Newbie in need of help!

aznav

aznav

Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
242
I am looking forward to all the advice/help/wisdom I can get from this forum. I am flat new to the world of knives but I am finding it intriguing. I am somewhat a firearm nut but this is all unchartered waters. It is somewhat disheartening to see so many knives, so many options and so much price variation. Please be patient with questions/ comments. I currently own a Kershaw Blur. I did own the Kershaw Cyclone which I really liked but it has been replaced four times, all new knives, with a bad spring. They upgraded me to the Blur which works fine but I find the spring assist in this model awkward. I would like opinons/advice on a replacement. Here are my non firm parameters: I am more interested in a working knife than a "pretty" knife. I want it razor sharp. I want it to be an automatic. I want a pocket clip. Be patient, please. Like Goldilocks, not too big, not too small. I want it somewhat all purpose from opening a box to defending myself, God forbid. If there is such a thing, I would like it to "fit" my hand. My hand size is medium. My funding allows for one hundred to three hundred (max!). And, most of all, I want it quick, and dependable. Rock solid dependable, as if my life (literally)depended on it. You guys are the pros and "junior" here has his ears open. Thanks!
 
You are going to get overwhelmed by responses here, your budget is generous enough it could encompass several hundred very good knives. I would suggest living with what you have until you can attend a large knife show or visit a large shop. Pick up and try everything you see that interests you and make notes. You can read in these forums which brands are well thought of. Do the homework and make a choice based on your preferences...not everyone else's. If you buy what someone else likes or wants it likely won't be what you really wanted.
 
Thanks, Ab! How do I find knife shows in Tucson? I'm two hours from Phoenix but that's almost a hundred bucks in gas now.
 
Check out Kershaw and their zero tolerance line. They have a bunch that use assisted opening, nearly automatic. Awesome knives.
 
Two points to keep in mind. Any decent knife can be sharp, especially if you learn how to sharpen it after you've used it awhile. And knives don't do self-defense real well. You need attitude, alertness, and training first, and then the knife may be able to help.

Some people say your self-defense knife should be used only that and nothing else, kept sharp. I disagree. A good daily carry and use knife will come to hand almost automatically and open and fit in your hand with experience. You won't get that experience with a weapon you only train with but never use.

So focus on a good EDC to begin with. Betcha can't buy just one. :) You will upgrade to something that fits your defense style once you get personally familiar with what's available.

If you want automatics, that's a world in itself (and we have an Automatic Knife/Switchblades forum for it). Many of the Assisted Openers from Kershaw are very reliable.

But any time you add a mechanism, you add problems. A fixed blade is the most reliable, a slipjoint is next, and a simple lock like the lockback isn't bad, either. There aren't many autos or AOs that actually deploy faster than a Spyderco Military, for example.
 
aznav said:
Thanks, Ab! How do I find knife shows in Tucson? I'm two hours from Phoenix but that's almost a hundred bucks in gas now.
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There is one coming up on the last weekend of this month...the 31st and the 1st at the Expo Center. The knife store at the Mall there looks to carry a decent selection as well including Benchmade, Cold Steel, Spyderco....I like the Benchmade Osborne Kulgera BM930 personally. Also Blade Runners may have some you like as well.
 
Absintheur said:
There is one coming up on the last weekend of this month...the 31st and the 1st at the Expo Center. The knife store at the Mall there looks to carry a decent selection as well including Benchmade, Cold Steel, Spyderco....I like the Benchmade Osborne Kulgera BM930 personally. Also Blade Runners may have some you like as well.
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OOWWWEEEEEOOO! Are you from Tucson??:eek:
ps. thanks! I'll be there and will check the mall out as well.
 
Esav - Thanks! Good stuff. Also, laughed at your, "Betcha can't buy just one." Being a gun nerd, that has a very scary ring to it.

ps. 28000 posts??!! Good golly, Miss Molly!

pps. Cool user name. I'm guessing you are the "apple of God's eye." ;)
 
aznav said:
OOWWWEEEEEOOO! Are you from Tucson??:eek:
ps. thanks! I'll be there and will check the mall out as well.
Click to expand...

nope...not from Tucson...just used google...lol. It is easy to find the shows...just google knife shows and you will find listings. Also the online yellow pages pinpoint local shops. I always check before going out of town so I can find a shop wherever I go.
 
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