Hello,
I'd like to try carrying a pocket knife. I have a pretty non-standard list of preferences for this forum, but you guys very clearly have the knowledge I lack. Here goes:
My use is utility - I want something that I can use to cut things I want cut. I'm a graduate student who cooks, does occasional camping tasks, opens a lot of boxes, cuts some paper.
To use a term from this forum, I'm "sheeple", and more to the point, so are those around me.
I'm cheap, and I like things of quality.
I'm interested (both academically and personally) in user-interface. That is, I want something that's extremely pleasant to use when I want it, and disappears when I don't. I'm thinking pocketclip (right handed, thankfully).
To give you datapoints to fit your model of the above:
I tried a Spyderco Native from walmart. It was WAY too much knife for my applications, terrifying looking to my friends, and frankly, pretty scary to me.
I've owned swiss army knives. My issue is that aside from the classic, I haven't found one with more tools I use than tools I don't. I'm not crazy aobut the classic's formfactor.
I've owned iterations of the leatherman micra (I think the new one's the squirt). It's great, though I've destroyed mine. Also, not crazy about the form factor. If I could learn to keep it sharp, I might be happy with this one. As it is, I imanaged to destroy mine by using it in one of those cheap fixed-angle sharpeners. It's a (formerly) chisel-ground blade, as was the scissors. Yup. Scissors is now hosed, knife better, but it's got an ugly, uneven edge. I think leatherman's warranty would cover this, but I'm a little too embarassed to find out.
Knives I'm considering:
CRKT:
M16 - the issue here is that it's scary-looking. Also, from what I've read, the steel might be weak.
KISS - Might be ideal, but it looks like it might not be all that pleasant to use, ditto with steel, relative to spydercos
Edgie - From what I've read, a next-gen boxcutter. Probably non-scary enough. Not sure if the micro-serrations formed by the frequent auto-hone would become annoying for my cutting tasks. Also, I might like a point. Lack of a lock might be an issue, though if it's safe for most of the tasks I listed, than maybe it'd be better that way. Also, I prefer tip down, one hand deployment. Lastly, the self-sharpen would almost surely mean I wouldn't end up with a sharpmaker, which is something I might like (I've got a sweet Shun Chef's knife that could use some love).
Spyderco:
Byrd (Meadowlark and smaller) - I'm cheap, so are they. I'd get a G-10 or stainless one. I don't know much about what blade shapes are good for what, but they're clearly a lot of value for the $. If the native was scary, how much less scary will these be?
Ladybug - A little small, no pocketclip. Will this feel like a small SAK in my hand, or will it feel like something I can grip firmly.
Dragonfly - I really have no idea how this one compares, where it lives between the ladybug and the delica.
Cricket - Looks great, not too scary, useful, dignified. My only problem is price.
Delica - Probably less scary than the native. My issue is price, and that it's still a little scary.
Kershaw:
One of those Ken Onion assisted openers. I forgot which is which, but definitely less than 3 inches on the blade.
Any others you'd recommend for my use / abuse.
Multi-tool tools I'd miss (a little): Scissors, Bottle-opener, file. Maybe tweezers occasionally.
Thanks for your help / advice!
I'd like to try carrying a pocket knife. I have a pretty non-standard list of preferences for this forum, but you guys very clearly have the knowledge I lack. Here goes:
My use is utility - I want something that I can use to cut things I want cut. I'm a graduate student who cooks, does occasional camping tasks, opens a lot of boxes, cuts some paper.
To use a term from this forum, I'm "sheeple", and more to the point, so are those around me.
I'm cheap, and I like things of quality.
I'm interested (both academically and personally) in user-interface. That is, I want something that's extremely pleasant to use when I want it, and disappears when I don't. I'm thinking pocketclip (right handed, thankfully).
To give you datapoints to fit your model of the above:
I tried a Spyderco Native from walmart. It was WAY too much knife for my applications, terrifying looking to my friends, and frankly, pretty scary to me.
I've owned swiss army knives. My issue is that aside from the classic, I haven't found one with more tools I use than tools I don't. I'm not crazy aobut the classic's formfactor.
I've owned iterations of the leatherman micra (I think the new one's the squirt). It's great, though I've destroyed mine. Also, not crazy about the form factor. If I could learn to keep it sharp, I might be happy with this one. As it is, I imanaged to destroy mine by using it in one of those cheap fixed-angle sharpeners. It's a (formerly) chisel-ground blade, as was the scissors. Yup. Scissors is now hosed, knife better, but it's got an ugly, uneven edge. I think leatherman's warranty would cover this, but I'm a little too embarassed to find out.
Knives I'm considering:
CRKT:
M16 - the issue here is that it's scary-looking. Also, from what I've read, the steel might be weak.
KISS - Might be ideal, but it looks like it might not be all that pleasant to use, ditto with steel, relative to spydercos
Edgie - From what I've read, a next-gen boxcutter. Probably non-scary enough. Not sure if the micro-serrations formed by the frequent auto-hone would become annoying for my cutting tasks. Also, I might like a point. Lack of a lock might be an issue, though if it's safe for most of the tasks I listed, than maybe it'd be better that way. Also, I prefer tip down, one hand deployment. Lastly, the self-sharpen would almost surely mean I wouldn't end up with a sharpmaker, which is something I might like (I've got a sweet Shun Chef's knife that could use some love).
Spyderco:
Byrd (Meadowlark and smaller) - I'm cheap, so are they. I'd get a G-10 or stainless one. I don't know much about what blade shapes are good for what, but they're clearly a lot of value for the $. If the native was scary, how much less scary will these be?
Ladybug - A little small, no pocketclip. Will this feel like a small SAK in my hand, or will it feel like something I can grip firmly.
Dragonfly - I really have no idea how this one compares, where it lives between the ladybug and the delica.
Cricket - Looks great, not too scary, useful, dignified. My only problem is price.
Delica - Probably less scary than the native. My issue is price, and that it's still a little scary.
Kershaw:
One of those Ken Onion assisted openers. I forgot which is which, but definitely less than 3 inches on the blade.
Any others you'd recommend for my use / abuse.
Multi-tool tools I'd miss (a little): Scissors, Bottle-opener, file. Maybe tweezers occasionally.
Thanks for your help / advice!
