Need help selecting a good folding knife to use as a special gift for 3 brothers

peripatew

peripatew

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Jul 31, 2007
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Long story short: Our family has a history of giving knives as gifts, and there have been a few special times. I'm the youngest of three boys, and when I was born, my uncle bought a limited set run of Al Mar folding knives. They were a set, three different sizes. And as each of us graduated High School, we were given ours. A pretty stellar idea really. I have the smallest of the set, which seems fitting.

My family will soon to be moving overseas long-term, and want to gift my brothers another knife before we go. We're going on a "brothers only" canoe trip in a few weeks, which was our family tradition growing up, and this seems like the perfect time to give them the knives.

I'm somewhat limited budget-wise, I'm hoping to keep it at around $100 (maybe $150) per knife. Our Al Mar knives are not ones that we use, but are ones that our in our own collections. I'm hoping to give something that will be carried and used.

As a knife "enthusiast/snob", I see the difficulty in giving a knife that would be worthy of another mans pocket space. So I thought I'd ask for some recommendations.

I'm thinking a single blade modern folder with a multi-position pocketclip (so they can chose tip up/down), that's medium size, leaning towards the smaller end.

My initial thought was mini-Grips. Not the sexiest of knives, but I have several full size Grips and love them. I'm a fan of Benchmades.

What other knives might you suggest?


I'm also toying with the idea of having something engraved/etched onto the blades to make whatever knife I chose to make them more special, and to serve as a reminder of why they were given. Recommendations for a place to send the knives, or a site I can order from that can do this?

Let me know if I can provide more information that might be helpful!
 
I'd look at Spyderco for that kind of budget. They just can't be beat for around $100-150. Maybe 3 pm2, native 5, or sage 1.
What do they usually carry?
 
Not much can compare to the delica, IMO. (Endura if you like larger blades)
 
SadSappySucker said:
I'd look at Spyderco for that kind of budget. They just can't be beat for around $100-150. Maybe 3 pm2, native 5, or sage 1.
What do they usually carry?
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One usually carries a cheap Kershaw that he uses/abuses and the replaced. The other doesn't carry often, but usually a smaller CRKT.
 
If you are already a BM fan then you could do something from the Benchmade customizer. The offer Grips in both sizes and Barrages in both sizes. That way you could add engraving or whatever colors and hardware you like. I think you can get the grips done in your budget and it would be a unique gift.

http://customknife.benchmade.com/knives/
 
Kershaw rake? The composite blade is very unique and cool, kershawguy has the black washed version
 
I second the Benchmade Customizer. You can really pimp out a Minigrip on there. Make each knife a one of a kind type knife.

Also there's several good choices in the Spyderco line. Like what's already been said, the Delica is a good knife that's offered in several different versions.

I like both the Benchmades and Spydercos, but another brand you might want to take a look at is SOG. I'm a big fan of Vulcan and the Toothlock. The latter of the two, as well as the Mini Vulcan, can be had for around one hundred dollars.
 
Can't go wrong with the options that have already been stated, the delica/native are awesome knives that any brother would be stoked to get (+1 on the native though, IMO it's a tad more aesthetic than the delicat, I have a delica and live it all the same). One suggestion I'll contribute that starts tip-toeing your budget is the ZT 0566. Small, modern, framelock, and will give you good bang for your buck and you can always deassist it. Great idea by the way!
 
VG -10 Stretch about $75 ,ZDP-189 about $105 , 3.5 " blade 3.4 oz. great ergonomics. Or Centofante3 about $58 . Maybe Sage if you want something a little dressier. I would buy one of those.
 
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Thanks for feedback. There are a LOT of Spyderco knives! I think I'm leaning that way over the griptillians right now. The Native 5 and the Chaparral look really nice. Though the Chaparral doesn't seem to get much of a mention?
 
Get an Al Mar, the eagle, hawk osprey series has a lot to choose from.
 
Lone Wolf McBlade said:
I second the Benchmade Customizer. You can really pimp out a Minigrip on there. Make each knife a one of a kind type knife.

Also there's several good choices in the Spyderco line. Like what's already been said, the Delica is a good knife that's offered in several different versions.

I like both the Benchmades and Spydercos, but another brand you might want to take a look at is SOG. I'm a big fan of Vulcan and the Toothlock. The latter of the two, as well as the Mini Vulcan, can be had for around one hundred dollars.
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Well Said My friend, Well Said.
 
A brothers only canoe trip sounds wonderful. Traditions are a very good thing in families. As far as knives go, I personally would look at the Spyderco line... probably a Delica, Sage 2, Native 5, or Mannix 2 to keep them in the "normal size" range at least to me. The Delica is the least expensive. These have been suggested above, but I wanted to re-affirm that these are all great knives. I love my Native 5 in CPM-S35VN. It is a fine knife! The Delica and Natives are my favorites of the smaller mid-sized Spydies.

Getting each of them a Victorinox SAK would work too, but the spydies are probably a step up. It depends on their personalities. That doesn't stop me from carrying a Vic SAK everyday and I use it to death---today and everyday at least once.
 
22-rimfire said:
A brothers only canoe trip sounds wonderful. Traditions are a very good thing in families. As far as knives go, I personally would look at the Spyderco line... probably a Delica, Sage 2, Native 5, or Mannix 2 to keep them in the "normal size" range at least to me. The Delica is the least expensive. These have been suggested above, but I wanted to re-affirm that these are all great knives. I love my Native 5 in CPM-S35VN. It is a fine knife! The Delica and Natives are my favorites of the smaller mid-sized Spydies.

Getting each of them a Victorinox SAK would work too, but the spydies are probably a step up. It depends on their personalities. That doesn't stop me from carrying a Vic SAK everyday and I use it to death---today and everyday at least once.
Click to expand...

What about the Chaparral? Seems like a lighter knife than the Sage, which I think might elicit more daily use. I like the wire clip for deep pocket carry on that vs. the Native 5.
 
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