New Knife for Dad

S

steelscout30

Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
1,506
I am currently in the market for a new EDC folder for Dad for Christmas.

He currently carries a CRKT Crawford Kasper small-sized, combo-edged folder (NOT what I would choose, but he absolutely loves it) that he received as a gift from a friend. It is on its last legs. Along with it, he carries a Leatherman Wave.

Dad is the vice president and director of operations for an asphalt contracting firm, and also professionally guides pheasant hunts on the weekend. He's pretty hard on his knives, and isn't afraid to do things to them that they aren't necessarily designed for, from a quick fix on the paver to cleaning pheasants, quail, or chuckers. I'm looking for a strong, economcial replacement and was wondering if anything has come to mind. He doesn't like big folders for EDC (he constantly remarks about how large my Military is), but he likes them to feel like they have some heft and solidity.

That being said, he loves the design of Cold Steel's Recon 1. I'm not going to be an advocate of Cold Steel's business practices or marketing, but the Recon 1 looks like a very solid, sturdy folder at a pretty decent price point. I was considering a Spyderco Native or BM Griptilian, but these lack the heft that he likes.

I was wondering if the bright minds here at BladeForums had any other suggestions for him. Remember, we are trying to balance ECONOMICAL and STRONG here. Let's set the price limit to $75. Dad is not the kind of individual that would appreciate why anyone would spend $385 for a Sebenza, especially since he likes his thirty-dollar CRKT so much.

Thanks and God bless.

KATN,

Wade
 
If he likes the Recons go for it. Also for the Spydie Enduras.

If he loves the Crawford/Kasper, he might like Black Hawk's Crucible II (it was designed by Kelly McCann who partnered with the late Bob Kasper)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci-mBrAqs1w

I would recommend this though -

Boker+ M-Type

All who have it (including me) absolutely love it to bits! It'll go thru all the tasks you listed by your dad and more. A superb inexpensive EDC! :thumbup:
 
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Benchmade Bone Collector series? The D2 used in it is great steel and the nice thick G10 scales give it good heft. Overall a very strong and capable folder at a decent price.
 
The American Lawman or Recon 1 are so tough...for a guy who really uses his folders, totally go that way. You will have to spend a bucket load more money to even come close to the build of those as far as toughness goes.

The only other one that comes to mind is maybe the CRKT folding razel, but it would depend on if he uses the point on his blade often as it's a bit different. That one will be pretty heavy though, the Cold Steel knives are linerless G10 for the handle/frame now so they are relatively light for their size.

There's also the DPX Gear folding HEST but I think it may be on the heavy side if he doesn't like the weight.

Oh yeah and a knife works company in the Smoky Mountains happens to have some of the CRKT Crawford/Kaspers on clearance for $20...I just ordered my second one to have kicking around. For they money they are a lot of knife, though hardly a master work in fit and finish. I don't think I'm allowed to post an actual link to them.
 
Thanks for the help so far.

Kingsqueak - thanks for the heads up. I have that larger model of the Crawford-Kasper that I carried while working in the asphalt industry; it's blade looks much like the factory black coating, but it's asphalt sealer instead of any fancy name-brand coating. :D

I'm not sure the old man will like the larger version, but for $20 it might be just the ticket. Thanks for the heads up - I caught your drift, and found it with a little navigating.

Thanks and God bless.

KATN,

Wade
 
steelscout30 said:
... a new EDC folder
... currently carries a CRKT Crawford Kasper
... combo-edged folder (absolutely loves it)
... vice president and director of operations for an asphalt contracting firm
... professional guide for pheasant hunts on the weekend
... I'm looking for a strong, economcial replacement
... he loves the design of Cold Steel's Recon 1
... was considering a Spyderco Native or Benchmade Griptilian, but these lack
the heft that he likes.
Click to expand...

CRKT Crawford/Kasper Black

Specifications
Lock type: LinerLock w/LAWKS
Blade length: 3.87”
Thickness: 0.160”
Closed length: 5.37”
Steel: AUS 6M stainless
Weight: 7.4 oz.
MSRP: $74.99


Optional Knives:

SPYDERCO MANIX2 G10 w/SPYDEREDGE

Specifications
Lock type: Ball Bearing Lock
Blade length: 3.38"
Thickness: .125
Weight: 5.0 oz.
Steel: CPM154CM stainless
MSRP: $129.95


American Lawman

Specifications
Lock type: Tri-Ad Lock
Blade length: 3 1/2"
Thickness: .140"
Weight: 4.5 oz.
Steel: Japanese AUS8A stainless
MSRP: $114.99


Benchmade Ambush 10200S

Specifications
Lock type: Rolling Lock
Blade length: 3.94"
Thickness: .120
Weight: 5.50 oz.
Steel: Japanese AUS8A stainless
MSRP: $70.00


Spyderco Tenacious G10 w/SPYDEREDGE

Specifications
Lock type: LinerLock
Blade length: 3.38"
Thickness: .130
Weight: 4.0 oz.
Steel: 8Cr13MoV stainless
MSRP: $54.95


SANRENMU MC-962

Specifications
Lock type: Axis Lock
Blade length: 3.21"
Thickness: .110
Weight: 4.37 oz.
Steel: 8Cr13MoV stainless
MSRP: $15.00

.
 
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steelscout30 said:
Thanks for the help so far.

Kingsqueak - thanks for the heads up. I have that larger model of the Crawford-Kasper that I carried while working in the asphalt industry; it's blade looks much like the factory black coating, but it's asphalt sealer instead of any fancy name-brand coating. :D

I'm not sure the old man will like the larger version, but for $20 it might be just the ticket. Thanks for the heads up - I caught your drift, and found it with a little navigating.

Thanks and God bless.

KATN,

Wade
Click to expand...

The steel certainly isn't awesome, but it takes a wicked edge and dresses up easily. The Cold Steel is better steel on the blades but also about 3x the cost and if he's abusing the knife...that's what it all comes down to. A balance of having three of them vs spending on one knife that under real abuse may not last any longer.

If you're talking about someone who is purely cutting things 'meant' for a knife edge, it's a different story. But if it's a hard working guy who may stick the blade in machinery to pry something heh...

I have nicer blades here too, it depends on what I'm doing which one I grab. The cheaper ones are the ones I tend to use the most as when my gorilla instinct to grab a knife to open a can or something similarly stupid, won't hurt as much as if I only had one of the nice knives with me.

I got a Benchmade at the same time as the cheap CRKT closeout and wound up ordering another CRKT just because the Benchmade is 'too nice' for some tasks....and if someone confiscates a $150 knife, I'll be a lot more annoyed than a $20 knife.

I recently spoke to the designer of that knife, the Crawford and he has a pile of the cheap ones around that he uses day to day. He said the exact same things basically, that using one of his $600 customs just doesn't make any sense when he has a pile of throwaways around. The original custom is quite a work of art by comparison and the Ti frame it uses is amazing, weight has to be about half of the 'block of steel' CRKT heh. When I think that I could buy 30 of the cheap ones for the same money, I start to realize I may not be alive long enough to have used them all.

American Lawman is still on my list to buy and falls into my 'user' price category too so as solid as either CS knife is, they wouldn't be far off the mark. There's also the mini Lawman if the big one is too big, equally strong, just smaller blade and frame.
 
you cant go wrong with either the endura 4 or the Lawman, i own both, that being said, if your dad wants a "user" that he can put through hell and back i would definately go with the Lawman, you can find them for around 60-70 bucks, definately worth the money, locks up like a tank and it just feels like it wants to "work" when its in your hand
 
The Bone Collector mentioned above would be an excellent choice for an edc knife. Either the large or the small would work beautifully. As far as heft is concerned and solid feel, both the large and small have full steel liners. I don't have the small, but I am currently carrying the large model and at 5.96 ozs. it is very solid feeling!:thumbup: Here are some specs on each;


LARGE

Features
•D2 tool steel (60-62 HRC).
•Contoured G10 handle with rib cage pattern for extra grip
Specifications
•Blade Length: 3.36" (8.50 cm)
•Blade Thickness: 0.125" (3.14 mm)
•Open: 8.20" (20.80 cm)
•Closed: 4.84" (12.30 cm)
•Weight: 5.59 oz. (165.50 g)
•Handle Thickness: 0.735" (18.66 mm)


SMALL

Features
•D2 tool steel (60-62 HRC).
•Contoured G10 handle with rib cage pattern for extra grip
Specifications
•Blade Length: 2.95" (7.50 cm)
•Blade Thickness: 0.115" (2.87 mm)
•Open: 7.08" (18.00 cm)
•Closed: 4.13" (10.50 cm)
•Weight: 3.46 oz. (105.50 g)
•Handle Thickness: 0.618" (15.69 mm)
 
In your price range I'd say something from Spyderco probably the Tenacious or Endura. If you could spend a little more then I'd recommend an Emerson A-100 or the Mini A-100. I gave my Dad the mini last year and he carries it everyday.
 
I didn't read down far enough in Steelscouts initial post to realize he had set a limit of $75. The Bone Collectors I suggested would run higher than that, with the small $100+ and the large $120+. Sorry 'bout that!:D
 
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