Suggestions for a self defence and work purpose folder!

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DavidCY80

Joined
Nov 15, 2008
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10
Guys, need suggestions for a self defence and work purpose EDC folder around 8" within $200. Nothing more to say for self defence, heavy duty job will not to be applied frequently, it will only happens under some extreme circumstance whick I am not sure if there is such a chance, little outdoor use together with my fixed blade HRLM.
Personally prefer non-serration, non-tanto, non-coating or black-coating., purely usa made production knive.
The ones in mind are: Benchmade 635, Benchmade 32, Emerson Mini-Commander.
Never handle a folder, so indeed need ur guys help this out.
With thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Oh, yeah, I mean OA length 8"!!!!!!!!!
And yes, I expect a strong folder including a thicker blade and tough lock.
BTW: IS there any 8" blade length folder in the market??? haha , curious!!!!!!
 
Thanks for the previous, but I do not know why, just somehow I am not interested in kinda Spyderco look.
Benchmade is great to me.
 
Well it's a bit longer than 8" (8.5 or so) and the recurved blade is somewhat tanto-ish, but I doubt you'll find at the typical online price of approx $130 a better made folder than the awesome, tank-like Zero Tolerance ZT200.
And it will scare many bad guys :-)
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And should you be able to live with the fact that it's (expertedly!) made in Japan, a very good and not too heavy other choice would be a Mcusta MC12 or MC12D series knife. These exist both in pure VG10 and "layered" damascus versions, and they offer that smooth Mcusta quality. Open length is exactly 8"
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Trying any of the above two knives in a shop means adopting them. They're that good.

BTW: IS there any 8" blade length folder in the market??? haha , curious!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Well, the monstrous Opinel #13 has a blade that's even a bit bigger than that at almost 9"...
 
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Wooo, thanks Dragon, ZT 0200 rocks, just a little larger. But still I will put on the wish-list, haha !
 
just get a 40 dollar made in china benchmade vex with the tanto edge and serrations, even though its almost the exact opposite of what you asked for it is ideal for self defese/utility, its well made and doesnt cost much at all.

i like my 40 dollar vex more than my 150 dollar emerson cqc14

bm10751bp.jpg
 
Cold Steel RECON 1
Specifications:
Weight: 5.6 oz.
Blade Thick: 9/64" (3.5mm)
Blade Length: 4"
Handle: 5 1/3" long. G-10
Steel: AUS 8A Stainless
Overall Length: 9 1/3" Black Teflon¨ Finish
Sheath: Ultra Lock™ with Ambidextrous Stainless Pocket Clip

It is a bit long but the lock is very strong. It is similar to an axis lock from benchmade. Watch the video on the url below. A 160 lb guy hangs on the knife handle when it is stuck in wood. You can skip the first 3 mins of the video where they cut up a bunch of stuff.

http://www.coldsteel.com/reconi.html
 
Of the 3 knives you mentioned, I'd pick between the Commander and the 635. The BM 32 is a great knife, but I personally don't think a balisong is a great knife for self defense. There's just too much complicated movement for high stress environments where quick thinking and action is required. I like the Commander overall even though I'm not a fan of liner locks for SD.
 
DavidCY80 said:
Guys, need suggestions for a self defence and work purpose EDC folder around 8" within $200. Nothing more to say for self defence, heavy duty job will not to be applied frequently, it will only happens under some extreme circumstance whick I am not sure if there is such a chance, little outdoor use together with my fixed blade HRLM.
Personally prefer non-serration, non-tanto, non-coating or black-coating., purely usa made production knive.
The ones in mind are: Benchmade 635, Benchmade 32, Emerson Mini-Commander.
Never handle a folder, so indeed need ur guys help this out.
With thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

A purely American-made knife... Look for one with American steel, then, not the ones that say, "made in USA" but use foreign steels.

Spyderco Military (S30V, S90V, BG-42) is a good choice.
Spyderco Chinook is also a good choice. It's actually made for MBC.
Benchmade AFCK if you can find one.
Any Benchmade Blue Class knife (most of them).
 
Spyderco Military. I know you said that you typically don't like spyderco looks, but once you handle the knife, you'll love it. You could also try the P'kia (I botched the spelling. It's a "P" and a ' not sure what comes after.) It's got the Emerson Wave opener on it, opens faster. Chinook I have not personally handled, but it also looks like an amazing SD blade.
 
Great help guys! I think I have got some ideas and yes I will say if I have the chance I will pick myabe axis-lock folder (like Benchmade) or back-lock folder (like Spyderco). Personally I am not a fan of liner-lock or the advanced mono-lock, frame-lock etc. Very unprefessionally I will concern about the strength of the locking sysytem fof the liner-lock knids. I was told that the bali is kinda strongest locking system among "Folding" knives.
Well move on guys, ur posts are so useful!
 
> Personally I am not a fan of liner-lock or the advanced mono-lock, frame-lock etc. Very unprefessionally I will concern about the strength of the locking sysytem fof the liner-lock knids.

You would notice that the liner lock on a ZT200 is a beefy and tank-like as the rest of the knife... It is very, very reliable.

(from guns.ru):
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and HERE is a good video review of the ZT200.
 
I would feel much more secure with a liner lock from a Zero Tolerance or Strider folder if I had to go with a liner lock for SD.
 
Dragon, thanks for the video link u gave me. Pretty and hard core knive the ZT200 is. After reconsidering them, I will put a list like BM520, BM32, ZT200, EMERSON MINI-COMM. I will pass the Bm635 for sure.
Thanks!
 
Some folks are strongly of the opinion that a knife is not/should not be used for self defense. I've seen that sentiment over and over on the forum, but I don't really understand why.

It's a serious question I'm asking to ask why.

I've had a long standing interest in self defense, and my instructor encourages us to carry a folder for general utility. And, God forbid, should one be in a situation where their life is threatened, such a thing could be pressed into service using the types of techniques we practice with rubber knives in training.

I honestly wonder why this is considered "not an option."

And getting back to the OP's question, to the extent that there "could" be a situation in which self defense might be reasonably and effectively assisted by use of a folding knife, is anyone else concerned, besides me, that the spydercos seem a little toy-like?

I have a smaller spyderco (either the endura or delica--can't remember which, but it's the smaller of the two). It's been a great all-round cutting tool, and easy to deploy with one hand, but I would expect the blade to just snap out of the handle if it struck anything hard, like, bone, for a hypothetical example.

Thoughts greatly appreciated..

Brent
 
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