This is just a quick list of "the good" and "the bad" of some knives that I own.
These are just my own opinions and not to be taken as undisputable facts.
Your experience might differ--and that's okay.
Spyderco Atlantic Salt, yellow handle plain-edge:
The good:
Very light-weight.
Comfortable handle.
Easy to open because of the large thumb-hole.
Very secure grip due to the curves, the choil, and the texturing.
The straight-edge sheepsfoot blade makes for easy sharpening.
H-1 steel, FRN handle, and titanium clip equals RUST PROOF.
The bad:
The ridges cut in the blade for grip are too sharp (easily fixed with a file).
It appears cheap (just like most plastic handle knives).
No liners.
The H-1 blade-steel shows scratches and wear marks rather easily.
The balance:
An awesome knife for light-to-medium work (if you like the sheepsfoot blade--and I do)!
Spyderco has some real winners with the Salt series.
It's the perfect knife for light summer clothing and sport activities (biking, swimming, jogging, etc).
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=172
Spyderco Salsa, green aluminum combo-edge:
The good:
The Compression-lock seems very secure and strong.
The Cobra-hood opens the knife with ease, and it makes a great thumb-rest too.
The handle construction seems very strong.
The full flat grind on the blade is very nice.
The bad:
The "salsa" pepper logo looks a little silly.
The blade is too broad with not enough point, and it's too short for a combo-edge.
The handle should be about 1/4" longer to be truly comfortable.
Takes up alot of room in the pocket for such a short-bladed knife.
I've come to dislike the Compression-lock--it just is'nt the easiest to operate with one hand.
I sometimes get a small pinch from the Compression-lock when I'm opening the blade.
The balance:
Almost a good knife.
The titanium version might solve some of the problems, but the blade is still too broad and stubby.
The overall design does have alot of potential, minus the Compression-lock.
Spyderco Military, black S30V plain-edge:
The good:
The S30V really is as great as everyone says.
The blade shape and design, combined with the full flat grind, makes this a knife a real pleasure to use.
The handle is comfortable and is large enough for any hand.
The G-10 scales are very grippy (they actually grip you right back).
It's surprisingly light-weight for such a large folder.
It's very easy to open due to its liner-lock and ball-detent design, and the huge thumb-hole.
The bad:
The liner-lock.
Yes, it does work, but this knife practically begs for a better lock.
Dual liners would really make this one more substantial.
Beefier spacers would be nice also.
The balance:
I would keep the liner-lock and add the LAWKS system, and add another nested liner--that would make it nearly perfect.
Or give it a better lock like the Ball-bearing-lock.
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=114
Spyderco D'Allara Rescue:
The good:
Seems like a very strong knife due to the dual steel liners and thick scales.
The texturing affords a very secure non-slip grip.
It's comfortable to use.
Extremely easy to open.
The bad:
It's heavy.
The lock is difficult to unlock (maybe my fingers are too fat).
It's very bulky and really fills the pocket.
It's heavy.
There is no plain-edge option available.
The handle might be too thick for smaller hands.
Oh yeah, it's heavy.
Actually it is'nt THAT heavy, but the design and short blade makes it seem heavier that it really is.
The blade seems a tad short for such a bulky knife.
The balance:
This knife design has plenty of potential but the current version is just too bulky.
I have read that Spyderco is working on an improved drop-point version--it should be very interesting.
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=35
Benchmade 720 Pardue, aluminum scales plain-edge:
The good:
The Axis-lock!
154CM blade-steel.
An extremely strong folder.
Comfortable handle unless you have large hands.
Nice flat saber-ground blade.
Classy appearance.
The bad:
The lack of texturing makes it somewhat slippery (but easy on the pockets).
It seems rather heavy for a knife this size.
The black coating on the aluminum scales shows every scratch and ding.
Handle could be about 1/4" longer for total comfort.
The blade is maybe just a bit too thick.
The balance:
Overall, a great knife.
It's solid, strong, and reliable, and looks good too.
Too bad the handle is'nt just a bit longer with tip-down carry.
Benchmade 551 Pardue Griptilian, plain-edge drop-point:
The good:
The Axis-lock!
An excellent blade shape and design--probably my very favorite (it's perfect for an EDC).
The handle is very comfortable to use.
The knife is the perfect size for an EDC--not too large and not too small, not too light and not too heavy.
The 440C seems to be a nice compromise between edge retention and corrosion resistance (although S30V would be better).
The bad:
The handle scales.
They look and feel cheap--they even sound cheap.
Somehow, they feel and look even cheaper than the FRN that Spyderco uses on the Endura.
And despite the texturing, they're still somewhat slippery.
The knife does'nt balance very well--it is rather "blade heavy".
The balance:
This is an excample of the where the materials don't live up to the design.
Tip-down carry option would be great.
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=551
CRKT Nealy Pesh Kabz, plain-edge:
The good:
Very strong construction.
The plastic scales look nice with subtle texturing.
The LAWKS goes a long ways in dispelling my liner-lock worries--it's simple and effective.
In fact, I wish that all liner-locks had the LAWKS system.
The flipper is terrific--it's no wonder that they have become so popular.
The ball-detent is the strongest that I have ever used!
There's no way that this one is going to open by accident.
The bad:
AUS-6 blade-steel.
The handle is just about 1" too short.
The pocket-clip digs in to my palm when using the knife.
The ridges on the flipper are too sharp (easily fixed with a file).
The blade.
This is the strangest blade design that I have ever used.
The last inch of the blade is unsharpened and is very thick.
It's almost like a knife blade and a marlin-spike all in one.
The balance:
Weird.
Just plain out weird.
Well, that's all for now but I will be adding more knives later.
And once again, these are just my opinions.
Allen.
These are just my own opinions and not to be taken as undisputable facts.
Your experience might differ--and that's okay.
Spyderco Atlantic Salt, yellow handle plain-edge:
The good:
Very light-weight.
Comfortable handle.
Easy to open because of the large thumb-hole.
Very secure grip due to the curves, the choil, and the texturing.
The straight-edge sheepsfoot blade makes for easy sharpening.
H-1 steel, FRN handle, and titanium clip equals RUST PROOF.
The bad:
The ridges cut in the blade for grip are too sharp (easily fixed with a file).
It appears cheap (just like most plastic handle knives).
No liners.
The H-1 blade-steel shows scratches and wear marks rather easily.
The balance:
An awesome knife for light-to-medium work (if you like the sheepsfoot blade--and I do)!
Spyderco has some real winners with the Salt series.
It's the perfect knife for light summer clothing and sport activities (biking, swimming, jogging, etc).
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=172
Spyderco Salsa, green aluminum combo-edge:
The good:
The Compression-lock seems very secure and strong.
The Cobra-hood opens the knife with ease, and it makes a great thumb-rest too.
The handle construction seems very strong.
The full flat grind on the blade is very nice.
The bad:
The "salsa" pepper logo looks a little silly.
The blade is too broad with not enough point, and it's too short for a combo-edge.
The handle should be about 1/4" longer to be truly comfortable.
Takes up alot of room in the pocket for such a short-bladed knife.
I've come to dislike the Compression-lock--it just is'nt the easiest to operate with one hand.
I sometimes get a small pinch from the Compression-lock when I'm opening the blade.
The balance:
Almost a good knife.
The titanium version might solve some of the problems, but the blade is still too broad and stubby.
The overall design does have alot of potential, minus the Compression-lock.
Spyderco Military, black S30V plain-edge:
The good:
The S30V really is as great as everyone says.
The blade shape and design, combined with the full flat grind, makes this a knife a real pleasure to use.
The handle is comfortable and is large enough for any hand.
The G-10 scales are very grippy (they actually grip you right back).
It's surprisingly light-weight for such a large folder.
It's very easy to open due to its liner-lock and ball-detent design, and the huge thumb-hole.
The bad:
The liner-lock.
Yes, it does work, but this knife practically begs for a better lock.
Dual liners would really make this one more substantial.
Beefier spacers would be nice also.
The balance:
I would keep the liner-lock and add the LAWKS system, and add another nested liner--that would make it nearly perfect.
Or give it a better lock like the Ball-bearing-lock.
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=114
Spyderco D'Allara Rescue:
The good:
Seems like a very strong knife due to the dual steel liners and thick scales.
The texturing affords a very secure non-slip grip.
It's comfortable to use.
Extremely easy to open.
The bad:
It's heavy.
The lock is difficult to unlock (maybe my fingers are too fat).
It's very bulky and really fills the pocket.
It's heavy.
There is no plain-edge option available.
The handle might be too thick for smaller hands.
Oh yeah, it's heavy.
Actually it is'nt THAT heavy, but the design and short blade makes it seem heavier that it really is.
The blade seems a tad short for such a bulky knife.
The balance:
This knife design has plenty of potential but the current version is just too bulky.
I have read that Spyderco is working on an improved drop-point version--it should be very interesting.
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=35
Benchmade 720 Pardue, aluminum scales plain-edge:
The good:
The Axis-lock!
154CM blade-steel.
An extremely strong folder.
Comfortable handle unless you have large hands.
Nice flat saber-ground blade.
Classy appearance.
The bad:
The lack of texturing makes it somewhat slippery (but easy on the pockets).
It seems rather heavy for a knife this size.
The black coating on the aluminum scales shows every scratch and ding.
Handle could be about 1/4" longer for total comfort.
The blade is maybe just a bit too thick.
The balance:
Overall, a great knife.
It's solid, strong, and reliable, and looks good too.
Too bad the handle is'nt just a bit longer with tip-down carry.
Benchmade 551 Pardue Griptilian, plain-edge drop-point:
The good:
The Axis-lock!
An excellent blade shape and design--probably my very favorite (it's perfect for an EDC).
The handle is very comfortable to use.
The knife is the perfect size for an EDC--not too large and not too small, not too light and not too heavy.
The 440C seems to be a nice compromise between edge retention and corrosion resistance (although S30V would be better).
The bad:
The handle scales.
They look and feel cheap--they even sound cheap.
Somehow, they feel and look even cheaper than the FRN that Spyderco uses on the Endura.
And despite the texturing, they're still somewhat slippery.
The knife does'nt balance very well--it is rather "blade heavy".
The balance:
This is an excample of the where the materials don't live up to the design.
Tip-down carry option would be great.
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=551
CRKT Nealy Pesh Kabz, plain-edge:
The good:
Very strong construction.
The plastic scales look nice with subtle texturing.
The LAWKS goes a long ways in dispelling my liner-lock worries--it's simple and effective.
In fact, I wish that all liner-locks had the LAWKS system.
The flipper is terrific--it's no wonder that they have become so popular.
The ball-detent is the strongest that I have ever used!
There's no way that this one is going to open by accident.
The bad:
AUS-6 blade-steel.
The handle is just about 1" too short.
The pocket-clip digs in to my palm when using the knife.
The ridges on the flipper are too sharp (easily fixed with a file).
The blade.
This is the strangest blade design that I have ever used.
The last inch of the blade is unsharpened and is very thick.
It's almost like a knife blade and a marlin-spike all in one.
The balance:
Weird.
Just plain out weird.
Well, that's all for now but I will be adding more knives later.
And once again, these are just my opinions.
Allen.
