Need some help picking a folder

L

LoneWolf121188

Joined
Dec 26, 2005
Messages
4
Hi guys, I'm new here and I was wondering if you could help me with picking out a good folder. I'm tired of using el-cheapo $10 gas station kinves on all of the camping trips I go on, and I want something thats rock solid and razor sharp (and stays that way!).

Looking for:
Sub-$100. Thats a very high end max, I'm really looking to spend in the $50-$75 range.
Big and bulky. I have big hands and I want something that fits comfortably in them. No dinky 1.5 inch blades, I'm talking at least 3-4 inches. Width is important too; my current knife of choice is somewhere around 1-1.5cm wide (it has a saw blade side by side with the main blade) and I really like the feel of it.
Spec-ops type look. No wooden or antique-looking handle; I want something thats eye-catching too.
Needs to be able to take a beating.

I'd like one with AO too. Some I've been looking at are Kershaw's Leek, Avalanche, and Blur. I've checked out the SOG Flash II, and its not bad, but I hate the handle. Its too cheap feeling, too light. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
 
try to look at CRKT M16
edit: m16 is not assisted opening, so what about camillus heat?
 
Don't obsess on AO.
Go with a Benchmade (BM) Griptilian:
Model 551 - Griptilian® (Pardue) Modified Drop Point
Lock Type: AXIS™
Blade Length: 3.4"
Blade Thickness: 0.12"

MSRP $95.00
Street Price $59.00 - 65.00 US

I bought a Griptilian out of curiosity about the Axis lock, it's been my EDC now for about two years. I use it in the field, in the office, and camping - - everywhere. I love it!
This is my favorite over all my AO's too; Leek, Scallion, Flash II. (Don't waste your $$ on the Flash, I think you'd be dissapointed). I even prefer the Griptilian over my Titanium Buck Mayo (which I must say was a dissapointment for a $189 knife).

Hope this helps.

TT2Toes
 
I like the Endura, as well. I've carried one for about a year and am well pleased with it. I wound up with one of the Natives in S30V in my Christmas stocking, so I'll be adding it to the EDC rotation, as soon as I do some work to the edge. I'll post some thoughts on it after I've used it some. Both are well under your maximum price. The Native is about 40$ at Walmart (if you can find one), and I paid about the same for my Endura at a gunshow a little over a year ago.

Todd
 
I used to have a green Bump, and it is wicked comgy in the hand and is wicked, wicked sharp. Do yourself a favor and look at Spyderco knives. They are awesome knives, that won't break the bank or wallet!! They don't have any AO's, but they are smooth and easy to open.
 
I forgot about the AO part. Neither of the two I mentioned are AO, but both are easy to open with one hand, the Endura slightly more so for me because all of the hole is exposed above the handle, and I, too, have big hands and the big thumbs that go with them.:D

Todd
 
Good suggestions so far

The Spec Bump is the knife you want, but a little out of your price range. Save one more month.


Also consider the CRKT Wild Weasel/Voodoo. Assisted opening 3.4 inch 154CM folders for about 80 each.


There are all sorts of lesser Kershaws with AO in the 60-90 dollar range, just see which ones fit your visual bill and come back and talk to us about it.

The Benchmade Apparition is pretty expensive, but a beautiful knife that fits your specs.

Axis locks, compression locks and flippers make assisted opening effectively obsolete, with the exception of the fun factor, which is worth something--I'm ordering a Spec Bump myself.

If a knife is 25 bucks more than you want to spend, don't settle, save one more month. Get what you REALLY want. It's worth the wait. I'm betting you'll revise your demands four times in that month anyway and find something else you like.
 
I'm still not convinced on the Bump...I really want to go to a store and try all of these, but I can't seem to find any dealers near me (Boulder/Denver, CO) that carry a lot of Kershaws. Most places just carry the Leek and a few other non AOs.

Quick question about the Blackout and Avalanche: which handle is heavier, the polyamide Blackout or the G-10 Avalanche? Both have the same overall weight, so I'm trying to get an idea of how the weight is distributed when the knife is open. And how does the Avalanche's tri-nitride S60V blade stack up to the Blackout's tri-nitride 440A?
 
Have you tried any of the NEW Spyderco's?? May I suggest a D'Allara 2? A Delica 4 or Endura 4?
 
Well, I'd take a gander at CRKT's Desert Cruiser. Big, hand-filling handle, sharp, pointy blade, fast flipper and LAWKS safety. Very comfortable to hold and carry. Priced right, too.

phpDfggj0.jpg



==Confed
 
I'm a Spyderco fan, so I'd say either one of the incarnations of the Native, the new D'Allara Drop Point, or for a little more money, and definately very "eye catching" a Persian. Don't want to knock other manufacturers, but Spyderco is about all I know about from experience.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top