Need help selecting my first folding EDC knife...

R

RCS

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Aug 1, 2011
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I'm looking for a well made folding knife which will be the first knife I've ever purchased in my 52 years. My hands are huge - size 11 - so a tiny pen knife won't work well. I believe the smaller Chris Reeve Subenza may be too small.

Since I live in Connecticut, the edged portion of the blade has to be less than 4" long, it can't have a dirk, dagger, or stiletto blade and it cannot have a spring assisted opening. I'm planning to use it mostly around the house but may also use it to prepare wood and wood shavings to start fires in the fireplace.

Presently, I'm considering the Chris Reeve Umnumzaan mostly because it is well made, has some nice texturing for grip on the handle, and comes with a lifetime warranty and sharpening service. Are there other knives of this quality that I should consider?
 
I'd look at a ZT 0350 with the speedsafe torsion bar removed... less expensive, but nice and solid for a smallish folder, but with a larger handle because of the blade depth.
Big hands make it hard to find a sub 4" folder with a decent sized handle, but aftermarket scales would also help that, you can make it a beefy as you want. :D
 
The umnum is a great choice but as I'm sure you're aware, is a bit on the pricey side for a first edc knife. I would personally recommend a benchmade 710-2 (that is the 710 variant with the SPECTACULAR m390 blade steel). Just Google "benchmade 710 m390" and it will pop right up.

The spyderco paramilitary 2 or military are also fan favorite and represent a tremendous value for the amount of raw cutting performance then provide.

Zero Tolerance makes some of the beefier production blades out there. They use top quality materials and have top notch attention to detail. The 0560 is the current "must have" zt. Keep in mind, there are no small zt knives... Even the 0350, the smallest of the current zt lineup, which is listed as having a 3.25" blade, actually has a cutting edge of about 3.75" and weighs a hefty 6ish ounces, almost double that of a spyderco paramility 2.

If you don't have a problem dropping the coin though, the Chris Reeve knives are excellent and considered best in class by many knowledgeable enthusiasts. I personally prefer the understated looks of the Sebenza over the Umnumzaan but that's just personal preference.
 
I read all of the posts on a recent thread - "Have $350 to spend". Short list for me also includes Zero Tolerance 550 or 551, Three Sisters Forged Beast, and Greyman knives Duo. One of my concerns is that a youtube video reviewer called the ZT 551 a "Tactical Knife". That is not good. Plus, I can't purchase a knife that has military or paramilitary in the name, unfortunately.

The knife I choose needs to be marketed and discussed in a non-threatening utilitarian way since I live in the conservative State of Connecticut. I have no intent of using the knife defensively.

So far it looks like Chris Reeve Umnum, Three Sisters Forged Beast, or Greyman Knives Duo. I'll also look into the Benchmade 710-2.
 
a youtube video reviewer called the ZT 551 a "Tactical Knife". That is not good. Plus, I can't purchase a knife that has military or paramilitary in the name, unfortunately.

The knife I choose needs to be marketed and discussed in a non-threatening utilitarian way since I live in the conservative State of Connecticut. I have no intent of using the knife defensively.
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Don't worry about what any youtube reviewer says about intended uses or how a knife is marketed. People don't need to know your knife is called the Paramilitary. Buy what you want, and if it's legal to carry, don't sweat it. In my experience, most of the non knife carrying public sees a knife and thinks "that's a knife" not "omg that knife is a tactical knife which is more dangerous than a utility knife... " People notice the difference between modern folders and traditional slip joints pocket knives but really, that's about it. Something like the blue m390 para2 looks a lot less threatening due to the smurf blue scales than anything a black coated blade and serrations regardless of its name.

The options you've selected are all good ones, but don't discount excellent knives because of their model name or marketing.
 
I have a CRK Umnumzaan, ZT 0550, Spyderco Military and Paramilitary 2, and Benchmade 690...which pretty well comprise your short list. Of these, I prefer the Umnumzaan (highest in quality and price). IMO, the CRK folders do NOT seem to have a tactical appearance, and the Sebenza and Umnumzaan and Insingo all seem to be more suited as a gentleman's folder. The ZT folders do appear tactical to me. However, with your hand-size, you might prefer a Zero Tolerance folder...which is too large for my "size-large" hands. You have stated you won't consider Spyderco, so I won't comment further on these excellent knives.
The Greyman folders, that I've seen, seem to be suited for very heavy-duty, as are the ZT series.
The best idea is to at least hold, and open and close, these folders in your hand prior to putting out the money.
 
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