to add: I think traditionals are tricky to find a pattern that works for you. I went through a lot before I settled on what works for me. I generally recommend buy a lot of inexpensive traditionals to experiment before dropping more coin on *the* grail.
 
Another french knife in ebony in your size range.
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Forgive me if I missed it, but has anyone mentioned a case sod buster yet? It's a pretty tried and true working knife. Otherwise, I suppose a Northwoods or GEC would be fine. While I admire the beauty of a nice traditional, they aren't my personal cup of tea.

I live in an area where knives are frequently considered with trepidation, but I can typically carry my kershaw skyline or spyderco persistence without qualms from non knife folks. The skyline especially, while modern in appearence, isn't particularly threatening.

I love opinels and own a few, but I think there are better options for the OP in this case. If he wants to spend more for nicer materials then I say go for it.
 
I had a surprising experience and figured I would mention it.
I opened a letter with the Urban Trapper and the blade wandered and cut down the side of the envelope. This surprised me; I expected it to be a really good letter opener but it wasn't (in this one case it would take many letters to tell the tale). Granted the blade is super sharp and the knife went where I told it to . . . apparently.

Second is the Spyderco Tasman in H1. I opened a letter with it and it did a really excellent job and stayed on the fold. This surprised me. I thought it would be a lousy letter opener. The knife is not dull but not all that sharp. Factory edge used a cople of days and touched up on an extra fine ceramic triangle. I will need to use a more coarse rod and THEN the Extra Fine to get the edge where I want it.

Not sure if the Tasman performed so well BECAUSE of the less than sharp edge or IN SPITE of it.

 
Case Russlock or peanut gets my vote. The Russlock is one of the few traditionals you can open with one hand and has a liner lock. Id buy the white one. Classy, gentlemen like, and definitely not scary in white :D

 
I've had people giving me "the look" whipping out a small SAK. The average john and jane doe will take offense to pretty much anything that has an edge or accute tip. My 2 cents: Just carry what you want and make sure people don't notice. I carry most my knives without a deep carry clip in a pouch in my pocket.
 
That screwdriver/bottle opener blade on the crown lifter series is extremely useful on an EDC knife. Been pondering one myself. There are lots of times I find myself needing to pry or poke something, or turn a screw, and obviously you don't want to use a cutting blade for that.

An "electrician" series knife is another choice in this regard. Victorinox Bantam is another to look at. I have one in alox and it's a fantastically slim & useful all-around package.
 
Wowbagger said:
I had a surprising experience and figured I would mention it. I opened a letter with the Urban Trapper and the blade wandered and cut down the side of the envelope. This surprised me; I expected it to be a really good letter opener but it wasn't (in this one case it would take many letters to tell the tale). Granted the blade is super sharp and the knife went where I told it to . . . apparently.

Second is the Spyderco Tasman in H1. I opened a letter with it and it did a really excellent job and stayed on the fold. This surprised me. I thought it would be a lousy letter opener. The knife is not dull but not all that sharp. Factory edge used a cople of days and touched up on an extra fine ceramic triangle. I will need to use a more coarse rod and THEN the Extra Fine to get the edge where I want it.

Not sure if the Tasman performed so well BECAUSE of the less than sharp edge or IN SPITE of it.
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I don't own either, but I have noticed that a really sharp edge often wanders in slitting an envelope, while a slighter duller one doesn't. Perhaps it's due to the size and shape/angle of the microbevel.
 
AreBeeBee said:
I don't own either, but I have noticed that a really sharp edge often wanders in slitting an envelope, while a slighter duller one doesn't. Perhaps it's due to the size and shape/angle of the microbevel.
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It's most likely your ability to hold everything straight and cut in a straight line. A sharp blade will go wherever you guide it. A duller one goes toward the fold in the paper.
 
AntDog said:
It's most likely your ability to hold everything straight and cut in a straight line. A sharp blade will go wherever you guide it. A duller one goes toward the fold in the paper.
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And the duller knife is often depending on micro serrations to open something like a envelope.
 
BuckShack said:
Go to the Buck website and build yourself a nice custom shop 501 Squire with an S30V blade and one of the many beautiful handle scales they currently offer. I carried one of these through high school and college. It did everything I needed and it would have protected me as well as any small knife would have in a pinch.
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This. Or a stock 501. Beautiful knife, good performance, non-threatening.

0501RWS-B.jpg
 
So I just found this thread, its two years old. I need to know how this story ends. What knife did you end up picking?
 
Given that the OP has not posted since then, I don't think you will get an answer. Welcome in any case.
 
ddcronk said:
The GEC stuff looks great. Is the quality as good as the appearance? Solid knives, for years of continuous use?

Also, any opinion on Queen Cutlery? http://www.queencutlery.com
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GEC is fantastic.

I own two Queen knives, and another two file and wire S&M. If you get a good example they are great. But I've had more miss than hit when ordered. Also, just had one snap a spring.....

GEC, I've not had a dud yet. . .
 
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