Three hard use modern folders, three different brands, post your favorites.

DocJD said:
:oops: Apology to OP for exceeding thread parameters ! But IMO Cold Steel truly deserves top billing for any list of "modern hard use folders " . Especially if cost / value is a factor . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Ultimate Hunter for sure and the AD-10 even more so . The 4-Max probably deserves the best of class for extreme hard use folder . The "Scout" version being much cheaper and very high value , but less premium materials .

I don't claim that Spyderco , ZT , and even Benchmade have nothin' to offer for hard use , but they tend to be very pricey for what you get compared to Cold Steel .

For what you pay for most other brands (or less) you can get the best extreme hard use folders from Cold Steel that will far out perform them . IMHO , YMMV ! :p
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I agree. Cold Steel arguably provides the most value for your money in the premium knife market. If one factors in “hard use” the most value proposition isn t even arguable.
 
For hard use, I prefer a fixed blade knife but I don't have much need for hard use knives. As to my folders, certainly my Buck 110 and 500 are probably the strongest. I don't think the Griptilian is considered a hard use knife but I've seen videos of beating the crap out of them. I keep mine in my glove box but I also have a Fallkniven F1 in the console and would grab that if I needed to baton something.
 
Had a Hinderer XM24 but just not my thing. Have a few Reeve knives but don't give them hard use. Do like and use ny Adamas though but consider it more for what I call "beater" tasks. For most real hard use tasks I'd still go with a fixed blade.
 
I've had hundreds of folding knives, and I don't know if I'd really call any of them "hard use". My preference is pay up for better quality rather than greater degrees of robust capacity. Rather than "hard use", I would say that my favorite large, working folders would be a Large Sebenza, full-size Southard Tolk, Hinderer XM18 Skinner, Spyderco M4 Military RIL, ZT 0452CF, and a Hoback UHEP CF Kwaiback - in rotation.
FWIW - The only knife I have right now that could could truly be called 'hard use" is my poor old ESEE 6. It sure takes a lickin'...
 
With nearly 50 years of carrying knives for work, I had to up my game when I went from being a carpenter/cabinet guy to a general contractor. As a small GC, you are chief cook and bottle washer, and serve as needed on the project. When I needed a "heavier duty" to carry on site, I foundered around a lot. Started reading Bladeforums long before I joined. Bought a few here and there as recommended by BF members, and thankfully they were good suggestions. Along with my own research, I wound up with these and couldn't be happier:

ZT 0909 - excellent work knife. Liked it enough that I bought another in case I lose/break one

Cold Steel Bush Ranger in Sv35 - excellent knife, and a great slicer despite the factory grind. EXTRA sturdy work knife that exceeded my expectations. (Nod to Charlie Mike for posting he first pics I ever saw of this knife!)

Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter - If you have one, you know. All the great things that make Cold Steel a Cold Steel, including a nice sized handle for good grip

Robert
 
SIG96 said:
I don't really have any hard use knives at the moment other than my 0562 Ti which is the loveliest tank I've used yet. Just ordered my first hinderer a la the Jurassic, so that will hopefully count. Thinking about a CRK for my next big purchase. Hopefully CRK will have an Insingo 31 in 45vn by then. Also, what is the Spyderco you have there?
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Sorry, missed this. It's a Gayle Bradley 1. Unfortunately discontinued but they pop up on the secondary market on occasion.
 
Don't want to nominate anything I don't own and therefore don't know much about, so in order as I understand the question:

Benchmade Adamas: Solid build, about as bulletproof as a folder needs to be, easy to clean. Wish the steel was better, but this D2 is good enough.

Freeman 451: If i had to have only one hard use folding survival knife this would be it, but it would hurt my feelings if I lost or broke it. Too hard to find a replacement; Adamas' are easy to find and cheap enough if you are patient. I wish it had 4v steel. Not crazy about S35VN for this situation. As with the Adamas, it is plenty good enough but not optimum.

Hogue Ritter RSK M390: For practical use, this would be The One other than when the waste matter hits the rotating blades scenario. Relatively cheap, great steel, easy carry in a normal pocket, good enough for most use, etc. Other than heavy cutting of hard or green wood and such, I can't imagine a survival situation involving a folder that this one could not handle, even field dressing. Not the easiest to sharpen out in the bush unless you grabbed a sharpener but then if you did, you probably also got the fixed blade next to it, didn't you?

I left out knives such as Chris Reeve. No doubt they excel, but I would never carry a $400+ knife to a situation where I would break something like an Adamas or the Freeman 451. Not to sound cheap, but that is why God gave us fixed blades. Can't imagine an apocalyptic situation where I could not spend a couple seconds to grab a fixed blade, but these little exercises are interesting to contemplate.

FWIW, YMMV, WWTMM, etc.
 
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I went thru a “hard use” phase but have since sold most of them off. If I had to pick from what I’ve kept I’d go with a XM-18, Fallkniven PXL, and a mini Crooked River my wife ordered from the custom shop.
 
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