too many of these threads, i know....

mytowrig

mytowrig

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Mar 10, 2008
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68
but here's my question for you long time BF residents (or any of you highly experienced knife whores:D):

i am looking to get my dad a new EDC folder. the thing is, he likes things simple (i.e. no tanto, clipped blades, etc), tough & reliable, and doesnt want to have to sharpen it. he won't use it to saw a brick or anything, so anything that will hold a nice edge for a long time with just regular everyday old man use with an occasional 'tough job' like carpet or heavy cardboard. restrictions would be to try to keep it under $200, no tanto or 'scary' or clipped blades, don't want it to be able to rust to easily, needs to have a pocket clip, and blade needs to be between 2" and 3". can you guys tell me, in your humble and best opinions, the best folders from:

1. benchmade

2. kershaw

3. crkt

4. spiderco

5. sog

6 - ∞. any others worth mentioning ( i want to try to avoid cheapies such as
gerber)


Thanks a lot for your generous and humble wisdom!

oh yeah, slimness is a plus!
 
If resharpening is an issue and edge-retention is a high priority serrations are a good choice. Spyderco's serrations are the best in the business. I recommend the Caly3 or Paramilitary in the edge format of your choice, although I'd recommend serrations. The Delica4 in any edge format (plain, serrated, combo) is also an excellent choice and the comboedge gives you a good mix of the two. They are not the prettiest knives but they are all functionality. Spyderco offers a free sharpening service (you cover shipping) and will sharpen their serrations as well -- some other companies will not sharpen serrations! They are all fairly slim, very tough, and offer excellent performance.

My own father carries a Benchmade 556 everywhere and loves it. He is fairly competent at freehand sharpening so sharpening it is not an issue for him. He thinks the AXIS lock is pretty nifty.
 
I was tempted to suggest getting him a small box cutter with a bunch of disposable blades.
 
Rich357 said:
I was tempted to suggest getting him a small box cutter with a bunch of disposable blades.
Click to expand...

he goes through those blades like crazy! he still uses those for when he has a LOT of cutting... he was a general contractor for many years and he does know how do sharpen, he just hates doing it, and hes at the 'just about to retire' age where he doesnt want to worry about it...
 
mytowrig said:
he goes through those blades like crazy! he still uses those for when he has a LOT of cutting... he was a general contractor for many years and he does know how do sharpen, he just hates doing it, and hes at the 'just about to retire' age where he doesnt want to worry about it...
Click to expand...

If he gets a Benchmade, and is willing to send it off to Benchmade now and then, they will sharpen the knife for him.

I think some other knife companies also have a sharpening service for their knives.
 
Spyderco - some great simple designs with excellent steel. YOU won't ever have to worry about the knife failing (and saving face) as they are built to last.
 
Have you considered Laguiole?
I find them to be very classy looking blades and it's what I gave my dad for Christmass.. he always has it on him.
 
the benchmade minigrip#556 is the knife he will love to have,i got one for my son he is 45 years old and he is always raveing about it.i'm sure your dad will also.
 
thanks guys, keep em coming! i still have plenty of time to find the right one, i just wanted to start looking early!
 
Kershaw S30V leek ~$70
Benchmade 530 Pardue ~$75

A little larger
Any of kershaw's blur series (except the tanto) --I'd get the S30V one
~$70 for S30V, ~$55 for Sandvic regular

That's for 2-3-3/8 inches.
 
1+ on the Benchmade Mini-Griptilian, great all-around EDC
Search around on-line and you should find it under $60.
Cheap enough to buy a couple in your range. Great knife.

Blade Length: 2.875"
Overall Length: 6.75"
Closed Length: 3.9"

Many different models; this is the 556C combo edge:

d8c0_1.JPG
 
i dont have a lot of hands on experience with many of the companies you listed but i hae used a sog twitch 2 and a kersaw leek. both are nice knives, stay pretty sharp, both are spring assisted, the sog is harder to deploy and the kershaw is very easy to deploy but both are a little past the ends of the spectrum of what i would like personally i am pretty confident the kershaw wouldnt open in a pocket but i am dead sure my sog wont (now watch it open up tomorrow and cut me). the twitch 2 is pretty small though (i wear a large size glove, and the sog is a touch small) but the kershaw is a nice size for average size hands.

for where to buy ive used knife works for both of those purchases and had good service and fast shipping, great prices to boot.

-matt
 
My vote goes to a Spyderco Delica in ZDP-189 steel , fully serrated (about $70 I think). Edge retention will last longer than most, including more expensive knives. The Delica in ZDP is a 4th generation of the original design and Spyderco made the tip thicker than earlier generations because of complaints of tip breakage. The modified tip is one of the more secure tips I've seen, especially for the budget. Granted, there are a lot more knive that fit into the parameters you've given. I just think this probably fits them best.
 
I got my dad a spyderco Delica 2 years ago and it never left his side he loves it. I got him the VG-10 steel and I got him a sharpmaker (just easier then sending it in and living without a knife once your used to it at your side) All I can say is he loves them both.
 
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