suggest a pry bar?

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
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It's been an interesting knife year for me, among the things I've learned this year is that I'm able to take care of about 90% of all my daily cutting chorse with either the Gerber LST or the boring old Swiss Army Knives I've carried since well before I was badly afflicted with the blade addiction.

What I'm looking for now are a hell bent for stout pry bar in folding and fixed blade designs, that can be carried frequently, if not every day. I don't have any absolute prerequisites, but there are a few preferences.

Folder:

I'd prefer to avoid a liner lock if possible
Imagine I'll be looking for a tanto blade, although I'm open to other stout tip designs
BIG emphasis on tip strength
3.5-4 inches preferrable
cutting efficiency isn't as high a priority as just plain not breaking and giving me a little bit of leeway for improvisation and foolishness.
price under $200

I've only considered a few

Buck Strider Tanto: only problem is the liner lock, but I might have to live with it.
CRKT M-16- the ones with the AUS-8 blades, seem like they'd be reasonably stout, and most of all if I do break it in some foolish act, my heart isn't broken as well (not gonna bother the warranty department when I know it's my own damn fault)
Spyderco Chinook- perfect, except the tip seems a bit on the delicate side

Also thinkin' about lookin' at some of the folders from TOPS, sans 747 magnums (just too darn big)

In the fixed blade category I've got alot of the same preferences.

Most likely a tanto blade, although I'll look towards others
3.5 to 4 inches
reasonably easy to carry
under $200

Among these I'm considering:

A few of the tanto blades from TOPS, but primarily thinkin' the "Night Chaser" Not much I can see wrong with it, but the thing just isn't calling out to me yet..haven't felt that "click"...know what I mean?

CRK Shadow- the one with the four inch blade and the leather pancake style sheath. Not a Tanto blade, but pretty thick tipped nonetheless, and definitely solid all around. should carry well under a jacket, or look pretty unassuming in open carry. (not a big deal around here)

Ka-Bar Impact series Tanto- seems well designed and to fit all other criteria, and best of all it's still moderately expendable if I do misuse it.

Busse Basic #3- perfect all around except the blade being a little on the short side.
Busse Killer Bee- looks like it matches most criteria, but I haven't handled one, and have questions about the tip strength

MOD Razorback- worth considering, although the blades a bit narrow,yhandle disappears in my forepaws and not a very versatile blade, but...it does look and feel pretty tough.

So far, that's what I've thought up, although I'm open to other suggestions.

As I said, nothin' set in concrete, but fitting that general criteria...

thanks for any input!
 
save yourself alot of heartache and go to home depot. they got prybars for 10 bucks that will last a lifetime and work better than any folder:) they have small ones too if you want something easily carryable.
 
Unhesitatingly recommend one of John Greco's 'Birds of Prey' model folders available here:

www.cqcknives.com

CQC Knives and David Bata are a great outfit to deal with. The sale they are offering right now is unbelievable for the quality of these knives. These are the toughest no-nonsense folders I personally know of. I can vouch for tip-strength etc. as I have had the pleasure of thrusting them thru everything from leather and heavy cardboard to a Maxwell House coffee can! They offer a thick stout blade and tip and a very tough frame (not liner!)lock.

I reviewed the Falcon model here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=208459

There are pics and specs there.

I have not personally pushed\abused Greco's fixed blades but I have several. For out and out 'stoutness' you may want to try and find one of his older 1/4" A2 steel model MST's or Companions. The newer ones hardly sacrifice anything in the way of toughness but are in a more practical .210" (basically 3/16")blade thickness. I have found all of his handle designs very comfortable for me, but that is a subjective thing and will differ between users.

Good Luck in you search...

Mongrel
 
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=739

the Himlayan Imports forum here,

or

www.himalayan-imports.com

Khukuris are great all around and

come in a dozen basic styles

and sizes from 6" to 30". Check it out.

Khukuri FAQ
http://www.tx3.net/~howardw/Khukuris/KhukuriFAQ.htm#

Testing a Khukuri
http://www.tx3.net/~howardw/Khukuris/Testing.htm

BladeCheck.jpg
 
"Technically" these are folders with blades under 4" and they aren't liner-locks...hey you never said that the handle has to be under 10" :)

spydercodiveprobes.jpg
 
Should you find you need a small neck prybar, I just recieved a TOPS Street Scapel via UPS. It looks to be very well made and strong, and the sheath is a quality piece as well. There are some similar custom brands - Livesay, Greco, MMHW - that are a little cheaper and great value for the price, but this TOPS knife looks to me to be a step above the aforementioned brands.
 
Strider. Period. Have the BT, (Fixed blade) its indestructible. They have a tanto folder (GB?) that will fit your needs. I don't think the lock fits your desires, but you'll live with it. The second you touch a Strider for the first time, you're hooked! They are also a bit pricier than you were looking, but you'll never have to replace them!

Drjones
 
Beggin' yer pardon Dr Jones but IMHO the BD is a better prybar than the BT :) (though these aren't exactly concealable)

I agree about Strider...like potato chips, you can't have only one...

striderBDmine7.jpg


RL
 
The plain-edge Cold Steel large Tanto Voyager might be one to take a look at. While I don't know how well the (back-lock) would hold up to "pry-bar tasks", I'm pretty sure that the blade would do okay, as it's pretty thick.:).
 
RL: ALL Striders have been called "prybars with an edge." And I too, beg to differ: I've got my BT strapped to my calf under my pants here at work, and no one is the wiser! :D :D :D :cool:

Drjones
 
Benchmade 722- VERY strong design with a stout tip. It features an Axis Lock which is in my experiance a VERY strong reliable lock. They can be had for way under $200.00 at 1sks.com .

Emerson CQC7 A or B. I've carried a CQC7 B tanto point since 1999 and it has seved me well. My wife carries a CQC7 A Spear point and she loves hers as well. I just picked up a 2002 CQC7B and it is a little more refined than my old aged 1999. While it has a liner lock, I've never ever experianced a failure or even a flinch out of mine. Rock solid day in and day out. Plus Emerson customer service will spoil you on any other company. They are a company that leads the way in CS in my IMHO. While the Emerson knives are chisel ground this is not a drawback in my experiance. Like all change it takes a little getting used to. Some people complain that you can't get a chisel edge as sharp as a traditional double grind. I say get the right tools for the job and a chisel grind will decimate a double grind it terms of edge retention(assuming propper heat treat and equal quality steel) and sharpness.

There are a good many other folders that fall into your criteria but those two are the ones that stick out in my mind as top competitors.

If you are willing to up the anti on you budget go for the Strider AR or GB Folders. They are king of the folder hll in a good many peoples eyes.
 
Buy a Strider folder. Any of them. You will not believe your eyes when you actually hold one for the first time. ;)
 
Somehow the word prybar makes me think of the Becker TacTool.....
 
Could only suggest a folder, I don't use FBs much.

Buck Strider Tanto as you already said fits the bill, also glockman mentioned the CS Voyager tanto, you can get it in the blade size you want or go up to the 6" model.
 
In a FB, the <i><b>Terzula Entry Tool</b></i> comes to mind. Busse also makes sense.

In a folder, you are fooling yourself. Even if the tip survives, the pivot won't, at least not without some damage. For my experience, there's only a Sebenza that has a chance, but they're way over your price limit.
 
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