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Retirement knives...
- Thread starter 6sigma
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- Feb 7, 2014
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Spyderco Sage 2 and Manix 2.
ZT 0770 (aluminum handle)...if you're up for something a little bigger, but still easy in the pocket ZT0801BW (my preference, perhaps not yours)
Benchmade Griptilian - I'm partial to the Knifeworks Exclusive version, by Doug Ritter. I also like the 581 (Barrage with M390 steel)
If you like big knives, Spydero Military and Manix 2XL, and (the one that's always in my pocket) ZT0200.
ZT 0770 (aluminum handle)...if you're up for something a little bigger, but still easy in the pocket ZT0801BW (my preference, perhaps not yours)
Benchmade Griptilian - I'm partial to the Knifeworks Exclusive version, by Doug Ritter. I also like the 581 (Barrage with M390 steel)
If you like big knives, Spydero Military and Manix 2XL, and (the one that's always in my pocket) ZT0200.
@LeathermanGX
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The Spyderco Paramilitary and Military are amazingly thin and light for big Knives. Tough as heck too. :thumbup:
@LeathermanGX
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The Sebenza is sleek businessy style with a logger tough side.
A little small and plain for me though.
A little small and plain for me though.
Your utility knife comment made me think of another suggestion, the ultimate utility knife, a.k.a. the Spyderco Yojimbo 2. The regular S30V ones have been hard to find for a while, but there's a Knifeworks exclusive in S90V (Can you tell I like Knifeworks yet?) for right around $200. The blade shape is a little less versatile than your more typical drop points, but it excels at things like opening packaging, etc.
Thanks...I like that 0770.
There's a Manix 2 XL inbound in today's shipments. I've already got worries that it's going to be too big. This CQC-6K feels good to me, so bigger has to be better...right? The standard Manix 2 may have been the wiser choice. We'll see (shortly).
All the suggested knives have got me thinking carefully about whether I'm truly trying to assemble a (mint) collection, buy some great working knives for EDC or add to my traditional pocket knife collection. I'm also really interested in learning to clean/maintain/sharpen some of these popular knives.
It's fun, but it may require a trip to the Blade Show to answer the questions and actually handle some of these knives.
I appreciate the contributions to this thread and the amazing body of work that Blade Forums contains. Lot's to learn.
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Of the hundreds of knives I've owned that fit your criteria, no particular one stands out as exceptionally better than all the others. That said, the one thing
I've found and stayed with is my favorite blade steel, ever...VG-10.
I've found and stayed with is my favorite blade steel, ever...VG-10.
Let me add one more to your list of possibles, particularly in light of your comments about your concerns with the Manix 2 being 2 big (sorry, couldn't resist.)
You might consider the Benchmade 940-1. It's a big blade that carries as well if not better than many smaller blades. The 940 is a widely respected EDC option, and the 940-1 updates the design with carbon fiber scales and a modern "super steel" S90V. It is a bit pricey compared to some of the other options listed here, going in the real world for $267, but it is remarkable knife.
Good luck on your hunt. The search is more than half the fun--and 90% of the expense.
You might consider the Benchmade 940-1. It's a big blade that carries as well if not better than many smaller blades. The 940 is a widely respected EDC option, and the 940-1 updates the design with carbon fiber scales and a modern "super steel" S90V. It is a bit pricey compared to some of the other options listed here, going in the real world for $267, but it is remarkable knife.
Good luck on your hunt. The search is more than half the fun--and 90% of the expense.
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- Mar 6, 2013
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Have you seen some of the sweet work done by some of the custom makers on the forum?
Jared Oeser
This is a Burger EXK Custom it as a snazzy way to open the blade if you can make it out. He's from South Africa not on the forum
William Henry also makes some nice folders as well although not custom.
The above are some of my favorite EDC'able folders. I have it on my bucket list to get an Oeser, Menafee or Davis one of these days.
Jared Oeser
This is a Burger EXK Custom it as a snazzy way to open the blade if you can make it out. He's from South Africa not on the forum
William Henry also makes some nice folders as well although not custom.
The above are some of my favorite EDC'able folders. I have it on my bucket list to get an Oeser, Menafee or Davis one of these days.
Thanks...a great suggestion. The Manix 2 XL has arrived and it feels good open, but closed is a different story. I'll be selling it in the next 48 hours. :grumpy:
Now to try the Manix 2 (standard) and some of the others you good folks have suggested.
:thumbup:
Really nice looking knives!
After getting the Kershaw/Emerson CQC-6K a few weeks ago, and liking its feel, I thought I was on the road to knife nirvana. Today, I realized what a challenge this is. Even looking at overall length, thickness, weight...well, I completely misjudged the Spyderco Manix 2 XL. It's an incredible knife, but I've got a hunch the Manix 2 will be exactly right. I just haven't yet developed the "instinct" for looking at the photos & reading the specs to know for sure. Fact is...I haven't had my hands on more than three of these "locking folders." Lots to learn.
I'm going to some knife shows, and will try to visit a couple of the big dealers in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I'll keep ordering, selling & paying return fees.
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The forum is really bad in that you get to see a ton of choices. Sometimes you end up finding the best suited daily users for oneself. From what I've seen on the forum that can translate to a $60 delica, $350 custom fixed blade, $2,000 Framelock from Russia.
I went through a period of 18 months when I went through 30-40 best budget folders under $150. I had a ton of fun buying, selling, trading. After all was said of done I might have put $300 into the hobby. Which is a pittance relative to all the knives I was able to try out. I still pick up and try out new knives for fun. But I'm pretty dialed into to three or four knife models/types myself. By and large:
I really like half whittler and two blade 3.25" closed slipjoints, narrower leaf bladed spydercos like the Delica and caly and the occasional flipper, I just ordered a Kershaw camber as I know I would never EDC a zt even though I really dig them. For the spydercos try to think about if the width of the blade on some of their models work for you or not!
Oh and I have a love hate/relationship with the large Sebenza. It's an awesome knife but by and large too big to carry and whip open in the suburbs of NYC.
PS I did what alot of the guys on the forum suggested and picked up the benchmark "reference" edc knives of the top three manufacturers. The Spyderco delica and endura; benchmade griptilian and mini grip and Kershaw blur. It gave me a solid inkling as to knife sizes in hand as there is a photo of each of these models pitted next to some knife that you might be interested in on the Internet
In at of cases if you love the knife but hate the scales, there are guys on the forum who do custom scales for between $60 and $125 usually.
I went through a period of 18 months when I went through 30-40 best budget folders under $150. I had a ton of fun buying, selling, trading. After all was said of done I might have put $300 into the hobby. Which is a pittance relative to all the knives I was able to try out. I still pick up and try out new knives for fun. But I'm pretty dialed into to three or four knife models/types myself. By and large:
I really like half whittler and two blade 3.25" closed slipjoints, narrower leaf bladed spydercos like the Delica and caly and the occasional flipper, I just ordered a Kershaw camber as I know I would never EDC a zt even though I really dig them. For the spydercos try to think about if the width of the blade on some of their models work for you or not!
Oh and I have a love hate/relationship with the large Sebenza. It's an awesome knife but by and large too big to carry and whip open in the suburbs of NYC.
PS I did what alot of the guys on the forum suggested and picked up the benchmark "reference" edc knives of the top three manufacturers. The Spyderco delica and endura; benchmade griptilian and mini grip and Kershaw blur. It gave me a solid inkling as to knife sizes in hand as there is a photo of each of these models pitted next to some knife that you might be interested in on the Internet
In at of cases if you love the knife but hate the scales, there are guys on the forum who do custom scales for between $60 and $125 usually.
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That's outstanding. If I can try/handle 30 knives for a "net handling fee" of $300 toward an investment in 5 or 6 of them, I'll feel like that's a big win. Within the last few minutes, I've learned that I can return the Manix 2 XL to Amazon for $6.00. So, it goes out tomorrow. I'm about to order the (standard) Manix 2.
Your plan may work for me, too!
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6sigma, welcome to knife collecting!
You seem like you're diving in head first! That's a good thing:thumbup:
The Manix 2 is a great knife, I was using mine earlier to cut some wood lathe. My only complaint about the Manix 2, is it's a little wide in the pocket, but that not a big deal considering how well the Manix performs.
Quick question, do you know how to sharpen your own knives? If you do, I'd recommend a Fallkniven DC4 pocket sharpener to go with your Manix 2. I keep one of those in my car, and it sharpens my Manix up really fast:thumbup:
If you didn't know, the Manix 2 has S30V steel, which can be a slight challenge to sharpen for some. Most of the challenges come from the high hardness and wear resistance of S30V. This is why I recomend the DC4 sharpener, it will easily cut through that tough S30V, but leave you a really sharp toothy edge.
Happy collecting, and welcome to Blade Forums!
Blues
You seem like you're diving in head first! That's a good thing:thumbup:
The Manix 2 is a great knife, I was using mine earlier to cut some wood lathe. My only complaint about the Manix 2, is it's a little wide in the pocket, but that not a big deal considering how well the Manix performs.
Quick question, do you know how to sharpen your own knives? If you do, I'd recommend a Fallkniven DC4 pocket sharpener to go with your Manix 2. I keep one of those in my car, and it sharpens my Manix up really fast:thumbup:
If you didn't know, the Manix 2 has S30V steel, which can be a slight challenge to sharpen for some. Most of the challenges come from the high hardness and wear resistance of S30V. This is why I recomend the DC4 sharpener, it will easily cut through that tough S30V, but leave you a really sharp toothy edge.
Happy collecting, and welcome to Blade Forums!
Blues
Thanks and yes, I'm head first into learning about these knives. Just to be clear - the knife I got today is the XL version of the Manix 2. There are things (other than size) that I'm not crazy about. Carrying a 5 or 6 ounce knife doesn't bother me. I don't like the skeletal liners on the XL. They make the G-10 scales feel weaker, though they are not. Also, for a knife this size, I find the proportion of the width of the handle to its thickness to be a little off. These are all things I could get used to, but I'd rather have a $150 knife that didn't have those kinds of annoyances. Maybe the Manix 2 is the right solution for a "first Spyderco."
As for sharpening, I've got some skills with old-fashioned stones, but I want to learn and improve my sharpening of some of the better/harder steels.