Pocket Knife for me

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vinny77

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Jan 9, 2005
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I want a good pocket knife for everyday use, I have looked around and sont really know what to look for,

Ive looked at the

GERBER Firestorm Folder with Plain Edge 3.5" Blade
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=GB7179

and the

Benchmade Lightweight Mel Pardue Design Axis Lock 3" Black Combo Edge
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=BM530SBT

I like they way the look at $80 is my limit, i would like other suggestions if possible. i do not like the design of spyderco
 
take it from someone who is guilty of spending hard earned money on questionable knives, not putting Gerber in that catagory, and then ending up with something you don't want to use, go for the Benchmade and look at other offerings from them and others of like quality. listen to these guys on this forum, they know what they like and what they use everyday.
 
if you want a good pocketknife, then you'd do well to take a long, hard look at some Spydercos. it'd be a real shame to dismiss them just because you don't like the "look". they've been proven to be ultra-affordable and brilliantly designed tools, and the spyder-hole has more or less revolutionized the industry. they're a snap to open, built like tanks, and use some of the finest steels but without a premium price.

listen to all of the offerings here, but by skipping Spyderco's line, you're doing yourself a disservice, and eliminating 80% of your BEST choices.

abe m.
 
Ditto what allyourblood said. Don't sell yourself short. Keep Spyderco on the radar screen.
 
SAK is short for "swiss army knife", Victorinox is the manufacturer of real nice quality (and highly affordable SAKs. Wenger is another manufacturer of them but they are harder to find and not as popular.

As for which Spyderco to recommend, that's a tough choice. You've posted an 80 dollar price limit and most of Spyderco's workin' line is comfortably in that price range. Lot's of folks started their Spydie sickness with a Delica.

Check here for a great selection of either brand. Cheers.
 
Nothing wrong with Gerber, they just aren't quite in the same class as benchmade. The materials they use aren't quite as nice most of the time for one thing. The blade on the firestorm for example is made with 440A steel. Its not the worst stuff in the world, but even with a really good heat treat it won't hold an edge as long or wear as well as a lot of other steels on the market.
With the benchmades you've listed you can get 440C which isn't all that popular anymore but performs very well. It will hold an edge longer than the 440A and probably take a better edge as well. Or with the more expensive benchmades you've listed the blades are 154CM which is really good stuff. The average knife user probably isn't going to notice much of a difference between 154CM and the really high end steels that have just come out in the last few years. It will take a really good edge and hold it quite a while.
 
Probably any of the Benchmades that you like the look of and fit in your price range would be a very good start. Also, have a look at a Spyderco Native for starters. Spyderco looks are very much a matter of personal taste but I happen to think the Native is one of the better looking Spydercos.

Kershaw make some nice moderately priced knives too.

Have a look HERE for a good range at great prices.
 
The BM910 is a great knife. Nice and strong, but the tanto limits versetility. I'd get one over any Gerber, but spydercos are more practical.
 
Welcome!! check out the Spyderco Paramilitary, built like a tank, cuts like a razor !! I just carried one for a week on a pass around, SWEEET knife!!! On the flip side of the old knife coin, there are alot of traditional out there that you might like better. For me it's become a never ending search for the perfect EDC, limited only by time and $$ !! Good luck, Marty :cool: :D :cool:
 
If you didn't minde going above 80 bucks I'd say get a Benchmade 940 or 690, I just think they look cool. Benchmade is the only tactical folder I would now buy other than Spyderco. I own several of both, and many other brands, and while all of my Benchmades are drawer queens, my Spydercos get heavily used. I EDC an Plain Delica FRN VG-10. I used to like only Case slipjoints, Benchmades, and Kershaw speedsafes, and I still believe all of the above are great knives. I too thought Spyderco were the ugliest things I'd ever seen and that they looked cheap. However I bouth a Serrated Endura years ago and found that it could out cut many of my fixed blades that thing was AWESOME. Today I have 12 Spyders and counting. I quickly bought a Delica and that's all I carry anymore. To make a long story short, buy a Delica, you can get them for around 40 bucks, make yourself carry it for a couple of weeks and you'll probably never want another knife in your pocket.

However, if you are determined not to give the spyder a chance, by all means get a small drop point benchmade griptillian in the handle color of your choice. You'd be well served and totally happy with either. :) or if you like assisted openers try a Kershaw Blackout ;)
 
Also Camillus makes an awesome framelock called the EDC, the Buck Oddessey available at Wal-mart is prob the most knife for the money, great and inexpensive. Also the Boker Geminis are good inexpensive folders, the Cold Steel Scimitar is wicked and can be found under 80 bucks on-line, as can their voyager series. Camillus also makes a great inexpensive assisted opener called the Heat. WR Case makes great slipjoints, as do Boker and Camillus.

All of these are great knives and I own or have used most of them, I think the delica beats them all for EDC and if I were not going to carry a delica I'd get a benchmade mini-griptilian droppoint. :)
 
You could probably find a Benchmade BM805 - or a BM705 if you want something a little smaller - both for about $80.
Don't get a Spyderco, you will end up using this knife more than any other and end up owning half the range - they are more addictive than smoking. If you get the urge to look at a Spyderco - try a grey Calypso Jnr, this will probably be the sharpest knife you will handle straight out of the box.
 
spyderknut said:
Spyderco Calypso Jr. can readily be found for under $35. Great knife.
Click to expand...

I second (third?) that. The VG10 is a great steel and holds an edge very well.

The benchmade suggestions are good too.

If edge holding is not as crucial, then a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife would be a good choice. Try the versions with the silver alox sides for durability (soldier, farmer, etc). Having a SAK is good because the other tools can be used for screws and prying, which will keep you from abusing the blade and ruining the edge. (You should never pry with ANY knife when it can be avoided).

For under 80.00, you have tons of choices, many spydercos, many benchmades and most smaller SAKs are 20-30 and even the versions loaded with tools are well under 80.

Take some time to search the net, and get to some knife shops to try them in your hand. Don't buy until you are sure what you like, otherwise you could end up with many knives and no $$. (I like a SAK as a first choice, because for 20-30 bucks, it won't break the bank.)
 
Victorinox Swiss Army Knives are great!
You CANNOT beat the quality for the price and there are so many models to choose from.

For a one-hand folder, I think the Benchmade 551 Griptilian and 556 Mini-Griptilian are very good choices.

Others that are well proven knives that will not let you down:
Nearly any of Spyderco's fiberglass-reenforced-nylon lockback folders like the Endura and Delica.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
If you really want one of the two folders you mentioned, get the Benchmade. Their fit & finish is much better than Gerbers, and its 440C steel is better than the Firestorm's 440A.

I'd suggest the Endura Spydiefan mentioned though.
 
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