Taking advice.

J

JDBraddy

Joined
Sep 20, 2002
Messages
217
Esav Benyamin
Gold Member

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Pompton Plains NJ USA
Posts: 3079
One pattern we all end up seeing years later is that we buy a succession of inexpensive knives, each slightly more expensive but better than the last. Why not skip the intermediate steps? Buy one quick & dirty, cheap but good enough folder for now, and then save save save for a finer selection of a few really good custom or semi-custom users.
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The above advise was given on another thread, but I decided it sounded like pretty good advice. I think I'll take it.

First things first. I need to decide on one quick and dirty, cheep but good enouh folder for now. It should be better than average steel, should feel good in the hand, have a 3.5-4" clip point blade with a point down pocket clip and a strong lock, I prefer a conservative design, black or grey is ok, preferably under $100. I know their's probably no shortage of kives that fit that criteria, perhapse you guys could narrow the best choices down for me, to mabey a top five picks?
 
The Camillus EDC is a good place to start, 1SKS has them for $49.99, and if you find one used it can go much lower. Great framelock for the price.
 
My buddy Don Rac hit it right on the head...(Hey Don, let's go shootin' again soon eh?)

I've been at this game of hard using folders for around, god, I dunno, 10 years now...and I've found only 3 (of 40+ 'latest and greatest') knives that work...and I mean really 'hard use' can't kill 'um style locking folders, with solid lock up, that work...

Two are Spyderco's, both discontinued, both with 50/50 blades, both with G2 steel...the Spyderco Endura FRN, and the Spyderco large Goddard with Micarta handles...(You can find them if you look hard enough, I found both at the BAKCA showthis weekend, and no, they're not for sale...)

And, slightly smaller, the 'Cuda EDC framelock in 154CM...

That's my .02 worth anyway, hope it helps.

Mel
 
Originally posted by JDBraddy
It should be better than average steel, should feel good in the hand, have a 3.5-4" clip point blade with a point down pocket clip and a strong lock, I prefer a conservative design, black or grey is ok, preferably under $100.
Click to expand...
AFCK-Benchmade 800 or 800HS
The 806D2 (Axis AFCK) has the Axis lock, D2 steel, and the option of tip-down/or tip-up carry. It is a little over $100, though.

edit>>>check out Dennis' post here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=222277
Looks like it's going to be ~$120 but right up your alley...
 
Like others have said, the Camillus EDC is an awesome value. It would be my top choice.
 
Kershaw makes some pretty good knives to play with.

Just about anything Spyderco mades. . .is a good choice.

Can't miss with Case either.

How'z bout Hen & Rooster. . .

Queen. . .Schatt & Morgan. . .


Keep in mind. . .you can surf several knife forums and find quality knives worth more than $100 for less than $100. ;)
 
If you really want to start saving for that expensive beauty, then fork over $33 dollars @ www.discountknives.com for a Gerber E-Z Out with the 154 cm blade, or just run down to your local Wal-Mart for the standard blade version. I have carried one for years before upgrading to a Benchmade Stryker M2 and Emerson Mini Commander. They are even cheap enough that I have given several away as gifts to people who wouldn't regularly carry a knife, and now they carry theirs daily. I still have, and use my E-Z Out regularly, and have never had a problem with it. You won't find a sharper knife out of the box. Also, it is extremely quick out of the pocket because you can grab the hole in the blade, and flick your wrist to open it with lightning speed. It is very thin in the pocket (you can easily forget it is there). I know it doesn't have the more sophisticated liner lock, but I have applied heavy forces to the blade of mine as a test without any failure of any kind. The newer Gerbers with the liner locks are not as easy to open because you have to use the small thumb stud, or be able to flick your wrist very sharp to get the blade to open with inertia. The E-Z Out is much easier in my opinion. No matter what more expensive knife I carry daily, I will always own my E-Z Out as a backup blade, or for the dirty tasks that I don't want to subject my nicer knives to. Give one a try, you will probably love it after carrying it for a day or two. And besides, why spend more than $35 dollars for a "Cheap Knife"? This one is, IMHO, by far the best bang for your buck, but I may be a little biased since I have owned one for so long.

Mike
 
Spyderco endura will give you an introduction to a lot of the basics: great opening mechanism, better steel than in any knife mentioned so far, great edge geometry, etc.

BTW, as a counterpoint to the initial advice: buying small and working up lets you build knowledge as you go, and in theory, helps prevent you from making a big mistake. After you buy one inexpensive knife, are you really going to know that much about knives or your own preferences? Nope. You might think you will, but you won't! If you make a mistake buying that expensive knife, now we might be talking about a $350 mistake, not a $50 mistake.

Buying different inexpensive knives lets you get a feeling for the different opening mechanisms, steels, blade geometries, lock formats, handle formats, handle materials, and production values of knives. Some knives you think will be perfect for you, will turn out not to be -- no big deal, just a $35 knife. Knives you thought you wouldn't like will turn out to be great.

There's a reason most people don't go right from college to CEO of a major corporation -- you work your way up, learning all the way, and making your mistakes before you're in a position to ruin the entire business!

I definitely advise getting your feet wet before you start making big purchases, checking out a few affordable knives from different manufacturers, purposely looking at different blade materials and geometries, handle formats and materials, locks and opening mechanisms (if folders), etc.

If you're into folders, your inexpensive must-buy list should include a lightweight zytel folder (preferably the endura, which will introduce you to higher-end steel at a less-than-high-end price), a frame lock (e.g., EDC, Whisper, Paragee), and a liner lock. Plan to move up to a compression lock and axis lock (710 or axis AFCK) at some point soon thereafter. For fixed blades, depending on what you'd like to do with your knives, you should pick up an inexpensive puukko (Mora, etc.), an inexpensive machete (Ontario GI or beavertail, Tramontina, etc.), an SRK second or USMC kabar, etc.


Joe
 
Well Guy's,

I went knife shopping today, and I know what I want now! I looked at the Spyderco, the Benchmade Axis locks, the SRCK's, the Kershaw Blackouts, even the Microtec and Masters of Defense, and was just about to shell out for a Tempest when the guy standing next to me pulled a large plain Sebenza out of his pocket and asked "What do you think of this one"? I walked around the store looking for about another 20min or so with it in my hand, opening and closing it. It just felt so good in my hand. I'm in LOVE!!! I didn't want to give it back to him. I offered to buy it, and he told me it's not for sale. I asked him how long he'd had it, and he said "Six Years"! It was still the smoothest and most solid feeling knife I'd handled all day!
I want one of these knives!
 
Originally posted by JDBraddy
I went knife shopping today, and I know what I want now! I looked at the Spyderco, the Benchmade Axis locks, the SRCK's, the Kershaw Blackouts, even the Microtec and Masters of Defense, and was just about to shell out for a Tempest when the guy standing next to me pulled a large plain Sebenza out of his pocket and asked "What do you think of this one"? I walked around the store looking for about another 20min or so with it in my hand, opening and closing it. It just felt so good in my hand. I'm in LOVE!!! I didn't want to give it back to him. I offered to buy it, and he told me it's not for sale. I asked him how long he'd had it, and he said "Six Years"! It was still the smoothest and most solid feeling knife I'd handled all day! I want one of these knives!
Click to expand...

ROFL! Someone should have said, "Just buy a Sebenza!" :D
 
Well since your mind is made up now, while you're saving up for the Sebenza (pretty hefty chunk o' change for your first knife!) you should consider a Benchmade 710 or an AlMar Sere 2000 for your "cheapo but good enough knife". I think you would really be impressed with those two.
 
Just let JDB save up long enough to buy his Sebenza, then wait for him to realize it's actually too nice to use and beat the crap out of, (cuz like us, he ain't rich either), and then he'll be back soon enough asking us which Spyderco to buy...lol

Hell, I've seen it a hundred times here in the last two years... ;)

But wait, what's that, do I hear a Sebbie owner hissing in the background?

Why yes, yes I do...and it sounded something like..."Hsss, I use my Sebbie, I used it just today to open a letter and clean my fingernails, hsss..."

Yes Sebbie owner, and would you use it daily to pry with, or to cut metal bands, carpet on concrete etc?

"Why no silly, I'd leave my Sebbie in my pocket and just use my Spyderco..."

Case closed... :rolleyes:

Mel
 
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