Please help a newbie choose a good folder please...

[Tetsusaiga]

Hi, I'm new to all these. Please recommend me a good folder..

1. Blade must be VG-10 or better
2. Can be spear point, tanto or katana. Can be combo or plain
3. Not particular about handle material, can be zytel, FRN or better
4. Not particular about locking mechanism as long as it is secure
5. Not particular about looks
6. Must be made in US or Japan or one of those scandinavian powdered steel
7. Should cost in the region of $50

Anyone got any to recommend??

 

[Bastid]

Welcome to Blade Forums.

I am going to move your thread to the Blade Discussion Forum since I am guessing you are not interested in a traditional folder from your description.

 

[frank k]

Spyderco Endura 4 Wave.



- Frank

 

[Macchina]

I second the Spyderco Endura 4 (wave or not, your prefrence). The Benchmade Griptilian (mini grip is good as well) is also a great knife, it's the one that started it all for me, and was my EDC for 2 years until I got my Manix. Endura is a great utility blade for $40, the Griptilian is all that, with better fit and finish and the amazing axis lock. Either one is a great first knife!

 

[grumpyxtremes10]

Get a cheap Buck 110 and send it in for bg 42 blade upgrade

 

[Buzzbait]

At that price, go for the Endura4.

 

[Tetsusaiga]

First off... thanks guys for all the replies.. makes one feel very welcome here.. saw the endura 4 and the griptilian before.. very nice knives...

Actually I was interested in the Native also after buying, unknowingly, a 1st generation BRK native... was it a bad buy?

what's with all the different versions of the griptilian man?? whats the difference? there's mini and what not... but the griptilian is not VG-10 right??

So far I have been browsing all my knives on ebay. is that a good place to buy?? any other reputable and reasonable online dealers that you guys can recommend that gives a good price??

 

[phil000]

bladehq.com
best prices ever...good guys too, for me at least...

 

[yermom]

i thnk the new Griptillians are 154CM , i'm not that clear on the differences between that and the VG-10 but it's not bad. it takes a pretty good edge, mine was damn sharp when i got it

the different models are the blade shapes and thumb hole/thumb stud, and combo/plain edge

the 550 is the modified sheepsfoot with the thumb hole, and the 551 is the drop point with the thumb studs, there are also 553 tanto ones with the thumb studs

i have a 551, i like it a lot

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Dealers:

www.1sks.com
www.knifeworks.com
www.knifecenter.com
www.newgraham.com

Lots more good reliable competitive dealers out there also. We have a forum here, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, where we evaluate mostly people but also dealers we've bought from. A search on GBU will tell you if someone's had trouble with a particular dealer.

This is one of our Knife Exchange forums, a good place to trade, buy, or sell knives with your fellow knife knuts.

 

[Artfully Martial]

I'd recommend the minigrip in spyderhole fashion. Its steel is probably a little less fancy than VG10, but you'll probably never notice anyway.

A lot of people are throwing out the Endura/Delica line, but also consider the Spyderco Centofante, another great VG10 knife that I like how it looks better than those others.

Let's bring out some Kershaws too.
The mini cyclone is pretty neat, and is AO, with sandvik steel

The Kershaw storm is non AO, but a huge bargain, also with sandvik--normally a recurve, but also available in tanto, shown here (plain or combo edge)

Try out the Speed bump also...only avaialable in recurve though

 

[Tetsusaiga]

Hi, very helpful guys... love the look of those knives... especially the storm..

in terms of steel, what's the equivalent of the sandvik steel, cos I only know the VG-10, 154CM, AUS.. etc.. so what is the equivalent of the scandvik steel so that I can understand better??

 

[Esav Benyamin]

It is very difficult to give equivalents without getting into metallurgy. Sandvik steels are supposed to be from fairly clean iron ore (in Sweden) so they are easier to make good steel from. 12C27 has been a reliable steel for years. 13C26 is new to my experience but my Storm II seems to hold a really nice edge and touches up without any trouble on a hard stone.

Steel falls into two main categories: high carbon and stainless. The alloyed metals in stainless steel used to degrade performance. High-tech stainless today performs well, but it is expensive, and with each steel having a different formula, it leads us to imagine all sorts of minor improvements or capabilities.

In truth, most folders aren't going to be stressed enough to require the greater capabilities of most advanced steels. It's like buying your wife a diamond instead of an opal. They are both just minerals, and actually, the opal is the more interesting combination of elements. But don't tell her that ...