Recommendation? New EDC knife help!

Jbrown250

Jbrown250

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Hello everyone, new member/first poster here!

I’m looking to upgrade my current edc (ZT0909 w/SV35N). The reason for upgrading is I would like something lighter and to be honest - I would just like a new knife!

I’ve handled a BM Bugout and felt it was a little light but would upgrade to Flytanium ti scales which may help. The other option I’ve yet to handle is a Spyderco PM2 which I plan to this week.

My main question is which steel to pick. Options being in Canada, Bugout: 20cv, sv30, sv90 or PM2: sv45n, sv110, cru wear.

I live by the ocean, camp near lakes and rivers, and don’t avoid the rain! Which I think knocks out cru wear unfortunately because that would be my first pick.

Between the other (stainless steels) listed Im more so worried about toughness and proneness to chip. Im under the impression all have better than average edge retention. The reason behind toughness being if I need to cut say a zip tie Id rather not go find my fixed blade or another tool in fear of losing a tip or chipping the blade should I lightly knock whatever it is attached to. Obviously no batoning just edc stuff that may arise.

Any input is appreciated including post etiquette! Thanks for reading.


Joel
 
Seconding the PM2. I would add that I use Cruwear as a designated knife for cutting wet things/whatever I need when in a less than urban environment, that I've personally had "stainless" steels like ZDP-189 spot on me much faster than Cruwear (actually never had Cruwear spot on me, I'll show you my blade, never have flitzed it or anything like that), just from carry and a little food use. One guy left his blade in beef blood for 20 mins to test what kind of patina would come out, and it was unstained.

So... I am not the only one to notice Cruwear being particularly stainless-like for a tool steel. Just something to think about, as you mentioned toughness is something you like, and Cruwear is just great.

The S45VN PM2 is definitely not bad, either! The steel is no slouch and I have dropped it on wood before with just very minor edge damage, but the Cruwear is significantly tougher. If I could only have one, I would go with the Cruwear.
Pic taken a few days ago, this is the blade from a decent amount of use/carry, particularly on sweaty hikes and the like it was favored, never cleaned with anything but soap and water. I am near to the ocean, too.
20220901_090440.jpg
 
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Nail clippers.

Otherwise spyderco has an anti rust series called salt which is very light. I don't have one so i don't know its hardiness. But I have never chipped a blade on a folder. I have snapped a couple.


Anyway a bunch of different sizes and shapes. But this is a general idea of what you will get. (In the new steel. Not H1)
 
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Another vote for PM2 in Cru. Never a speck of rust after a lot of rainy adventures. Keep a light coat of oil on it if you're worried about it, and wipe it down after a day of use. (I'm also in Canada.)
 
Is a Quiet Carry Drift or Waypoint in Vanax SuperClean an option?
 
Hashishiin said:
Seconding the PM2. I would add that I use Cruwear as a designated knife for cutting wet things/whatever I need when in a less than urban environment, that I've personally had "stainless" steels like ZDP-189 spot on me much faster than Cruwear (actually never had Cruwear spot on me, I'll show you my blade, never have flitzed it or anything like that), just from carry and a little food use. One guy left his blade in beef blood for 20 mins to test what kind of patina would come out, and it was unstained.

So... I am not the only one to notice Cruwear being particularly stainless-like for a tool steel. Just something to think about, as you mentioned toughness is something you like, and Cruwear is just great.

The S45VN PM2 is definitely not bad, either! The steel is no slouch and I have dropped it on wood before with just very minor edge damage, but the Cruwear is significantly tougher. If I could only have one, I would go with the Cruwear.
Pic taken a few days ago, this is the blade from a decent amount of use/carry, particularly on sweaty hikes and the like it was favored, never cleaned with anything but soap and water. I am near to the ocean, too.
View attachment 1920857
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed response! After seeing your cru wear I’m super tempted as corrosion was the main turn off! Ive read that the micarta cru option cant be modded with ti scales, have you heard anything along those line?

Drop bear said:
Nail clippers.

Otherwise spyderco has an anti rust series called salt which is very light. I don't have one so i don't know its hardiness. But I have never chipped a blade on a folder. I have snapped a couple.


Anyway a bunch of different sizes and shapes. But this is a general idea of what you will get. (In the new steel. Not H1)
Click to expand...

I will have to check out the salt line! Thanks.

shane45-1911 said:
Another vote for PM2 in Cru. Never a speck of rust after a lot of rainy adventures. Keep a light coat of oil on it if you're worried about it, and wipe it down after a day of use. (I'm also in Canada.)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply!

LLRJ17 said:
Is a Quiet Carry Drift or Waypoint in Vanax SuperClean an option?
Click to expand...

Wow, sweet knives, I’m interested in all options. I wonder if they ship to Canada? Ive never heard of that steel do you know any comparable steels that are more common? Im fairly new to all the exclusive steels!
 
Jbrown250 Jbrown250
Yes, right now it is very hard to find aftermarket scales on the Cruwear PM2 because of the linerless nature, but there is a DLT Exclusive PM2 right now, with liners and all, in Cruwear, available at the site and has been for a little while now, for a good price. I wonder if being in Canada messes that up for you, or if you are able to easily order from the USA, manual folding knives? Anyways, it is on there, the purple with black DLC (DLC offers some rust protection, too, even if it is porous).
 
I've had no corrosion issues with Cruwear, and I'm in central Alabama where it's 98° and 110% humidity 10 months out of the year.

It would be my pick out of what you listed.

Don't forget that they do have a DLC coated Cruwear version of the PM2 and Para 3 if your that concerned about it. Purple scales but you would probably end up swapping them sometime down the road anyway lol..
 
Hashishiin said:
Jbrown250 Jbrown250
Yes, right now it is very hard to find aftermarket scales on the Cruwear PM2 because of the linerless nature, but there is a DLT Exclusive PM2 right now, with liners and all, in Cruwear, available at the site and has been for a little while now, for a good price. I wonder if being in Canada messes that up for you, or if you are able to easily order from the USA, manual folding knives? Anyways, it is on there, the purple with black DLC (DLC offers some rust protection, too, even if it is porous).
Click to expand...
Corton93 said:
I've had no corrosion issues with Cruwear, and I'm in central Alabama where it's 98° and 110% humidity 10 months out of the year.

It would be my pick out of what you listed.

Don't forget that they do have a DLC coated Cruwear version of the PM2 and Para 3 if your that concerned about it. Purple scales but you would probably end up swapping them sometime down the road anyway lol..
Click to expand...

Well I think that about settles it! I have no experience with dlc coating, I wonder how much of a beating it takes before looking worse for wear.

I imagine the same care goes into a dlc coated knife in regards to oiling and the likes?

Thanks!
 
Jbrown250 said:
Well I think that about settles it! I have no experience with dlc coating, I wonder how much of a beating it takes before looking worse for wear.

I imagine the same care goes into a dlc coated knife in regards to oiling and the likes?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Of course the steel must still be maintained if under very salty circumstances, still must be dried before being put away or washed, but from what I have seen, the DLC absolutely helps a smidge in terms of corrosion resistance, my fiance carries a DLC M4 Sage 5 (M4 being more spotty/corrosion prone than Cruwear) and it is in absolutely perfect shape from many months of working in sweaty pants. So, this is one that I'd be pretty confident in, DLC Cruwear. :)
 
DLC is pretty tuff,.. shiny DLC from Cold Steel on my like 5 or 6yo Recon 1, but you can compare my blade ware to my pocket clip ware.. (and this blades seen some things lol)
20220904_204648.jpg
It wont make anything rustproof, but it will definitely help..
 
I love my S110V Military, so the S110V PM2 would be my pick. But I like S90V even more. And I have a PM2 in Maxamet. Also great, but not the best pick for wet conditions.
 
Hogue Ritter RSK or ZT 0562. Both are my preferred steel 20CV. These are my go to EDC

DzKAriT.jpeg
 
Jbrown250 said:
Well I think that about settles it! I have no experience with dlc coating, I wonder how much of a beating it takes before looking worse for wear.

I imagine the same care goes into a dlc coated knife in regards to oiling and the likes?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Just be careful ordering folding knifes from the USA. It’s this weird grey area. They’re legal in Canada but “illegal” to import and can be seized. Anything that opens “one handed.”

I recently had a bhq shaman seized. Here is the ruling on it. https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn18-01-eng.html

I was able to export it to our cabin in Montana and retrieve it but was a pain.

If you do get one sent here have the seller tighten the pivot so tight it basically doesn’t open. Or separate blade and handle in 2 shipments.

Other option is if youre in the lower mainland getting it sent to Washington and driving across or warriors and wonders Canada has a pm2 cruwear in stock
 
  • Wow
Reactions: TC
mmyron1 said:
Hogue Ritter RSK or ZT 0562. Both are my preferred steel 20CV. These are my go to EDC

DzKAriT.jpeg
Click to expand...
I’ll check them out, thanks!

96snma said:
Just be careful ordering folding knifes from the USA. It’s this weird grey area. They’re legal in Canada but “illegal” to import and can be seized. Anything that opens “one handed.”

I recently had a bhq shaman seized. Here is the ruling on it. https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn18-01-eng.html

I was able to export it to our cabin in Montana and retrieve it but was a pain.

If you do get one sent here have the seller tighten the pivot so tight it basically doesn’t open. Or separate blade and handle in 2 shipments.

Other option is if youre in the lower mainland getting it sent to Washington and driving across or warriors and wonders Canada has a pm2 cruwear in stock
Click to expand...

I never realized it was anything considered “one handed” opening I thought It had
to so with the assisted openers! That throws a wrench in my plans.

I would really like cru wear, but I also want to be able to custom the knife and I read that the micarta versions on PM2 isn’t compatible with aftermarket scales. I do prefer the satin blade on the micarta to the dlc coated dlt trading exclusive though.

Life of a Canuck I suppose!
 
There are also a few knife shops in Canada, but you already may know about them. One place, I remember is called Warriors and Wonders. There's another good one, will edit comment to say so if I find out. Someone probably knows here. I would offer my DLT satin Cruwear PM2 for sale (I really prefer the Micarta for Cruwear) if we had a sure way to get it to CA.

Dang Canadian border bandits taking good people's knives. Seems to be much easier for companies, rather than individuals, to get knives through, and... of course, the tightened pivot/disassembly method, nobody can say a blade and a handle is a centrifugal knife, but it's hard to stop a determined thief there, either.

O it's Canada day, up Canada way!
 
Hashishiin said:
Jbrown250 Jbrown250
Yes, right now it is very hard to find aftermarket scales on the Cruwear PM2 because of the linerless nature, but there is a DLT Exclusive PM2 right now, with liners and all, in Cruwear, available at the site and has been for a little while now, for a good price. I wonder if being in Canada messes that up for you, or if you are able to easily order from the USA, manual folding knives? Anyways, it is on there, the purple with black DLC (DLC offers some rust protection, too, even if it is porous).
Click to expand...
The issue with the crucarta version being modded is that its liners aren’t nested. I could be wrong but I think the liners on the crucarta version are thicker than standard pm2 liners. Not that it is linerless. I’m sure it won’t be long before more options are available. I remember seeing at least one scale company offers aftermarket scales for it.
 
Jdottinger said:
The issue with the crucarta version being modded is that its liners aren’t nested. I could be wrong but I think the liners on the crucarta version are thicker than standard pm2 liners. Not that it is linerless. I’m sure it won’t be long before more options are available. I remember seeing at least one scale company offers aftermarket scales for it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, excuse me, I wrote linerless, meant to say non-nested liners. I have also heard of the talk of aftermarket non-nested liners for this knife. I originally hypothesized that until then, fake Chinese PM2 scales (with their also non-nested nature) may fit onto it, but it was confirmed to me that they will not. They may be slightly thicker, I don't know, but the little space of flexy micarta, never bothered me. That's one model I love as-is.

They will come down the pipe eventually - definitley demand for the scales. I'd say to take the plunge with the Cruwear if it is around. :)
 
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