Opinions on new EDC

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spyder10

Joined
Dec 19, 2005
Messages
672
Well, I have been carrying a Kershaw Chive along with my SAK Spartian for a few months now, but I think it is time for a new EDC. My requirements for an EDC knife are the following
-Must be one hand opening/closing
-2-3 inch blade
-Must be tip-up carry
-Price needs to be less than $60
-Cannot be assisted opening
-Deep carry clip is helpful
-I don't care for a recurve, but it is not a disqualifying factor
The knives that I have been considering are
BM mini-griptillian
-Fits all the requirements
Spyderco native
-Questions about how easy the one-handed closing is
Buck Strider SBMF
-Too large of a knife, and on the expensive side
 
Mini-grip is too small for my hand, but I find the Boker Trance comfortable. As a comparison, the Spyderco Delica I just picked up is a perfect fit (but that one doesn't meet your criteria, only meant as a size reference). I believe the Trance fits your criteria list pretty well.
 
Wow, before I got to the end I was thinking of the Mini-Grip, but the Native is also a great choice! I'd have a hard time choosing between the two of them. The mini-Grip can be taken apart, it's thicker for better ergonomics, and it has (in my opinion) a nicer lock. That said, the Native is simple, also has a great lock, has better blade geometry, and is also a very high quality knife.

You seem to prefer keeping it slim, so go with the Native. It's $40 right at Wal*Mart.

I find that mini-Grips are easier to manipulate than Natives because you can get a better purchase on the handle and clip to open and close the knife, and the axis lock makes one-handed opening and closing a breeze if you hold the lock down and flip the blade out. Either way, you won't go wrong.
 
Wow. I did not add the fact that I was really looking for a frame lock because I felt like that would be way too much to ask, but the Boker Trance is it! Not only is it almost 1/3 of the price that I quoted but it fits all the other requirements, even the optional ones! Wow

Edit: Kc2kth, You say that the mini-grip is too small for your hand but the Boker feels better, how do the two knives compare in width? (a picture would be really nice :D)
 
The Delica has a 2 7/8 blade length. I would suggest one. The Delica 4 has a clip that can be positioned the way you want it.
 
The Spyderco Caly 3 is perfect if you are willing to spend about $90 instead of $60.

It has deep pocket tip up carry, three inch blade, incredible profile for slicing and a versatile and effective blade shape. It's slim, but very stout and well built. Great blade steel too.

I have carried and sold many, many knives by many company over the past three or four years, (I know, not much compared to many of you) and it's easily the best EDC I've ever used. I can't keep it out of my pocket. It certainly isn't flashy or gimmicky, but it works so, so well.

Here are some very nice pictures forum member Ront took when he got his:
DSCN6063.jpg

DSCN6064.jpg

DSCN6065.jpg

DSCN6074.jpg
 
I find the locks on [lockback] Spydercos incredibly hard to close one handed. I fiddled with one at Blade and I was immediately turned off and stopped considering them. the wave feature was cool, but the lock was terrible, and IMO dangerous.

however the griptilian is a really cool knife. I actually liked the Spyderhole that I thought I was going to hate and I'd probably recommend that blade at least as a consideration since it is a bit fatter overall and thicker out to the tip. However the thumbstud can be fingernail flicked to open the other one very effortlessly and closing one handed is fairly natural, easy and safe.
 
what do you think about the Spyderco centofante 4?

I'm thinking about getting it with serrations added by 888knivesrus.com
 
The mini grip is a great knife. I own the 556 as well as the Ritter 558. The native is also a great choice, I have the s30v version and I love it, just wish it had SS liners. Finally, I would also suggest checking out the Delica lines especially the d4wave.
 
I press down on the release with my thumb and the blade drops down. I then take my index finger and close it. When the blade is getting closer to the three other fingers, I take them off, and closes the rest of the way.
 
sherlockbonez said:
I press down on the release with my thumb and the blade drops down. I then take my index finger and close it. When the blade is getting closer to the three other fingers, I take them off, and closes the rest of the way.
Click to expand...

I have to admit that the only lockback knives that I have used were Buck 110's and others, where the the lock-bar has the bumps at the bottom of the knife. I have never been able to close them one-handed, so I figured that the Spydercos would be the same.
 
I have a Native, which I like a lot, but the Caly 3 always catches my eye when I see a shot of one.

That said, my folders have been languishing in various drawers since I discovered pocket-sized fixed blades, like my BRK&T Mini Canadian.:thumbup: I carry it in a hip pocket sheath and I have had no problems with the locking mechanism.:)
 
spyder10 said:
You say that the mini-grip is too small for your hand but the Boker feels better, how do the two knives compare in width? (a picture would be really nice :D)
Click to expand...

I don't have a Mini-grip to compare, but here is the Trance. I'll agree that it is a great knife for the money, and I think you'd be happy with it. I also have a Native, and a Centofante IV, and I think you should buy one of each, but the Trance is an outstanding value.

The top knife here is a Leek...
trance4.jpg

trance5.jpg

The blade is centered, the knife is at an angle to the camera.
 
spyder10 said:
Wow. I did not add the fact that I was really looking for a frame lock because I felt like that would be way too much to ask, but the Boker Trance is it! Not only is it almost 1/3 of the price that I quoted but it fits all the other requirements, even the optional ones! Wow

Edit: Kc2kth, You say that the mini-grip is too small for your hand but the Boker feels better, how do the two knives compare in width? (a picture would be really nice :D)
Click to expand...

Ok, here are three shots of the two (Trance and Mini Grip) side by side, Grip is on the left in all.

You can thank the folks here for turning me onto the Trance when I was looking for a new knife. Got mine from Knifeworks - they were the only ones that had it when I was looking a few weeks ago.

side.jpg

flat.jpg

in_hand.jpg
 
Get a Delica 4. If you want the thickness of the griptillian go ahead and get that Buck Strider SBMF. That knife is a tank and unlike the previous Buck Striders the blade design is one that cuts very well, I've found them for as cheap as 50 dollars. If the buck weren't so much thicker and heavier (more knife than i need) it'd push the delica out of my pocket.
 
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