Really...

Which blade is better in YOUR opinion?

  • Black

    Votes: 22 16.5%

  • Polished (Aka silver)

    Votes: 111 83.5%
  • Total voters
    133
My father would have tinkled his man-panties if I had showed him an assisted opening knife. I also recommend the SAK as a option that would be easier to sell to your parents. Later you can get other knives, but you'll still have a use for an SAK.
 
Besides my Leeks, I have only had two other assisted knives. One is the SOG Flash 2, which should fit your budget. I hated it. It was light, but had a cheap and flimsy feel. Still, it has its fans. I gave it away on another forum. There were a lot of entries.

The other is the Benchmade Mini Barrage. It would easily bust your budget, although you might find a used one. I don’t mind assisted knives, and I really like this one. It doesn’t really need the assist, as the Axis lock is just as fast and easy without it. I see the Mini Barrage being carried a lot out in the real world, where peoples’ taste in knives isn’t quite as refined as it is here.
 
I'll admit to not reading all five pages of replies so far but here is the best advice you'll get:

Sit down with your parents. Turn off the TV and other distractions. Talk about EDC.

I think a decent number of us here got started with EDC because of our dads. ("EDC" is largely discussed from a masculine perspective but moms do it too.) Ask your dad what sorts of things he carries everyday, or what he used to carry when he was young. Almost everyone EDCs a smart phone these days. It seems to have displaced watches for a lot of people. While "EDC" is a relatively new term, it applies to all sorts of traditional carry items including pocket knives, multi-tools, pens, lighters, combs, handkerchiefs, wallets, watches, keys, all the little doodads you might put on a key ring, etc.

One thing that may be important is differentiating tools from weapons. Some people see knives, especially larger knives, as weapons. While folding knives are not great weapons in reality and dedicated defensive tools are a part of EDC for a lot of adults, the mindset can be be a barrier. People who don't carry pocket knives or don't have firsthand experience with pocket knives as tools can easily jump to the wrong conclusion.

You may also want to explore videos or articles about both EDC in general and EDC pocket knives specifically. Choose the best ones to share them with your parents. If web forums are a valuable information tool for your parents, introduce them to Blade Forums. Imagine this kind of question but asked from your parents' perspective. Some of us are parents too and we'd be glad to discuss it with them. Whether or not you introduce them to the forum, I'm a parent and you can feel free to share anything I've written here. Good luck!
 
PheonixKingZ said:
Compared to my M-Tech knife, it’s small.
Click to expand...

Ahh here is an opportunity. If you already have one that’s bigger, it just is logical that you would be able to get one that’s smaller, no? You could also say that it would be safer to get a nicer knife than a mtech because mtechs are pieces of junk and could very easily fail and hurt you, or a friend even ;);)
 
some things shouldn't take the form of a thread, its called tact, carry a swiss army knife tinker until you move out, or....
the less they know.. (shrug)

its better to not be a rebel without a cause, save up and buy a leatherman Free P4, its not a "knife".. its a multitool :)
 
You know you can go to a site like knifecenter and search by all the criteria you want: size, price, assisted-opening, etc
 
PheonixKingZ said:
My parents won’t let me get the Kershaw Link or the Blur, because they said it’s “to big for every day carry”. I tried to talk them into it, but they said NO. How do I get them to say yes? 4.5 inches closed isn’t that big... :(
Click to expand...

start by asking to have one at home for your collection or for doing chores with. once it is there, you can compare it to other knives and show them that it is not that big of a difference.

or just ask for something bigger til they realize the blur isn't that big.
 
Some advice that I would have given myself as a first time buyer

1. Don't get spring assisted. I know there has already been several people say this so far but it is true. When I was young of course I thought that was all the rage but they don't last as long, the springs, torsion bars, etc are always breaking or getting gummed up with link or other things. A manual opening knife is almost always of higher quality, will last longer, and is legal in more places if you go off to college in a state or locality that has some dumb knife laws.

2. Buy from a trusted dealer and maker. I know it is tempting to go to ebay or amazon and get "tactical m-tech extreme" (as young 15 year old I was just as guilty of this) but those knives never last, never satisfy, and always are money that would have been better saved up for a better blade (that you will end up buying later anyways, lets be honest). It kills me to think back to all the 15-20$ purchases I made and think about how all of that added up would be a quality Spyderco, ZT, Giantmouse, etc if I had found somewhere like this site earlier.

3. Listen to your folks at least until you have your own place and your own money. If you get into this hobby with some tact, who knows, you may very well get them in on it as well and next thing you know you are getting some 100$ plus blades for a graduation present.
 
c7m2p3 said:
1. Don't get spring assisted. I know there has already been several people say this so far but it is true. When I was young of course I thought that was all the rage but they don't last as long, the springs, torsion bars, etc are always breaking or getting gummed up with link or other things. A manual opening knife is almost always of higher quality, will last longer, and is legal in more places if you go off to college in a state or locality that has some dumb knife laws.
Click to expand...
Then what high quality knife do you suggest? (Preferably around $70)

If so many people are saying SA’d knives are bad, then I may as well look into some non-SA’d knives! :)

I guess I was SA’d knives because they are super quick to get out, and look cool. I guess cool doesn’t = quality?
 
And to the advice above, there has never been a better time to get a quality knife for a good price than right now. Plenty of people have made suggestions for Kershaw options but here are some others...

Spyderco Efficient- small enough to fit your requirements, cheap enough to be had for under 50$. Going to be legal almost everywhere in the states and will last a lifetime if cared for.

CJRB Feldspar- Under 40$ most places. You get Great D2 steel, ball bearing action, and the small variant is plenty small to fit your requirements.

Civivi Elementum- hovering right around 50$, you get great minimalist design, D2 steel, ball bearing flipper action, and dozens of handle options.

RAT2- A staple in the EDC budget community. Low cost but a stout blade that will last a lifetime. Use it, resharpen, and use it again. In AUS8 or D2 it will serve well as a first blade.

Steel Will mini Cutjack- D2 steel, small, well under 50$ and easily accessible.
 
PheonixKingZ said:
...I guess I was SA’d knives because they are super quick to get out, and look cool. I guess cool doesn’t = quality?
Click to expand...

Sometimes it doesn’t.

I can give you an example. I own the US made Kershaw Zing. Wonderful knife for the money. Decent steel and well designed. I am so impressed with this knife that I told my wife I want one buried with me.

Kershaw moved the production of this knife overseas and ruined the knife. They lowered the quality of the steel and made the knife into an assisted opening model. They also got rid of every feature that made the Zing unique. The great thumb stud design was changed and the blade grooves were removed.

A friend bought two of the overseas model. Both have blade play because of the AO feature and the blades don’t hold an edge very well.

Something else to consider. Most people don’t have a clue about assisted opening knives. They automatically assume they are illegal switchblade knives. Do you really want the drama and legal headaches that could cause?

Even though assisted knives can be fun, there is a good chance that you will lose interest in them as you get older. There are many here that avoid any purchase of an assisted knife even though they bought them when young.

And, keep this in mind, a good quality non assisted knife can be just as quick as a spring assisted knife and most of the time they are easier to close.
 
Last edited:
c7m2p3 said:
And to the advice above, there has never been a better time to get a quality knife for a good price than right now. Plenty of people have made suggestions for Kershaw options but here are some others...

Spyderco Efficient- small enough to fit your requirements, cheap enough to be had for under 50$. Going to be legal almost everywhere in the states and will last a lifetime if cared for.

CJRB Feldspar- Under 40$ most places. You get Great D2 steel, ball bearing action, and the small variant is plenty small to fit your requirements.

Civivi Elementum- hovering right around 50$, you get great minimalist design, D2 steel, ball bearing flipper action, and dozens of handle options.

RAT2- A staple in the EDC budget community. Low cost but a stout blade that will last a lifetime. Use it, resharpen, and use it again. In AUS8 or D2 it will serve well as a first blade.

Steel Will mini Cutjack- D2 steel, small, well under 50$ and easily accessible.
Click to expand...
What is the best out of all those you mentioned? I have been looking at them on BladeHQ.com.

How do you even open a Spyderco knife? Is it SA’d? A flipper? Just a regular opening knife...?
 
They are all good. For what is best, it is a matter of personal preference.

About Spyderco, most are plain opening knives. Their name to fame is the hole in the blade and amazing ergonomics.
 
Don't know why you want a over 4 inch folder ... anyway ... compromise.
Get a Marbles MR417 or Old Timer 25OT slipjoint two blade folding hunter.
(the Marbles comes with a black nylon sheath, the Old Timer has a tan/light brown leather sheath)
Both are right at 5.5 inches closed, and have 3 15/16 inch clip point and drop point blades.
(as long as you are cutting/slicing and not stabbing, the blades can't close on you.
Yes, it takes two hands to open a blade, but only one to close.) (be sure to keep fingers out of the blade's path when closing one handed.)
View attachment 1400382

Edit: almost forgot. These are around $21~$22 each.
A 91/92mm SAK as others have mentioned, would also likely be parental approved.
 
Last edited:
afishhunter said:
Don't know why you want a over 4 inch folder ... anyway ... compromise.
Get a Marbles MR417 or Old Timer 25OT slipjoint two blade folding hunter.
(the Marbles comes with a black nylon sheath, the Old Timer has a tan/light brown leather sheath)
Both are right at 5.5 inches closed, and have 3 15/16 inch clip point and drop point blades.
(as long as you are cutting/slicing and not stabbing, the blades can't close on you.
Yes, it takes two hands to open a blade, but only one to close.) (be sure to keep fingers out of the blade's path when closing one handed.)
View attachment 1400382
Click to expand...

There is something to be said for a simple slip joint folder. Simple & classy. Legal issues are pretty much nill and there are satisfaction and enjoyment levels that you don't get with any other type of knife. You should try one at some point.

A basic Swiss Army Knife is what I use to cover any needs I have for a slip joint knife. Some people don't consider it a slip joint but I do.
 
c7m2p3 said:
Some advice that I would have given myself as a first time buyer

1. Don't get spring assisted. I know there has already been several people say this so far but it is true. When I was young of course I thought that was all the rage but they don't last as long, the springs, torsion bars, etc are always breaking or getting gummed up with link or other things. A manual opening knife is almost always of higher quality, will last longer, and is legal in more places if you go off to college in a state or locality that has some dumb knife laws.

2. Buy from a trusted dealer and maker. I know it is tempting to go to ebay or amazon and get "tactical m-tech extreme" (as young 15 year old I was just as guilty of this) but those knives never last, never satisfy, and always are money that would have been better saved up for a better blade (that you will end up buying later anyways, lets be honest). It kills me to think back to all the 15-20$ purchases I made and think about how all of that added up would be a quality Spyderco, ZT, Giantmouse, etc if I had found somewhere like this site earlier.

3. Listen to your folks at least until you have your own place and your own money. If you get into this hobby with some tact, who knows, you may very well get them in on it as well and next thing you know you are getting some 100$ plus blades for a graduation present.
Click to expand...
Never been a fan of assisted/autos myself. A well-made and smoothly deploying manual folder can be just as “fast” as SpeedSafes or whatever it’s called these days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top