Need help, general knife questions.

N

nolfie

Joined
Oct 30, 2013
Messages
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Too start i have to apologize for my poor english, im from sweden and it is hard for me to express myself in writing. And if i started this thread in the wrong place.

A few months ago i started looking for a EDC blade, and my experience in diffrent blades are slim to none, but i never buy anything without research first so i started looking on youtube on diffrent reviews. And now i started something i can�t stop, a new intrest/hobby. The only knife i have worth mentioning is an Fallkniven F1, and i use that as an hunting knife.

I am looking for a EDC knife, a folder. It has to be easy to clean, easy to sharpen, and not to big. Maximum size open is 20cm. I dont like to spend more than a 100 dollars. What type of steel is good for this type of blade? What sould i think about? I think i�d rather have a little more weight and durability than an less weight and less durability, if that is someting to think about?


Hope my first post not upset you guys :)
 
Is that a 20 cm blade or 20 cm in overall open length? A 20 cm blade is a pretty large folding knife. 20 cm overall would be tiny!
 
20cm is about 8" OAL, so yes he's thinking large Sebenza size
 
20 cm overall is a pretty common size, give or take a few cm. I'd recomend anything from kershaw, spyderco, or benchmade. A good choice would be:

From kershaw: Just about anything, just look at their webpage. ($20--$80)
From spyderco: The ambitious/persistence/tenacious lineup. Just pick one depending on prefered size. ($35)
From benchmade: The mini-griptilian. ($70)
 
If being easy to clean is a main point I'd go with something like the spyderco persistence that has open construction. For a smaller EDC I love my kershaw scallion. For a slightly larger edc I really love my spyderco native. Really, in the size and price range you are looking at a LOT of good knives, seems like it's hard to find a bad one.
 
The problem is that it is to many options. :D

Persistence seems like a good choice, but one thing i dont know if i like is the pocketclip, i would like a more discrete pocketclip that goes deeper in my pocket. ZT 0560 seem to have at good pocketclip, is there a knife with open construction, <20cm and a pocketclip that is deep?
 
You should check out the Spyderco Sage Carbon Fiber. It is about 30 dollars over your budget but it seems like it would be well worth it. It has S30V steel, a discrete deep carry pocket clip, 18cm overall length, and is open construction. Plus it is a beautiful knife in my opinion. I think that it has everything that you want and more.
 
nolfie said:
The problem is that it is to many options. :D

Persistence seems like a good choice, but one thing i dont know if i like is the pocketclip, i would like a more discrete pocketclip that goes deeper in my pocket. ZT 0560 seem to have at good pocketclip, is there a knife with open construction, <20cm and a pocketclip that is deep?
Click to expand...

The Buck Vantage would be another good, inexpensive one to look at. The vantage Avid or vantage pro have better quality steel, the vantage select is the cheapest. Those all have a great, deep carry pocket clip. Also they make them in 2 sizes, a large and a small.
 
Da Thurmanator said:
You should check out the Spyderco Sage Carbon Fiber. It is about 30 dollars over your budget but it seems like it would be well worth it. It has S30V steel, a discrete deep carry pocket clip, 18cm overall length, and is open construction. Plus it is a beautiful knife in my opinion. I think that it has everything that you want and more.
Click to expand...

That was a realy nice knife! like you say it is a great looking knife! Not to happy that it cost about 215 dollar in sweden tho. :(


Im starting to think i have to recalculate my budget... :D
 
kingston73 said:
The Buck Vantage would be another good, inexpensive one to look at. The vantage Avid or vantage pro have better quality steel, the vantage select is the cheapest. Those all have a great, deep carry pocket clip. Also they make them in 2 sizes, a large and a small.
Click to expand...

This is a knife im going to take an extra look at! Thanks!
 
Welcome to Bladeforum!

My recommendation would be a benchmade griptilian (I prefer the smaller mini-griptilian, 8 vs 5.5cm blade difference). They offer several different steel options but even the base level is 154CM which is a great EDC steel. You can find them with S30V, D2, N680 even limited editions with M4 for not much over your budget (assuming USD, if your talking 100 euro you can probabily find your choice of steel well within that budget on the secondary (used) market)

Again if your budget is euro I would also suggest any of the Spyderco Sage series, they're all the same 3" S30V blade with different locking mechanisms (they are 4 Sage's) and different handle materials. Those are in the $90-150USD range with the carbon fiber liner lock Sage 1 being the cheapest.

*EXIT: I see the sage 1 is expensive there... Here's an off-the-wall suggestion- a Boker Exskelibur (or the smaller Exskelibur2). Its not top of the line steel but AUS-8 is decent and its only about $45US. I love the look of it and its an interesting concept, a nail knick on a modern knife with washers and one-hand opening.
 
What style are looking for? What's the issue with cleaning?

From Sweden? Have you looked at EKA's products?


For great performance for less money, there's Opinel. Nice blades. Might not be your style.
 
Look at the Spyderco Delica. VG-10 steel has good toughness and edge retention yet is easy to sharpen. You can also upgrade to the ZDP-189 steel, it would still be under $100.
 
Cereal_killer said:
Welcome to Bladeforum!

My recommendation would be a benchmade griptilian (I prefer the smaller mini-griptilian, 8 vs 5.5cm blade difference). They offer several different steel options but even the base level is 154CM which is a great EDC steel. You can find them with S30V, D2, N680 even limited editions with M4 for not much over your budget (assuming USD, if your talking 100 euro you can probabily find your choice of steel well within that budget on the secondary (used) market)

Again if your budget is euro I would also suggest any of the Spyderco Sage series, they're all the same 3" S30V blade with different locking mechanisms (they are 4 Sage's) and different handle materials. Those are in the $90-150USD range with the carbon fiber liner lock Sage 1 being the cheapest.

*EXIT: I see the sage 1 is expensive there... Here's an off-the-wall suggestion- a Boker Exskelibur (or the smaller Exskelibur2). Its not top of the line steel but AUS-8 is decent and its only about $45US. I love the look of it and its an interesting concept, a nail knick on a modern knife with washers and one-hand opening.
Click to expand...

Thanks! yeah my budget is in usd, i assumed it would be easiest that way. :)

Benchmade Griptilian is an interesting knife, i am a little concerned about how easy/hard it will be too clean, food, blood, dirt, liquid out of it.

pinnah said:
What style are looking for? What's the issue with cleaning?

From Sweden? Have you looked at EKA's products?


For great performance for less money, there's Opinel. Nice blades. Might not be your style.
Click to expand...

The big reason why i havent bought a folder before this is: Today when i cary a knife is when i go hunting, camping, fishing. And then a fixed blade is good in that way that it is realy easy too clean, and many other reason too. But my Fallkniven F1 is not that discrete and good for EDC. But i still want a knife that i that i easily could clean. Maybe i overthinking it.

Yes i have looked a little at EKA, i actually have an EKA Swingblade, and it is good, but i don't like the folders, can't say why.
 
Välkommen !

A Spyderco Endura with VG10? That should be around your budget. Think i payed 100bucks from eBay, with shipping,and all other fees.
But i cant talk for the vg10 steel, never used it that much so i can speak for it.
And personally , i'm not a big fan of Lockbacks.. To bad someone got it in a giveaway, orelse you could have bought it very cheap.. :/
 
Getting blades from America to Scandinavia is pretty expensive, so keeping in mind shipping and tax fallkniven have some folders in your price range. Also Spyderco Endura for about 1000sek looks like good choice.
 
nolfie said:
The big reason why i havent bought a folder before this is: Today when i cary a knife is when i go hunting, camping, fishing. And then a fixed blade is good in that way that it is realy easy too clean, and many other reason too. But my Fallkniven F1 is not that discrete and good for EDC. But i still want a knife that i that i easily could clean. Maybe i overthinking it.
Click to expand...

If you like the steel, blade shape and blade geometry (the most important, imo) of the F1 and if you otherwise like the style of the F1 (a part of the "I don't know why" perhaps and totally legitimate), then you might start your search with the Fallkiniven folding knives.

For best/easiest cleaning, avoid a folder with wood scales or handles. After that, it comes down to hot soapy water and lubrication.

One thing I should mention regarding geometry... The F1 is a flat/convex type of blade. I've found that hollow ground blades (common on many US made knives like Buck) are very, very different in how they perform. I find hollow ground blades fine for cutting meat and cleaning fish or game. But they perform much worse when working with wood. In this way, I find flat or slightly convex ground blades to be more versatile and I find hollow ground knives to be much less versatile.

I would focus on these issues in order...
Length of blade/length of body
Blade shape (clip point, drop point, etc...)
Blade grind (flat, convex, Scandi, Hollow)
Handle ergonomics
Lock mechanism (lock back, liner lock, frame lock, others)
Blade steel (least important, imo)

Right now, mostly what you're getting is "I bought a such and such so I'm recommending it to you" type comments (including my Opinel remark, which you should discount).

The more you can clarify the above, the more focused the recommendations can be.
 
TouchOfRed said:
Välkommen !

A Spyderco Endura with VG10? That should be around your budget. Think i payed 100bucks from eBay, with shipping,and all other fees.
But i cant talk for the vg10 steel, never used it that much so i can speak for it.
And personally , i'm not a big fan of Lockbacks.. To bad someone got it in a giveaway, orelse you could have bought it very cheap.. :/
Click to expand...

pinnah said:
If you like the steel, blade shape and blade geometry (the most important, imo) of the F1 and if you otherwise like the style of the F1 (a part of the "I don't know why" perhaps and totally legitimate), then you might start your search with the Fallkiniven folding knives.

For best/easiest cleaning, avoid a folder with wood scales or handles. After that, it comes down to hot soapy water and lubrication.

One thing I should mention regarding geometry... The F1 is a flat/convex type of blade. I've found that hollow ground blades (common on many US made knives like Buck) are very, very different in how they perform. I find hollow ground blades fine for cutting meat and cleaning fish or game. But they perform much worse when working with wood. In this way, I find flat or slightly convex ground blades to be more versatile and I find hollow ground knives to be much less versatile.

I would focus on these issues in order...
Length of blade/length of body
Blade shape (clip point, drop point, etc...)
Blade grind (flat, convex, Scandi, Hollow)
Handle ergonomics
Lock mechanism (lock back, liner lock, frame lock, others)
Blade steel (least important, imo)

Right now, mostly what you're getting is "I bought a such and such so I'm recommending it to you" type comments (including my Opinel remark, which you should discount).

The more you can clarify the above, the more focused the recommendations can be.
Click to expand...

Thanks for a good post!

Most of your questions i have a hard time answering because of my lack of experience in folders.

Spyderco sage is an knife that give me a "want to have" feeling. Good size, good looking blade shape(dont know if it is good). A little expencive tho. I'm afraid that looks is the only thing i can say with at least a little bit of confidence.
 
If you're OK carrying the Fallkniven FB for hunting, have you thought about carrying a smaller FB for EDC? Some are small enough for a pocket and pocket sheaths are available for them. Should be within your budget, too.
 
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