New member looking for new blade

[MikeLePsych]

What's up everybody. Long time knife owner but just joined today because I can't seem to find my next EDC folder. My experience has been with the household names: CRKT, SOG, Benchmade, Kershaw. I currently carry a Benchmade 530 due to its sub-2 oz weight while still maintaining a 3-1/4 blade and 7.4" OAL (the 154CM is also a capable performer). However, I'm itching for some strange again and would like to get some suggestions from you knowledgeable folks. I'm sure one of you knows exactly what my next blade will be. The Kershaw Skyline is what I've been eyeballing but haven't purchased yet because they don't make a serrated edge and there's a protruding flipper. Spyderco has some interesting stuff on their website but their online catalog is just too damn unorganized / vast to purchase a first blade from them. I do have a list of specs in mind:

Blade material: no requirements; not too big of a steel elitist
Blade style: prefer serrated / nothing that's too thin
Handle material: G10 / Linen micarta / anything with good traction (no slippery plastic)
Blade length: 3-inch plus
Handle / closed length: 4~4.5"
OAL: No requirements
Weight: Sub-4 oz
Locking mechanism: Liner lock (not a big fan of BM's AXIS despite my carrying one right now)
Opening mechanism: Thumb disc preferred over thumb stud preferred over Spyderhole (flipper's a BIG maybe in regards to level of protrusion / streamlined-ness)
Country of origin: Not afraid to pay a bit more for USA / Japanese stuff but wouldn't mind quality Chinese stuff (QC is all that matters)
Price: Sub-$325

Thanks in advance and obviously the requirements could withstand some slight deviations.

 

[Nullity]

Hmm, I can't think of anything off the top of my head. Maybe the Spyderco Southard?
You can always go to some large, online dealer, sort by price, then jump to the page with the ~$325 listings and browse through all the knives below that price.
Regarding Spyderco's online catalog, it doesn't take that long to browse through. I've done it a few times over the years.

Welcome to the forum.
Good luck.

 

[singularity35]

Spyderco Caly 3.5 maybe?

 

[MikeLePsych]

Small update: shopped around and got a Delica 4 ZDP for less than $100 but will not be keeping it at all.

The good:
+ Blade Material = Very exotic
+ Aesthetics = It's a DANG good-looking blade and the handle is an off-black green.
+ Fit = Everything is TIGHT
+ Ergo (blade open) = when deployed, the knife fits like a glove. Superb job Spyderco!
+ Price = sub $100 for ZDP; NICE!

The bad:
- Lock-back too tight = deployment without wrist flick is either slow or halts just before lockup. This is the main reason I will not trust this knife and why it'll be going back without hesitation.
- Ergo (blade closed) / Spyderhole = Totally overhyped and sharp (not chamfered like some other models). This, in conjunction with the lock-back being inconvenient to close is why I won't be keeping it.
- Finish = FRN handle has quite a bit of wavy plastic material that was not taken care of when it left the mold.
- Edge = no serrated / black edge offered on the ZDP variety. Not a show-stopper, though.



What could be improved:

+ Offering a liner-lock. Yes, yes... I know. A lot of people don't trust them and would consider it as a downgrade. Not me. I trust them completely. I don't understand why anyone would apply force in a fashion as to crush the liner or close the blade on their own fingers (opposite orientation). Not an issue for me and I truly don't see it as a legitimate issue for folding knives. Check the liner-lock QC is all I can say.
+ Alternatively, loosen the tension on that lock-back to AXIS lock pressures. Wrist-less motion deployment while maintaining safe blade retention is possible.

Some quick photos without lighting