Overbuilt folder

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Smithguy50

Joined
Jun 13, 2014
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Hey guys I was just curious if anyone had any recommendations for an overbuilt folder for around 400. The only knives that come to mind are grayman. So just wondering what else is out there.
 
Well, that's about what a Strider SMF will run you. They are very overbuilt. For a tad less, a SNG. For about $150 more, a Hinderer. That would cover the overbuilt's pretty well. Just my opinion of what comes to mind.
 
The CRK Umnumzaan is around that price point. It's not as grossly overbuilt as Striders or Medfords, but it's still more than capable of serious prying and other hard-use tasks.
 
Some of the larger Brous knives are in that price range and are seriously overbuilt as well. Almost 1/5" blade stock in the T4 and Reloader, for example.
 
amg137 said:
Some of the larger Brous knives are in that price range and are seriously overbuilt as well. Almost 1/5" blade stock in the T4 and Reloader, for example.
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I have looked at brous, but the d2 steel makes a little cautious. And the reason I'm not sold on the grayman satu is it's toothy edge.
 
Smithguy50 said:
I have looked at brous, but the d2 steel makes a little cautious. And the reason I'm not sold on the grayman satu is it's toothy edge.
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If you're paying $400 for a knife, you should already have sharpening supplies to properly sharpen a knife to your liking. The factory edge is toothy, but the factory edge should never factor into your purchase since you should be able to resharpen it to your liking.

Some options (some MUCH less than $400):
Spyderco Tuff (CPM 3v will treat you VERY well, and it's a great bang for your buck)
Medford TFF series (about $100 more than you want to spend and seems a bit expensive for D2...)
ZT 300 and 560 series (quite a bit under your price, but good hard use knives)
Strider SMF (about $75 over your price range)
Benchmade Contego (WAY under your price range, with an axis lock. Great hard use knife)

Overall, if you like the Grayman Satu, get it. You can't go wrong with that knife. If the toothy edge bothers you, just sharpen it to how you like it.
 
seedubs1 said:
If you're paying $400 for a knife, you should already have sharpening supplies to properly sharpen a knife to your liking. The factory edge is toothy, but the factory edge should never factor into your purchase since you should be able to resharpen it to your liking.

Some options (some MUCH less than $400):
Spyderco Tuff (CPM 3v will treat you VERY well, and it's a great bang for your buck)
Medford TFF series (about $100 more than you want to spend and seems a bit expensive for D2...)
ZT 300 and 560 series (quite a bit under your price, but good hard use knives)
Strider SMF (about $75 over your price range)
Benchmade Contego (WAY under your price range, with an axis lock. Great hard use knife)

Overall, if you like the Grayman Satu, get it. You can't go wrong with that knife. If the toothy edge bothers you, just sharpen it to how you like it.
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I strongly second the suggestion of the Spyderco Tuff. If you're looking for an overbuilt hard-use use-it-to-pry-apart-a-tank knife, that's your best option for a number of reasons:
- Price. It's about half the price of any other knife that has the same materials and construction.
- Materials. Titanium framelock is pretty standard, but the blade steel is 3V which has insanely high lateral strength and edge retention apparently in the S30V range. So, good wear resistance combined with the ability to hammer it through a tree.
- Construction. Incredibly solidly built. Look at the lockbar. Kinda short, right? Weird, right? That increases the lock strength immensely compared to having a full-length lockbar. See that pivot? Gigantic.

Things you won't buy it for:
- Looks. It's an incredibly ugly knife.
- Lightweight carry. 6.2 ounces is honestly great given the other characteristics and dimensions of the knife, but it's no featherweight.
- Self defense. It's really just not the knife for it. At all. It would make a better striking weapon than cutting weapon. Use a frisbee motion and you might be able to knock someone out with a good toss.
- Stain resistance. 3V is not stainless, but don't let that scare you.

Ultimately, if you're looking for the right tool, I think that's the knife. You might find better looking ones, and you might find ones with steel that's more stainless, but not for anything like $200.
 
Comeuppance said:
I strongly second the suggestion of the Spyderco Tuff. If you're looking for an overbuilt hard-use use-it-to-pry-apart-a-tank knife, that's your best option for a number of reasons:
- Price. It's about half the price of any other knife that has the same materials and construction.
- Materials. Titanium framelock is pretty standard, but the blade steel is 3V which has insanely high lateral strength and edge retention apparently in the S30V range. So, good wear resistance combined with the ability to hammer it through a tree.
- Construction. Incredibly solidly built. Look at the lockbar. Kinda short, right? Weird, right? That increases the lock strength immensely compared to having a full-length lockbar. See that pivot? Gigantic.

Things you won't buy it for:
- Looks. It's an incredibly ugly knife.
- Lightweight carry. 6.2 ounces is honestly great given the other characteristics and dimensions of the knife, but it's no featherweight.
- Self defense. It's really just not the knife for it. At all. It would make a better striking weapon than cutting weapon. Use a frisbee motion and you might be able to knock someone out with a good toss.
- Stain resistance. 3V is not stainless, but don't let that scare you.

Ultimately, if you're looking for the right tool, I think that's the knife. You might find better looking ones, and you might find ones with steel that's more stainless, but not for anything like $200.
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Good mini write up on the Tuff, but if the OP thinks he'll have trouble with D2 then he'll have an awesome day with 3V. :D
 
I found two other knives looking around, the spydie southard and the tsf beast. The southard doesn't really look overbuilt but the steel is great. I've read some things on the beast but it uses s35vn, which I've had some problems with, and I've seen others have problems with it as well, any thoughts?
 
Way under your price range are the ZT 0550's. They are a tank of a folder that are worth checking out..
 
Smithguy50 said:
I found two other knives looking around, the spydie southard and the tsf beast. The southard doesn't really look overbuilt but the steel is great. I've read some things on the beast but it uses s35vn, which I've had some problems with, and I've seen others have problems with it as well, any thoughts?
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I've got a TSF beast in Elmax and M390. I would think Jim Allen HT all his steels the same. Given that, I've not had any issues with the TSF steel so far. One reason Mr. Allen stopped using M390 was that some were having issues with the steel chipping. I read he was going to switch either to CPM154 or S35VN. I would think that only proves not all HT's are the same. After all, CRK and Hinderer use S35VN with different HT and there is a difference in the same steel. I prefer the HT of CRK. For a well overbuilt, reasonably priced tank, the TSF beast is the way to go. I have 4 and a Damascus, the TSF beast is 3rd in my line of EDC's with the Sebenza and Strider being the two I carry the most.
 
Ajack60 said:
I've got a TSF beast in Elmax and M390. I would think Jim Allen HT all his steels the same. Given that, I've not had any issues with the TSF steel so far. One reason Mr. Allen stopped using M390 was that some were having issues with the steel chipping. I read he was going to switch either to CPM154 or S35VN. I would think that only proves not all HT's are the same. After all, CRK and Hinderer use S35VN with different HT and there is a difference in the same steel. I prefer the HT of CRK. For a well overbuilt, reasonably priced tank, the TSF beast is the way to go. I have 4 and a Damascus, the TSF beast is 3rd in my line of EDC's with the Sebenza and Strider being the two I carry the most.
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Good to hear something about the beast, right now it's top on my list. I emailed grayman to see when they would be getting a new stock of duas, if those are to long of a wait then it will be a toss up between the satu and the beast.
 
I have both the dua and the satu, neither have a toothy edge, the edge will slice paper no problem, I just got the Satu a few days ago.....it is huge thought about selling it, but the longe I hold it the more I like it. The Dua....is a near perfect edc for me. Love it. I got the ti, ti stonewashed version of the satu...I also have a bunch of tsf beasts, m 390 the only thing i like better about the graymans is th jimping, but the beast has a smoother pivot. I do have the brouse blades ss, reloader and division as well, all nice just not as overbuilt as the grayman.
 
The Satu is a solid tool. And I'm not sure if they are still doing the toothie edge anymore. I have the ti-ti version and have used the knife to cut everything from cardboard to sharpening broom sicks.
 
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