Sleeper Knives

Runs With Scissors · Jun 20, 2001

It seems that most of us like to talk about the higher end knives, Benchmade, Microtech, MOD, Emerson, Chris Reeve, etc. and high performance is usually considered the norm with these knives. I was actually curious what knives in your collections are the underdog knives? the ones that came at a cheap price, no name, shortlived design, bad rep, you get the idea....knives that have performed above and beyond any expectation that you may have had, and basically managed to surprise and impress the heck out of you.

Out of my own collection that knife would be (surprisingly) a Gerber Bolt Action. I don't even know what model it would be. It's got a four inch blade, thick spine, chunky handle. Overall this knife is similar in size to the Duane Dieter CQD, or the new TOPS CQT folders. I picked it up (used?) for $25 recently. thus far it has taken and retained a hellaciously sharp cutting edge, it's smooth, ergonomic, tight and an all around good performer. another neat feature about it is the sheath that seems to be designed to hold the knife in both an open and a closed position. by carrying the knife open it leaves just enough room in the pouch for a standard sized leatherman, a small sharpener, a flint, and ever a bit of trioxane. by tying a long lanyard to the sheath I have a knife, some cord, and a source of flame, which I think is pretty darn cool! So, anyways...I guess that's my best "sleeper" knife, what about yours?

sevenedges · Jun 20, 2001

Well my best sleeper knife is unavailable right now because as always he seems to be sleepy.

But It would have to be the ATS-34 gerber e-z out i onced owned. Not bad for thirty bucks.

Later, Jeff

Centurian · Jun 20, 2001

By "sleeper" I guess your refering to being faily cheap, ok that sounds bad. How about "easy on the pocket book". I would have to say the Cold Steel XL Voyager.(old style w/ plasic clip) About $50.00. The thing has dressed all kinds of game, been used as pry tool, hammer, chizzle, shear...give me a little more time and I'll through in paintbrush,or vaccum cleaner. It still holds a great edge. Was only recently retired for a SIFU.
A friend along time ago had a Gerber Bolt Action great knife.

Safety Guy · Jun 20, 2001

I too own a Bolt Action. It replaced my Buck Scoutlite as my carry knife in the early eighties. Still have it and still love it.

Karl

kirch · Jun 20, 2001

I've said this before but it bears repeating. I think the best "sleeper line" out there is Grohmann. I use a #3 for hunting and a #1 for camping and have never been disappointed. Each knife cost me about $40. And they look good, too.

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"I can't believe you stabbed me with this cheap piece of mail-order sh*t"
James Caan in 'Eraser'

Velitrius · Jun 20, 2001

I also have the Gerber Bolt Action. It's been an excellent knife for years now. Still tight and strong. The sheath is long gone, but that's no biggie to me.

The other factory knife that I will never get rid of is the Schrade Sharpfinger. This thing never ceases to amaze me. I think my dad won this one on a tavern punchboard a long time ago. It makes it hunting, fishing, camping and miscellaneous abusive activities with me and never complains. Takes an evil edge with really no effort at all and hangs onto it long enough for me.

Matter of fact, I think I better head down to the tavern today, get some "shopping" done.

Bobwhite · Jun 20, 2001

Lets hear it for Old Timers, Opinels and Frosts of Sweden. Cheap, no frills, great steels and proven performers.

Ravenn · Jun 20, 2001

I agree with Kirch..
Can't beat the Grohmann line. i use the #3 for hunting and camping. As a matter of fact..in a crunch, my three bug out blades are:
A Chas. Saier forged 6.5" camp knife, , a #3 Grohmann, and a SAK hiker( w/saw). If I can't handle it with oneof the three..."Chu HOI"...
Ravenn in KY.

GigOne · Jun 20, 2001

I still have a Gerber EZ Out that has taken a severe beating and is still ticking.

But, the most impressive "sleeper" that I have is a Browning Barracuda 603 ! OAL is 8 (blade length 3.5). Serratred modified tanto blade made of AUS-8A. Ti coated flats with a double hallow grind. Titanium liners and cheapo Zytel/KEVLAR scales (with checkered Krayton rubber inlays).

But what a knife ! Super sharp. Edge retention is very good and takes little effort to bring the edge back to spec's. . . Cleans up rather nicely too. Picked it up at a local gun shop sale for $38. . .

Only draw back is that it can't be taken apart.

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Livin' Life ~ Full Throttle
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matthew rapaport · Jun 20, 2001

Mora2000 Survival Knife obtained from Ragnar's Ragweed Forge for $26 (incl shipping I believe). 5" blade 1" wide, thin (1/16") unusual grind, plastic handle that is nevertheless very comfortable and grippy. Cuts great and easy to sharpen.

Cosmic Superchunk · Jun 20, 2001

My "sleeper" is the Myerchin Navigator Pro.
This is a great rigging knife as are all of Myerchin's offerings. Another is the Beretta Airlight (aluminum).

[This message has been edited by el cid (edited 06-20-2001).]

PhilL · Jun 21, 2001

I think the All Time Winner in Sleeper Knives has to be Opinel, at around $10-$12 a knife in a full range of sizes, with excellent cutting ability and a superior design, it's a hard knife to beat. In fact buying anything more is just showing off because anything you can do with your $20-$50-$100 or $200+ knife you can do with an Opinel.
While I was at Blade Show I saw on someone's table an Opinel with wire inlay by Bill Moran. I didn't ask the price, but it did get me thinking. Somewhere down the line I'd like to do a collection of dressed up Opinels. So far I haven't seen a lot of them. but I do know they exist. To me they're the height of a good common sense knife.

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jacknife · Jun 20, 2001

I think Opinel is hard to beat too. This is a bicentenary model I bought in Paris, it's numbered 002323, a No.8, Couteau Du Bicentenaire 1789/1989, and it cost about £20 then.

dePaul · Jun 20, 2001

What sleeper??

I´d have to say all of my Mora Frosts of Sweden (about 8 of them).

The latest, Viking, features a high carbon (not stainless) steel and holds its edge quite well.

The handle is manufacturered out of a very ugly hollow, reddish plastic. Wonder, where it is situated on the HRC scale. Guess somewhere about 56.

RH · Jun 20, 2001

Phil, I like the Opinels and think they are great for a 100+ year old design, and they have a place in the world. However, here are just a few things that I cannot do with my Opinel, but I can do with almost every other folder I own...
- clip it to my pocket
- open it with one hand without having it considered a 'gravity knife'
- lock automatically on the open stroke
- unlock with one hand
- close it with one hand
- not worry about it staining, rusting, or swelling to the point of not functioning if it gets a little wet

alex_111 · Jun 20, 2001

old-style bucklite. you know, the ones that came in either black, od green, or bright orange (mine's orange). basically the plastic version of a 112. i normally hate bucks, except for the 110 & 112, but this little guy has come through more than i ever expected it to. (i even bought a second one recently, same old style, from a dude on ebay!)
before that, gerber e-z out. takes a shaving edge with no problem, and always has. many memories associated with that knife...
peace.
aleX.

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"i flip you... i flip you for real..."

"come and get one in the yarbles, if you've got any yarbles."

[This message has been edited by alex_111 (edited 06-21-2001).]

db · Jun 20, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by RH:
Phil, I like the Opinels and think they are great for a 100+ year old design, and they have a place in the world. However, here are just a few things that I cannot do with my Opinel, but I can do with almost every other folder I own...
- clip it to my pocket
- open it with one hand without having it considered a 'gravity knife'
- lock automatically on the open stroke
- unlock with one hand
- close it with one hand
- not worry about it staining, rusting, or swelling to the point of not functioning if it gets a little wet </font>

Opinel's are made out of wood a clip can be put on very easily.
I surly can open unlock and close an Opinel with no trouble at all. I think it not locking automatically is a +. Btw they are now made with a stainless steal also but I still like the tool steal better. Mora and Opinil have to be the best for the money I have seen. Btw the opinel lock has to be the safest lock on a folder

RH · Jun 20, 2001

To each his own, I guess...

- putting a clip (and can you buy these clips at your local Home Depot?) on a cylindrical handle would be more tricky than you let on
- why would you not want it to lock automatically?
- I think to argue the twist-collar is the safest is simply silly. If that were true, it would have been more widely adapted & improved, don't you? The lock has several weaknesses - it relies on the user's strength and tecnique to put it in place and under enough tension. It has no positive detent to know when you've twisted it enough, or to stop it from un-twisting during use.

As I said, I think it's a great 100 year old design, and I keep one in the kitchen drawer for picnicking (the most like a 'folding kitchen knife' to use in public). I think they are a charming item that any colector should have at least one of. But by simply moving into the $20-$30 range of Gerber, Buck, Schrade,... you can make leaps and bounds of functionality.

The General · Jun 20, 2001

Three blades, my Endura 98 and my Gerber EZ-OUT ATS-34 knives. For the money they are practically throw away when dull! (well compared to the price of some of my folders

) Yet they work very well and have never let me down.

Another thing, notice how a knife like this is more useful in the field than your Sebi or LCC D/A? Well it is to me, otherwise I spend the whole outing worrying about damaging my expensive 'toy'

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Wayne.
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LizardKing · Jun 20, 2001

Gerber LST

Lightweight cheap, this knife has been with me for more than 6 years, the blade is thin enough for it to take a great edge, plus it doesnt scare my mother