Like many of the BF members here I have owned and gotten rid of a number of knives from a number of makers over the years. After collecting for a few years I have narrowed it down to a few knives that I know I will always own at least one of. With so much accumulated experience here it would be great to hear your short list of 10 (or less). If you have time to include some small details that make the difference for you that would be great as it would give some insight as to why you like what you like. It will be interesting to see just what comes up and if we share some common ground. Here are mine:
Emerson CQC-7 - A perfect work and utility knife, robust, easy to service, really ergonomic (although it doesn't look it) great in a variety of grips, prefer the "V" grind over the chisel, great clip. Nicely weighted and balanced, great in a variety of grips.
Small Sebenza inlay clip point - Flawless design, nice pocketable size, prefer the inlay as I like the look of it and it thickens up the handle, love the pocket clip, the hollow grind the jimping and how easy they are to service.
Small Sebenza Micarta or C/F inlay Insingo - all of the above plus the large cutting area of the Insingo blade making it perform like a larger knife than its physical size.
Strider SNG - Quite light for its size I think almost a perfect weight, very well balanced, excellent ergonomics, quality materials and easy to service, feels better in the hand in a variety of grip styles than almost any knife I own. Not too big, not too small.
Benchmade 940 - Extremely pocketable just disappears, axis lock makes it very fast to deploy and engages solidly, ergonomics are great, takes up very little pocket space for its size, don't like the stock clip I change them to a BM split arrow. Love the grind, the spine of the blade and the handle detail.
Hinderer XM18 3.5 flipper Gen 4 - Quality like a CRK in a package like a Strider, excellent ergonomics, great grip and very well balanced, stout and durable, great clip, little heavy (compared to the strider for example) Love the almost hydraulic way it flips, prefer the washers on this knife to a bearing system.
Spyderco Para 2 - So light for its size, so well made, such great ergonomics, skeletonized liners, a great slicer, incredible ergonomics and offered in all sorts of super steels.
Spyderco Dragonfly 2 H-1 - Great ergos and cutting performance for such a tiny knife, love the H-1 as it is worry free, a great knife for travel and all sorts of outdoor adventures. Light as feather you can take it anywhere, an amazing little knife.
Spyderco Native 5 - Great stout reasonably priced no nonsense knife. Exceptional version of a back lock, nice thick handle with know sharp corners. just the right weight.
SAK Evolution Grip S54, the yellow one, love it wouldn't change anything about it, has a locking blade impossible to beat for the $$$, like the colour easy to keep track of perfect for so many situations. Ideal travel companion.
Looking forward to hearing about your top picks.
Emerson CQC-7 - A perfect work and utility knife, robust, easy to service, really ergonomic (although it doesn't look it) great in a variety of grips, prefer the "V" grind over the chisel, great clip. Nicely weighted and balanced, great in a variety of grips.
Small Sebenza inlay clip point - Flawless design, nice pocketable size, prefer the inlay as I like the look of it and it thickens up the handle, love the pocket clip, the hollow grind the jimping and how easy they are to service.
Small Sebenza Micarta or C/F inlay Insingo - all of the above plus the large cutting area of the Insingo blade making it perform like a larger knife than its physical size.
Strider SNG - Quite light for its size I think almost a perfect weight, very well balanced, excellent ergonomics, quality materials and easy to service, feels better in the hand in a variety of grip styles than almost any knife I own. Not too big, not too small.
Benchmade 940 - Extremely pocketable just disappears, axis lock makes it very fast to deploy and engages solidly, ergonomics are great, takes up very little pocket space for its size, don't like the stock clip I change them to a BM split arrow. Love the grind, the spine of the blade and the handle detail.
Hinderer XM18 3.5 flipper Gen 4 - Quality like a CRK in a package like a Strider, excellent ergonomics, great grip and very well balanced, stout and durable, great clip, little heavy (compared to the strider for example) Love the almost hydraulic way it flips, prefer the washers on this knife to a bearing system.
Spyderco Para 2 - So light for its size, so well made, such great ergonomics, skeletonized liners, a great slicer, incredible ergonomics and offered in all sorts of super steels.
Spyderco Dragonfly 2 H-1 - Great ergos and cutting performance for such a tiny knife, love the H-1 as it is worry free, a great knife for travel and all sorts of outdoor adventures. Light as feather you can take it anywhere, an amazing little knife.
Spyderco Native 5 - Great stout reasonably priced no nonsense knife. Exceptional version of a back lock, nice thick handle with know sharp corners. just the right weight.
SAK Evolution Grip S54, the yellow one, love it wouldn't change anything about it, has a locking blade impossible to beat for the $$$, like the colour easy to keep track of perfect for so many situations. Ideal travel companion.
Looking forward to hearing about your top picks.
. Seriously, everyone should own one of these. I love it just as much, if not more than some of my more expensive knives simply because it sees so much use, and shows almost no wear at all. Awesome value.
