New EDC knife?

S

samzy

Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
30
Hey guys, I just lost my True Utility Smart Knife, and am in the market for a new knife.

I searched on Amazon and have shortened the list down to this three, based on PRICE, ERGONOMICS and PERSONAL PREFERENCE:

Cold Steel AK 47
Cold Steel Spartan (yes, it's big, but it's actually cheaper than the AK)
Cold Steel Rajah III

I know most people will probably recommend something else from Benchmade or Spyderco but personally I like the look of CS knives better, that's just me.

The thing is, I live in Singapore and the situation is as such:

-Mostly urban, not much bushcrafting stuff to be done, though I am interested in joining an outdoor adventure club in university
-Strict knife laws; if you pull a knife in self-defense, YOU could be sent to jail for carrying a knife AND using it. This is according to my friend in the police force though, I haven't been able to find the exact wording of the law.
-Asked around, a few people said that if you're FOUND CARRYING knife but did not use it, you will be sent to jail immediately, However, more people (including my police friend) have said that if you have an explanation (fishing, maybe self-defense training/lesson), you can get away with it.
-Apparently blade length under 6 inches (not a problem)

Therefore, I won't be bringing it around much with me much on a day-to-day basis, but I'll definitely use it to cut all sorts of stuff, and bring it with me for outdoor nature trips or if I go overseas.

I selected these three based on the following reasons:
AK: all black (more unobtrusive), great build construction, medium sized blade. Good ergonomics on the handle, G10 seems to be grippier. However, most expensive of the three.
Spartan: Awesome ergonomics on the handle (based on sight), nice thick tough blade, only fear is that it's too big and too much blade for my usage. Don't want my only option to be a big dagger for small work.
Rajah III: Nice fat blade, will probably be good for cutting, seems to fit the EDC role better than Spartan, cheapest out of the three, but doesn't appeal to me as much as the other two.

Can someone advise me/help me to make a decision?

If it helps, I prefer to grip like this: [http://i.imgur.com/JD0yL.png] as compared to this: [http://i.imgur.com/p2Q6p.png] and when gripping like the first picture, my hand covers <10 centimetres (<4 inches) from pinky to index finger and around 11 cm (<4.5 inches) from pinky to thumb.
 
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Euw. That doesn't sound like it's worth carrying a knife then, but I know the pain of not having one so I don't blame you.

I'd go with your third choice, followed by your first (the AK) and ignore the second. Reason why? You don't like it, it doesn't appeal to you, and it's cheaper, but it seems like a good cutter. So, when or if police come a knocking, you can toss it and not be heart broken (or given a criminal record). You would also still have a good EDC too. You're first choice seems like you have it picked out for all the right reasons (except having to toss it given the price).

As for self-defense, they make a nice new telescoping unbreakable umbrella that would be nice given those laws.

That's my .02. GL!
 
DeathByCactus said:
Euw. That doesn't sound like it's worth carrying a knife then, but I know the pain of not having one so I don't blame you.

I'd go with your third choice, followed by your first (the AK) and ignore the second. Reason why? You don't like it, it doesn't appeal to you, and it's cheaper, but it seems like a good cutter. So, when or if police come a knocking, you can toss it and not be heart broken (or given a criminal record). You would also still have a good EDC too. You're first choice seems like you have it picked out for all the right reasons (except having to toss it given the price).

As for self-defense, they make a nice new telescoping unbreakable umbrella that would be nice given those laws.

That's my .02. GL!
Click to expand...

Haha thanks for the advice! Yeah, scissors can be found almost anywhere, but sometimes scissors just doesn't CUT it ;)

Not that the Rajah doesn't appeal to me; actually I pretty like the design, since all I really want an ergonomic, comfortable blade. I just like the Spartan for its sharper blade profile and handle design and the AK for its construction, and also because I've heard that the AK is slimmest out of the three.

For SD I already have a Nitecore, an umbrella would be a bit weird to carry around all the time, especially since it's our dry season now :p

Going to a shop later, I think it carries the Rajah and I'd like to try it out. Heard it's the kind of knife that grows onto you.
 
UPDATE: Just went to try out the Rajah III. Though I liked it, the handle felt a bit slippery in my hands.
 
BigRob said:
para 2
Click to expand...

Sorry, which paragraph were you referring to?

Update: Tried the Rajah again. Handle definitely felt a bit too smooth for me. Tried out a Recon 1's G10 handle and it was way grippier. Now I'm leaning more towards the Spartan, since it appears to be not much bigger than the Rajah, which was a pretty snug fit in my hand, and seems to have a less "slippery" grip design.. Any Rajah III/Spartan/AK-47 users have any advice for me?
 
BigRob said:
Spyderco paramilitary 2
Click to expand...

He specifically said he looks the looks of Cold Steel's knives better.

Edited to add: I have the full size Cold Steel AK-47. My only issue with it, is that unless I'm using the "wave feature" its the most difficult knife I own to open and close. Its probably the knife I would most like to have on me in a self defense situation (of my collection), but the knife I would least like to carry on a day to day basis. It's the only cold steel knife I own, so whether that's a characteristic specific to this knife, or something you'd find across the whole brand I can't help with that. It is really, thin, strong, grippy, and ergonomic.
 
Here is a video I did on the Raja III

[video=youtube_share;OTinOqnBhmA]http://youtu.be/OTinOqnBhmA[/video]
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. Smokin, I'm using my phone now so I can't watch your video yet.

I've heard about the rajah and the ak, does anyone have anything to say about the Spartan? Only thing I know about it is that the grip is better, it's slightly larger than the rajah and it weighs about as much as my nitecore, which is featherlight to me o_O
 
You might find for particular tasks that you like the more"plain" handle on the Rajah more than the Spartan's. The large hook on the Spartan that wraps around your hand could be obtrusive if it was necessay to hold it in something other than a standard hammer type grip. I've never held the spartan but that was part of my consideration when I purchased my Rajah (full size however). I also would not worry about the handle feeling too slick, for a relatively small folding knife I cant imagine many tasks that would require a very coarse texture to grip.If your comment on the texture is just based on personal preference however then certainly go for what you like.

Keep in mind you could also add a strip of grip tape to the handle like a pistol grip if you found the traction to be lacking.
 
Kyledf said:
You might find for particular tasks that you like the more"plain" handle on the Rajah more than the Spartan's. The large hook on the Spartan that wraps around your hand could be obtrusive if it was necessay to hold it in something other than a standard hammer type grip. I've never held the spartan but that was part of my consideration when I purchased my Rajah (full size however). I also would not worry about the handle feeling too slick, for a relatively small folding knife I cant imagine many tasks that would require a very coarse texture to grip.If your comment on the texture is just based on personal preference however then certainly go for what you like.

Keep in mind you could also add a strip of grip tape to the handle like a pistol grip if you found the traction to be lacking.
Click to expand...

Alright sure, thanks. I've actually handled Russian shashkas before, so I'm used to having my pinky kind of "hooked", though the shashkas hook is a lot less obvious than the Spartan's. Is the Spartan a lot bigger than the rajah iii? From pictures I've seen, the grip area seems to be about the same size, and there doesn't seem to be much difference in blade size.

Sorry that I keep asking about the Spartan after everyone has told me about the rajah and the ak, it's just that I don't have a really clear image of how it would feel. Currently I've tried the rajah 3 and the mini ak (full size not available), but I haven't been able to even see the spartan in real life.
 
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