New here....and looking for a recommendation on an EDC

FlaMtnBkr

FlaMtnBkr

Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Messages
4,704
First, just wanted to say hello. I've been browsing the forums for a couple days and figured it was time for a first post.

I am currently looking for a new EDC knife. I have always carried a knife but have never had anything very exciting (gerber, camillus, case, shrade, and a few others). I just lost a kershaw whirlwind and I currently have a kershaw chive. I've decided I would like something a little nicer that has better steel in it. There are a few things that I like in a knife and I was hoping I could list them and get some recommendations on what to consider. Any input is greatly appreciated!

-Good steel. From what I read I would like to try S30V, ATS-34/ 154CM, or D2. I have read good things about these three but I am sure there are more and would be open to them as well (such as 440C, AUS-8/10, etc).

-I like a medium size that is easy to carry clipped to my pocket. Something in the 3.75-4.75" range.

-Not very fond of serrations so a plain blade is prefered. I also had a cheaper knife that had a coated blade that wore off fairly quickly so I would like to stray away from a coated blade unless there are some more permanent offerings.

-Since it will be carried primarily in my pocket a thinner knife would be best. I recently picked up a buck rush and it seemed super thick and not for me. Maybe if it had a radius on the edge so that it 'ramped' up to that thickness it would be better, but I think overall I would just like a thinner knife.

-I have grown to like the kershaw speedsafe opening so an assisted opening or 'flipper' would be nice but not a necessity.

-And of course there is price. I would like to keep it under $80. I am recovering from an illness and money is an issue. However, I try to be active and get outdoors as much as possible so a good folder comes in handy.

These are the main things I am looking for and I know there are probably a thousand knives that fit the criteria but everyone here seems to know their stuff and suggestions and opinions are greatly appreciated. I am listing some of the knives that I like that meet the criteria (for the most part, except most dont have the steel I would like) so if anyone likes one in particular I would like to hear about it. However, most I have only seen in catalogs or websites so I can not evaluate the overall thickness so comments about this would be great!

Thanks in advance and I am sure I will be bugging everyone with plenty more questions in the future! Have a great day!!! :cool: :cool: :cool:

Around my price range :
SOG Flash II [aus8]
SOG Pentagon Elite [aus8]
Benchmade Mini Griptilian (555 or 556) [440c]
Benchmade 705 [154cm]
Benchmade 773 [154cm]
Benchmade 10210 [aus8]
Camillus Heat [aus8]
CRKT Carson M21 [aus8]
CRKT Kasper small tactical folder
CRKT Lightfoot M1
Kershaw Boa [440V/s60v?]
Spyderco Centofante III FRN (c66bk) [VG-10]
Spyderco Delica (c11bk) [VG-10]
Buck Rush [ATS-34] (?)
Smith & Wesson (? cheap and 440C blade)

A little more $:
Spyderco Para-military [s30v]
Benchmade Pardue 720 [ats-34]
Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 [s30v]
Spyderco Herbst AL (c53) [VG-10]
Microtech mini Socom Elite [154cm]
 
be sure to check out the Camillus CUDA EDC (154CM), or the Spyderco Endura (the FRN-handled version is VG-10, and the SS handle is AUS6, which has an excellent heat-treat, and stands up to a lot of abuse).

i've got a mini-Grip, in 440C and it's fantastic. i'd highly recommend the standard Griptilian.

good luck!

abe m.
 
Welcome to the forums! :D You could try the CRKT Point Gaurd. Aus 8 steel,bead blasted finish and zytel handle scales and stainless liners.
 
I can't stop recommending the Ritters. I have a Ritter Mini for EDC. At just $5 more, the full size Ritter Grip is a steal, IMO.
rsk_mk1_combo_03-300w.jpg

What a great knife!
 
IMHO the BM 806 AFCK is pretty much the knig of folders in the hundren dollar range. If you want to go cheaper, the BM Griptian (or any BM product) will not disappoint. For a very nice cheaper knife, I personally like the CRKT M16 Compact Spearpoint model. I heard that the Point Guard is discontinued - I am NOT sure if this is true.
 
I think the Camillus Heat would make a good choice for you. The AUS 8 isn't the latest steel, but it's an old reliable.

The Benchmade 705 is also an excellent choice, even though it isn't assisted. Any axis lock is a great toy to play with: pull back the bar, flick your wrist, and bam! the blade's locked open.

Your best bet might be the Griptilian. It's hard to explain, but your hand will understand why it got that name.

I like a bigger knife myself, so I've got the 710 and full-size Griptilian.

Welcome to Bladeforums. There will be many more knife choices to make after this one, I'm sure! :D
 
I agree about the full sized Ritter Grip. It is such a nice knife. The full sized Griptilian with 440C is nice too, but the S30V of the Ritter is worth the extra price IMHO.

I was going to recommend the Benchmade 806D2, but youre kind of not looking for the coated blade. What the heck - I'm still going to recommend it. If it matters any, the black coating is more than cosmetic.... the coating is still doing its job even after it starts rubbing off with use.
 
I will second a Camillus EDC. They are a stel when you conisder you are getting a good reliable frame lock folder in 154-CM for about $50. I had one and abused the heck out of it using it as a do everything tool at work for about a year until it finally broke. It is also nice and thin, as all frame locks are, so that fits well with your criteria. The only real piece that doesn't fit is the blade is only 3", but it was never a problem for me, and I usually like a bigger knife too.

Spyderco is always a good choice. They make some very highly praised working knives, such as the Endura and Delica. I just recently got a S30V Para-Military in a trade and it seems to be great. Very comfortable, thin and light, yet has a decent size to it.

My last recommendation to you if you are on a tight budget is to look around in the exchange forum here for a knife you want, once you decide. Many good deals can be had, allowing you to get more knife for your money. Most of the knives being sold are very lightly used or not used at all, with a lower purchase price.
 
Being in the modest price category myself and having more than 50 knives of which about 1/3 are folders, I would recommend the following to any new, or even not-so-new guy :

Spyderco Endura or Delica (VG-10)
Cold Steel Voyager or Vaquero (AUS-8)
CRKT M16 or M21 (AUS-8)

And even though I don't own one, the Benchmade Griptilian looks like a solid buy as well. Happy hunting :)
 
Spyderco's Calypso Jr. is thin, light, ergonomic, and in your price
range. Its thin, flat-ground blade of VG10 cuts impressively
and holds a good edge.
Good luck.

Chris
 
The Spyderco Paramilitary is not in the blade length you mentioned but the full sized military is and they run about the same price. If you want something with better steel I would scratch CRKT from the list. They have some dovoted fans and seem to make a decent inexpensive knife but kewer steels is not their forte.

I carry a Calypso JR every day at work. The blade is shorter than what you listed and it is not what I would consider a heavy duty knife but it disappears when clipped to the pocket and is a wicked slicer. I like the VG-10 steel that it uses as well.
 
I'm going to assume from your list that the length you give is the length of the knife closed.

I have both a Delica and a Mini-Grip. They are both excellent knives, made by highly respected companies. You absolutely can't go wrong with either one. You mention thinness -- the Delica wins on that point. It's also a little less expensive than the Mini-Grip, but I don't think that should be a deciding factor. The Delica's VG-10 arguably has a slight edge over Benchmade's excellent 440C (although I don't see much difference). You could substitute the Calypso, Jr. for the Delica -- it's slightly smaller but has a nice, thin fully flat ground blade and it's an excellent slicer.

The Mini-Grip is a tougher knife, IMO, with its dual steel liners and Axis lock, but it's chunkier (that's not to say the Delica isn't tough enough for most people's needs). I think anyone who's ever had an Axis lock knife will agree that they're really fun to play with -- open, close, open close -- for whatever that's worth.

I carry and use the Delica more, mainly because it's so small and light.

If you're really set on assisted openning, I agree with Esav that the Camillus Heat is the way to go. It's a little bigger than the Delica or Mini-Grip, but it's still very easy to carry.

If you're going to spend more, I'd get the Paramilitary. I don't have a Ritter Grip, and some have liked it better than the Para. It seems like a great value. I personally like the ergos on the Para (and the G-10 scales) better than the Grip.
 
My vote(s) :) go to;
Benchmade 556
Benchmade 558 (Ritter)
Benchmade 705
Spyderco Delica
Spyderco Calypso Jr.

All great, functional knives.
 
I am a little bit confused: Most of the knives you list don't meet your specs. they are mostly around 3 in and your specs say 3.75-4.75 in???. So the Delica may be a little small, so I would recommend the Endura.

But really, one of the best edc's for very little money is the Spyderco Calypso Jr. (sprint run in gray, VG-10 steel) and the Native II (probably the most affordable S30V knife you will find). They are both around 3 in bladelength, but they are hands down my favorites in that price range. For me the nod goes to the Native for blade steel, and to the Calypso for blade shape, both have outstanding ergos. I would be hard pressed to choose between them and I have given both away as gifts (don't give away something as gift that I don't like myself).

In your "little bit more" I would recommend either the Spyderco Lil'T or the Manix depending on how big you want to go exactly (the Lil'T is probalby 80% of my edc rotation). Again the Para is too short to meet your specs, you would have to go with Millli?!
 
HoB said:
I am a little bit confused: Most of the knives you list don't meet your specs. they are mostly around 3 in and your specs say 3.75-4.75 in???. /QUOTE]

I sorta confused too. IN looking at the list he came up with, they're all smaller knives. So I'm assuming ( :confused: ) that the 3.75-4.74" is the closed length. I could be wrong -- happens a lot!
Click to expand...
 
Hello everyone and thank you for the responses! Sorry if I confused anyone but I was refering to the closed length when I said 3.75-4.75". I guess people usually refer to the blade length when talking about length so now I know (guess I'm more of a newbie than I thought :D )

I will start checking out everyones suggestions as it seems a couple got more than a few votes. Again, thanks for the welcome and suggestions!!!


PS Carthage: I have a feeling if I went biking on space mountain a very swift projectile would take me out in the dark. There are actually some really good and technical trails down here. Raced for 6 years and did pretty well out of state where there were 'real' mountains.
 
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