Thoughts on EDC knives.

J

joker1

Joined
Sep 23, 2015
Messages
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I'm on the quest for a fast deployment folder with a good easy to use lock. I have been carrying a stainless Spyderco Harpy for many years and I'm looking to make a change. I do not like thumbstuds, discs, or the Emerson wave. I am obviously used to the Spyder Hole but kind of want a flipper. I want something slim but with good ergonomics. The liner-locks and frame-locks looked interesting but are not user friendly for me. I'm also looking to stay around a $100.00 or less. I want something sexy and scary.

After much internet research and a little hands on research I find myself looking into a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and maybe a few other models. Just recently I came across a couple of sweet looking folders from Klecker knives. Anyone familiar with them? Seems like most of the flippers out there have some crazy handle or thumbstuds. Any direction would be appreciated.

www.kleckerknives.com
 
Spyderco PM2 is a fine knife but it sells for more than $100. It's also not a flipper.

Your requirements are pretty narrow and it's unlikely you are gonna succeed in finding a Spyderco flipper that's slim, sexy, not a liner lock or frame lock that meets those requirements for $100 or less. If you up your maximum price a bit, the PM2 is possible and I think you'll be pleased with it.
 
Not sure what the difficulty is with liner locks, those are the easiest for me to operate.

The PM2 is a very good knife and could be the only knife that you would need. Most people like its compression lock but it is a bit more difficult to get the hang of than the average liner lock.
 
Sounds to me like you'd want a Benchmade Griptilian. Be wary, their QC has dropped, but I love mine.

The PM2 is EDC perfection, though it costs significantly more.
 
The pm2 is perfectly gettable at $100 on ebay. Lots of reputable companies selling them for 95-110. Especially if your just looking for the black/satin combo. Dlc coating adds money. Also the griptillian with the modified sheepsfoot blade and spydie hole would be an option also. Seems to sell for $97 just about everywhere.
 
DaNuke95 said:
What's going on with Benchmade?
Click to expand...

Apparently in recent years their QC has really slipped according to a number of posts I've seen on BF and elsewhere. When I got my Griptilian there was a ton of play in the blade, and no amount of pivot tightening would help. I sent it back to Benchmade and they did a bang-up job of fixing it, so I'm happy about that; still, it shouldn't have to happen.
 
Yeah I'm pretty picky. I'm used to the lockback design. The few frame locks I've played with were odd for me to use. The liner lock just doesn't impress me. Maybe with time I could learn to like them. I like one handed opening and closing. I realize the PM2 could be a little higher than my target price but honestly I wouldn't mind going over a little for a Spyderco. How is the ball-bearing lock on the Spyderco Manix series?
 
joker1 said:
Yeah I'm pretty picky. I'm used to the lockback design. The few frame locks I've played with were odd for me to use. The liner lock just doesn't impress me. Maybe with time I could learn to like them. I like one handed opening and closing. I realize the PM2 could be a little higher than my target price but honestly I wouldn't mind going over a little for a Spyderco. How is the ball-bearing lock on the Spyderco Manix series?
Click to expand...

I love both the compression lock and CBBL by Spyderco. Not that the caged ball bearing lock on the Manix is much stiffer than Benchmades Axis lock; However, using a coiled spring vs the omega springs in the Axis makes it infinitely better IMO. Its pretty tight when new, but breaks in.

I can't think of any flippers that use a back lock except customs like Brian Tighe and Glenn Klecker, and the CRKT Brian Tighe collabs, which are overpriced and very poor QC.
 
I think your on the right track with the PM2 but to get to the lower price point there are a few Cold Steels you should consider especially this year they've got a lot to offer. I have owned a Klecker Cordovan and it's a fine gentleman's folder a little heavy but very nice looking. I think it's better than the CRKT collaborations but a little over priced. Here's my review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA2m_YKOvio
 
Get the CS Ti-lite 6." It has a liner lock but it's extremely strong and effective. It has three ways to deploy. It's waveable, you can flick it open with the thumb stud, and you can flip it open (with a little practice) with a flick of the wrist that would compete with any flipper. They make it with the Zytel scales for 60 dollars, beaded aluminum scales for around 100 dollars, and now G10 scales priced somewhere in between the other two. It's also very "sexy and scary." Just my humble opinion. :D
 
joker1 said:
Yeah I'm pretty picky. I'm used to the lockback design. The few frame locks I've played with were odd for me to use. The liner lock just doesn't impress me. Maybe with time I could learn to like them. I like one handed opening and closing. I realize the PM2 could be a little higher than my target price but honestly I wouldn't mind going over a little for a Spyderco. How is the ball-bearing lock on the Spyderco Manix series?
Click to expand...

"Lockback" is really not made for one-hand operation. People claim that some brands can be operated one-handed but you have to be very careful with it, other brands don't work very well at all. The last time I tried closing a lockback knife one-handed, and I was an experienced knife handler, there was a lot of blood involved. I learned not to buy those anymore. It depends on how an individual knife is designed but I think the liner lock knife can be the easiest to close one-handed. I like the Manix 2 BBL, and the PM2 compression lock, but they take a little bit more time to close.

The Manix 2 is a bargain for what it is. You can find them used for very good prices, around $70. The PM2 is a good knife and very popular. They can be bought new for good prices, just a little over $100, and can be found used for sometimes $90-100. If you buy one new, just be careful where you buy it. People have gotten fairly good at faking them.
 
DaNuke95 said:
What's going on with Benchmade?
Click to expand...

Apparently, the attention to detail that Benchmade was known for "back in the day" is gone. I've owned and sold or traded a bunch of Benchmade knives over the last 20 years. Years ago they were what ZT Knives is today: American made production knives of the highest quality, with superb fit/finish and sharpness. Unfortunately, they aren't what they used to be. For example, in the last 2 or 3 years I've bought 5 Benchmade folders. Of those 5, only one (Mini-Onslaught) was perfect out of the box. Smooth opening, scary sharp, perfectly centred blade when closed. The other 4 (Contego, Stryker, Barrage, Nakamura) had issues. The Contego came dull out of the box and had to be sharpened. All had to be tweaked and adjusted to centre the blades in the handle, particularly the Barrage and Stryker. Luckily, the were both razor sharp. But, the worst offender was the Nakamura which the blade was practically rubbing against one of the liners and had excessive blade play, no matter how tight the pivot screw was adjusted. Incidentally, I stripped the pivot screw and had to get a replacement from Benchmade. I still own them and carry them and are perfectly fine after a bit of tweaking, but I won't buy another Benchmade without examining it in person.
 
joker1 said:
I'm on the quest for a fast deployment folder with a good easy to use lock. I have been carrying a stainless Spyderco Harpy for many years and I'm looking to make a change. I do not like thumbstuds, discs, or the Emerson wave. I am obviously used to the Spyder Hole but kind of want a flipper. I want something slim but with good ergonomics. The liner-locks and frame-locks looked interesting but are not user friendly for me. I'm also looking to stay around a $100.00 or less. I want something sexy and scary.

After much internet research and a little hands on research I find myself looking into a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and maybe a few other models. Just recently I came across a couple of sweet looking folders from Klecker knives. Anyone familiar with them? Seems like most of the flippers out there have some crazy handle or thumbstuds. Any direction would be appreciated.

www.kleckerknives.com
Click to expand...

Buck Marksman, perhaps?
 
You need a Manix 2 LW in S110v. It deploys very quickly and the ball bearing lock is by far my favorite locking mechanism. The ergos are perfect too.

The translucent blue one in CTS-BD1 is a great, more affordable option, but I've found that it doesn't hold an edge for very long. Comparable to AUS-8 in my experience.
 
Spyder59 said:
Get the CS Ti-lite 6." It has a liner lock but it's extremely strong and effective. It has three ways to deploy. It's waveable, you can flick it open with the thumb stud, and you can flip it open (with a little practice) with a flick of the wrist that would compete with any flipper. They make it with the Zytel scales for 60 dollars, beaded aluminum scales for around 100 dollars, and now G10 scales priced somewhere in between the other two. It's also very "sexy and scary." Just my humble opinion. :D
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Agreed---the 4" or the 6." Fun EDC's. Probably the strongest/best liner locks, at least for the price.
 
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