Strongest folder for 500 $?

V

veleno

Joined
Oct 12, 2005
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46
I have 500 dollars and I'm looking for a very sturdy folder knife that, in case of necessity, can take heavy use.

Now I'm considering:

- Strider SmF
- Hinderer XM-18 (difficult to find for me :rolleyes:)
- Chris Reeve Umnumzaan

The SnG is perfect for my medium size hand, but I'm attracted by the longer blade of the SmF. My fear is the handle is not comfortable for me. What can you say me?

The Umnumzaan (what an ugly name) is a beautiful knife, but I would be more confident with a thicker blade and I'm not sure about the handle grip (SnG is fantastic under this point of view).

I would be also interested in the Strider RC (a little expensive), but the recurve blade doesn't seem very appreciated.

What do you suggest me? Are there better folders in that price range?
 
Get yourself the Umnum and take your left over hundred and get an RC3 or 4 and you will be covered for anything
 
bobnery said:
and get an RC3 or 4 and you will be covered for anything
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I don't like to carry a fixed blade and normally I don't need it, I would want a very good folder that in an emergency situation can serve me without failing.
 
Get Umnum and small fixed like RAT Izula. If you're not custom to carry fixed blades, small Izula is good way to get used in nice small fixed blades. And then you have some extra money to buy something nice. A good movie or similar or just save it.
 
I would have to say Strider SMF, they are a real tank, extremely strong. :D
 
Maybe the ER RAO? They sure look strong. Super ugly, but strong.

Honestly, the ZT0500 is as strong as I'd ever need a folder to be. Plus it's way under your budget (you could get three of 'em).
 
Having owned the XM, the SMF, the ZT 0301, and receiving an Umnumzaan this week I can say that I would skip the Umnumzaan. Compared to the others it feels dainty, has a thin tip, and has a skinny, unergonomic handle that I find lacking.

The SMF would be my recomendation of the group for a hard use knife, even though it has the poorest fit and finish. The XM is also fantastic and is actually my favorite overall of these, but the grip of the SMF feels slightly better in my hand for a strictly hard use scenario.
 
For that much money you can get a custom folder, and have the lock and pivots made extremely strong. You can also get it in one of the tougher carbon steels.
 
Phillip Dobson said:
Maybe the ER RAO? They sure look strong. Super ugly, but strong.

Honestly, the ZT0500 is as strong as I'd ever need a folder to be. Plus it's way under your budget (you could get three of 'em).
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I was thinking about the ER RAO too, but as you say they are just ugly. LOL :)

Biginboca said:
Having owned the XM, the SMF, the ZT 0301, and receiving an Umnumzaan this week I can say that I would skip the Umnumzaan. Compared to the others it feels dainty, has a thin tip, and has a skinny, unergonomic handle that I find lacking.

The SMF would be my recomendation of the group for a hard use knife, even though it has the poorest fit and finish. The XM is also fantastic and is actually my favorite overall of these, but the grip of the SMF feels slightly better in my hand for a strictly hard use scenario.
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The newer generation SmF's are MUCH better than the older ones, fit and finish are excellent. I have 2 and they are just outstanding. :thumbup:
 
Biginboca said:
Having owned the XM, the SMF, the ZT 0301, and receiving an Umnumzaan this week I can say that I would skip the Umnumzaan. Compared to the others it feels dainty, has a thin tip, and has a skinny, unergonomic handle that I find lacking.
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Yes the Umnumzaan is more "knife-ish," and the XM-18 is more "prybar-ish."

I think they could both get the crap beat out of them, but your right the Umnum's tip is thin, in fact it's thinner than a normal Sebenza's. Makes for a great pointy knife, but makes for a bad prybar.

Truth be told I'v had a MSC Nightmare DGG SMF also had a RC, and a RCC and a bunch of other "hard use folders," and still have a few tough guy knives. :D I would say a Kirby Lambert Fireball is the the top dawg. It's BIG, and the recurve may not be for everybody... it's a BEAST and a half!!! But, if you think a XM-18 is hard to find try finding a Fireball :o

IMG_2728.jpg


IMG_2743.jpg
 
Hmmmm $500 start with a Kershaw Skyline and put the rest in the bank. By the time you wear it out you maybe able to get a new one on the interest your other $465 earned!

I personally would never spend that much unless i thought it would appreciate in value i.e. high end custom from famous maker .

MG
 
mgordon said:
Hmmmm $500 start with a Kershaw Skyline and put the rest in the bank. By the time you wear it out you maybe able to get a new one on the interest your other $465 earned!

I personally would never spend that much unless i thought it would appreciate in value i.e. high end custom from famous maker .

MG
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The Skyline is a gents knife, about as far away from a "hard use" knife as you can possibly get. The thin hollow ground blade cuts great but not great for "hard use," the same can be said for it's thin liner lock ;)

Not bashing the Skyline, mine had great fit and finish... and for the money I think it is a GREAT buy, but far from what the OP is looking for..


YMMV
 
So-Lo said:
The Skyline is a gents knife, about as far away from a "hard use" knife as you can possibly get. Thin hollow ground blade cuts great but not great for "hard use," the same can be said for it's thin liner lock ;)

Not bashing the Skyline, mine had great fit and finish... and for the money I think it is a GREAT buy, but far from why the OP is looking for..


YMMV and probably will
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doesn't have to be a skyline but im sure there are "hard use" knives that can be had for far less than $500 and still get the job done with plenty left over.

Different opinions i guess.

MG
 
I would not get a Strider if you are in Italy, their QC such as it is is patchy and its a real pain to send them back from Italy and getting it through customs more than once.
 
Phillip Dobson said:
Maybe the ER RAO? They sure look strong. Super ugly, but strong.
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Very, very ugly. :barf:

No doubt about its strongness, but is this a folder?? :thumbdn:
It was made for an Italian special corp with particular needs... but as civilian at this point I prefer a fixed blade.

rio said:
get this , it is a tank:):thumbup::thumbup:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=678349
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These are interesting folders, but they don't seem popular and it's not easy to find opinions.
The handle seems not very comfortable.

cotdt said:
For that much money you can get a custom folder, and have the lock and pivots made extremely strong.
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I don't know well custom folders.
I like Tom Mayo and Darrel Ralph, but I have no idea how their folders are compared to other tough production knives.

Ankerson said:
The newer generation SmF's are MUCH better than the older ones, fit and finish are excellent. I have 2 and they are just outstanding. :thumbup:
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Good to hear that!

Can anyone tell me if the SmF is good for a medium size hand?
The handle of Strider folders is quite particular and I have no idea if in these dimension fits well my hand.


Thanks to all for the help. ;)
 
mgordon said:
Hmmmm $500 start with a Kershaw Skyline
MG
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Theres always one :rolleyes:

anywho from what youve selected i think that the strider would be the way i would go. ive been leaning toward fixed blades lately so i never decided to buy one but ive handled quite a few of their folders and even more of their fixed and i think they are amazingly tough knives

if you wanna save a few bcks i also suggest looking at the zero tolerance line, the 300 is a beast of a knife i own one and its probably the toughest folder i have (except maybe my sebbies) its a big big folder tho so it may not be quite what your looking for. Also you should take a look at the jim burke semi production rockstar i think they are about $300 now and they are supposed to be some amazingly stout knives.


good luck on your hunt.
 
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