Recommendation? Searching for the one

[The Zieg]

Hi Everyone,

I've been looking for a new knife for weeks but just can't seem to find 'the one'. I'm from Canada and with how vague the knife laws here are it mostly boils down to the mood of the police officer and how much they like you. I'm trying to find something that is still functional but doesn't have a high chnace of being objectionable.

These are my criteria:

~3" blade from good stock
No auto or assisted openers
No locks that turn the knife into a gravity knife when pressed (Button, cross-bar etc)
No flipper tabs
No agro design
Open to slip joints but no "old man" knives
Something functional and beautiful
Budget ~300 CAD but less would be better.

Currently the MKM Fara and Root are high on my list, like the Pena X Apache but can't seem to find one in Canada, Fox Vox Tur was a contender, also Boker Model 10. and M4 also really nice but a little too expensive.

I would really appreciate any reccomendations you guys may have, all tehse knives are great but none are jumping out at me as "the one".

Thank you guys so much.

Looks like you have a well thought out list of criteria. However, in the immortal words of Dan Savage, "There is no 'The One'; just the 0.75 you round up to 'The One'." Even if I were a custom knife maker building my perfect knife, there would inevitably be compromises.

But the search is fun, isn't it!

 

[D4v30]

Looks like you have a well thought out list of criteria. However, in the immortal words of Dan Savage, "There is no 'The One'; just the 0.75 you round up to 'The One'." Even if I were a custom knife maker building my perfect knife, there would inevitably be compromises.

But the search is fun, isn't it!

You know, you couldn't be more right. I think it's just because I can really only afford one really nice knife for this summer I want to find something I'm going to love. Not being able to actually handle them makes that task even harder so I thought I'd get the thoughts of people who maybe already have.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

The CBSA policy has only been in place for the past 3 years and I am most certainly not taking it out of context, the law specifically states flippers. I'm glad that you've gotten lucky but I've known of several people who have had their knives turned away.

There is a difference between carrying a knife as a weapon and carrying e prohibited item. You can carry a knife as a tool but if that knife is prohibited then you can't carry it at all.

Knives are tuned by the manufacturer, when you go over-tightening the pivot to the point where you can't wrist flick with the lock released it ruins that tuning and just takes the joy out of the knife.

Seems to me wherever you have that horseshoe lodged (I think I know where) it's definitely working for you.

You're darn right I'm not your bud.

The rules you are quoting are CBSA import laws.
Canada laws do not state that you cannot own or carry a flipper tab knife. Or a button lock knife for that matter.
If this was the case, there would be three very large Canadian knife dealers who would have almost no stock.
You can buy BM’s, and all sorts of flipper tab knives from Canadian dealers, so there would be no need for cross border shopping.

Just trying to help you out, and help you carry what is legal in Canada. But clearly I am not welcome here.

Blues my apologies for previous posts...I’ll show myself out.

 

[D4v30]

The rules you are quoting are CBSA import laws.
Canada laws do not state that you cannot own or carry a flipper tab knife. Or a button lock knife for that matter.
If this was the case, there would be three very large Canadian knife dealers who would have almost no stock.
You can buy BM’s, and all sorts of flipper tab knives from Canadian dealers, so there would be no need for cross border shopping.

Just trying to help you out, and help you carry what is legal in Canada. But clearly I am not welcome here.

Blues my apologies for previous posts...I’ll show myself out.

Yes those are the CBSA rules for import, it's a little puzzling why they where changed to no longer reflect the Canadian criminal code but here we are.

I will maintain button locks, or any lock that releases the blade into essentially a gravity knife, is a gray area in the criminal code. The way the law is worded implies that pressing a button that releases the blade into a free moving blade turns it into a gravity or centrifugal knife. So it's really going to depend how much the LEO likes you when they are inspecting your blade. Like you said, you could tighten the pivot so that won't work but takings beautifully tuned knife and doing that to it should be a crime in itself.

What you can own and what you can carry in public are two different things. These dealers also get away with selling butterfly knives and automatic opening knives, neither of which you could legally carry.

I appreciate your help but I know what I want to carry I just can't find the knife I want to buy.

 

[Blues]

Nobody has to leave the discussion of knives that satisfy what the OP is seeking.

If we are going to continue arguing knife laws, that is not for this forum and this thread will be moved to the appropriate section.

Move along or the thread moves. OP...ball is in your court.

In any case, as long as there are no more personal attacks, no warnings will be issued.

 

[D4v30]

Nobody has to leave the discussion of knives that satisfy what the OP is seeking.

If we are going to continue arguing knife laws, that is not for this forum and this thread will be moved to the appropriate section.

Move along or the thread moves. OP...ball is in your court.

In any case, as long as there are no more personal attacks, no warnings will be issued.

With respect, simply because the course of discusson has briefly strayed it doesn't change the original or continued intent of the thread.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

What about a Spyderco Persistance?

I’ll keep mulling over your criteria in my head and see what else I can come up with.

 

[Blues]

With respect, simply because the course of discusson has briefly strayed it doesn't change the original or continued intent of the thread.

We shall see. The continuing discussion will tell. (And I'd hardly call your give and take brief.)

No need to reply.

 

[The Zieg]

With respect, simply because the course of discusson has briefly strayed it doesn't change the original or continued intent of the thread.

Back to the original point, I am going to second the Buck 112. I know it is not exactly tickling your fancy (jeez, what a horrible phrase, right?), but it does check off quite a few of your boxes. Here is my one attempt to persuade you: Blade length, steel quality, durability, legality, options for customization, and even carry options (I carry 110s and 112s in a slip that has a pocket clip on it to keep the knife upright and easily retrieved--there are clip options for the newer 112 slim versions, but I'm not a clip guy myself. The "clipped slip" allows me to carry a 110 or 112 as though I just dropped it into my pocket.). The 112 is also a great outdoor knife for so many tasks. One need only consult YouTube for bushcrafting and camping with a 112. Is it an "old man knife"? Well, I guess so. But then you'll be an old man, too, someday! Embrace your inner old man!

The drawbacks I see to the 112 for you is that it may be a bit heavy compared to its Spyderco or Benchmade style cohorts. It also lacks a thumbstud and one hand lock release, making it for most folks a two handed knife (though I have no trouble manipulating a 112 one handed for opening and closing, just not lightning fast). But these also make the 112 friendlier to the Great Unwashed we keep talking about here; and as that has exercised your mind a great deal, the 112 should ease those concerns.

Finally, you can beat up a 112 and it still works. They polish up, sharpen up, and can be handed down. They also resell here on BF. Buck's SPA service is first rate, too.

Again, enjoy your search and let us know what you end up with. It's very gratifying to see how these conversations turn out.

 

[D4v30]

What about a Spyderco Persistance?

I’ll keep mulling over your criteria in my head and see what else I can come up with.

You know, just when I thought I've seen all the Spyderco's theres another one lol

Nice little knife though, definitely add that to my list.

Back to the original point, I am going to second the Buck 112. I know it is not exactly tickling your fancy (jeez, what a horrible phrase, right?), but it does check off quite a few of your boxes. Here is my one attempt to persuade you: Blade length, steel quality, durability, legality, options for customization, and even carry options (I carry 110s and 112s in a slip that has a pocket clip on it to keep the knife upright and easily retrieved--there are clip options for the newer 112 slim versions, but I'm not a clip guy myself. The "clipped slip" allows me to carry a 110 or 112 as though I just dropped it into my pocket.). The 112 is also a great outdoor knife for so many tasks. One need only consult YouTube for bushcrafting and camping with a 112. Is it an "old man knife"? Well, I guess so. But then you'll be an old man, too, someday! Embrace your inner old man!

The drawbacks I see to the 112 for you is that it may be a bit heavy compared to its Spyderco or Benchmade style cohorts. It also lacks a thumbstud and one hand lock release, making it for most folks a two handed knife (though I have no trouble manipulating a 112 one handed for opening and closing, just not lightning fast). But these also make the 112 friendlier to the Great Unwashed we keep talking about here; and as that has exercised your mind a great deal, the 112 should ease those concerns.

Finally, you can beat up a 112 and it still works. They polish up, sharpen up, and can be handed down. They also resell here on BF. Buck's SPA service is first rate, too.

Again, enjoy your search and let us know what you end up with. It's very gratifying to see how these conversations turn out.

haha yes, yes the 112, I know it's a solid work-horse of a knife. You have persuaded me to add it to my list. Buck is starting to come out of hteir shell a bit with some of their newer offerings. I really like the small folding Selkirk but that 420hc...I just can't do it.

 

[The Zieg]

You know, just when I thought I've seen all the Spyderco's theres another one lol

Nice little knife though, definitely add that to my list.



haha yes, yes the 112, I know it's a solid work-horse of a knife. You have persuaded me to add it to my list. Buck is starting to come out of hteir shell a bit with some of their newer offerings. I really like the small folding Selkirk but that 420hc...I just can't do it.

No worry about the 420HC as there are other options, as you certainly know. My aluminum framed 110 from Copper & Clad has S30V, which I manifestly did NOT like at first. It has a durable edge, but not so durable that I don't have to sharpen it, and it was a b!+(# to sharpen. I have since learned to sharpen a Bos-heat-treated S30V blade, though, and I'm enjoying the steel.

Anyhoodles, as Jim Brockmire would say, I'm off to play with horses, toting an Opinel N°10 in that pocket slip I mentioned. This thing is a wrist-flick-opening lightsaber that only frightens baling twine, cardboard boxes, cheese and bread, and the occasional small game animal.

 

[dirc]

you can get 112 and 110 in s30v these days, which have an excellent BOS heat treatment

I'm in Canada also, and I've carried a knife every day for more than 40 years with never a bad LEO encounter. The few times they've noticed my clip & ask, I show them my GB2 or kershaw leek.

The GB2 is my grail, and the leek is a low cost, ultimate small edc, they really do a great job with 14c28n