TOP choices in Monster folders??

silenthunterstudios said:
Even though they're over your price range, and not as big as you would like, the Spyderco Military and Benchmade Skirmish are two of my favorite big folders.
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At some point if the budget allows a bit more leeway I would be tempted to look at either of the above. I have looked for used ones on eBay, but have not seen a lot of used ones around. Although I have a couple of wholesale sources I have not been too happy with the prices I have seen so far, but you never know.

With that said, how do these two knives compare in the following ways:
1] Durability and "toughness"?
2] Edge retention
3] Ease and quickness of getting the blade out and ready to be deployed?

Thanks.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Spyderco Military and Benchmade Skirmish
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BLM4L said:
how do these two knives compare in the following ways:
1] Durability and "toughness"?
2] Edge retention
3] Ease and quickness of getting the blade out and ready to be deployed?
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Both are excellent working knives, tough, sharp and stay that way, great mechanisms. I've handled a few Skirmishes and mini Skirmishes and was very impressed.

I like the Military better. I carry an older S30V Millie and I got the BG-42/carbon fiber model also.

The Military has a big blade but it goes to a much more effective point, and the tip is stronger than looking at it might lead you to think. The design has gone through real-world use and constant upgrading, as it is something of a Spyderco flagship.

It has a very large handle and opening hole, so it's suitable for use in rough weather, even with gloves on. For its size, it is very flat and lightweight, so it carries well even in light summer clothes.

Even though it has "only" a 4" blade, it's a big folder, and you should consider getting one even if it doesn't fit the mega-folder definitions.
 
bammann45 said:
I like the looks of the Retribution -- very cool.
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I've got the larger of the two, the Retribution II.

The blade is only 4 3/8" but that's deceptive. It is a wide, thick blade, massively strong and sharp of N690Co. This is an Austrian steel used in many other italian-made knives.

Top quality construction. The handle is 6" long -- and 1" thick! The knife weighs about 10 oz. The sheath is absolutely the best factory nylon I have ever seen and it has to be. The knife is too big for any other carry and doesn't have a pocket clip.

Just understand you need a big hand and a strong arm to use a knife this size! :D
 
Trout Tamer, ouch! I hope you healed from that completely.
What size knife were they recommending as a large fixed blade?
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Esav - thanks for the well-wishes. The crushing happenned 5 years and 2 weeks ago; I just underwent a complete reconstruction back in March, my third surgery on it. The healing has gone so well that the surgeon has all but called it miraculous. Soon, soon, I'll be back to my beloved wilderness... this time, avoiding boulders :p

As for the knife they recommend, we spent a good deal of class time on that topic (imagine, a college course about wilderness survival, detailing knife use and care :thumbup: ) The standard-issue knife to students is the Cold Steel Bushman (larger version). The instructors' stance on survival knives can be easily summarized:

- anything is better than nothing
- carbon is preferable to stainless
- fixed blade trumps folding knife
- larger is more capable than smaller

They said that the prototypical survival knife has a 7.5" blade. 2 of the 4 instructors, though, carry/carried the CS Trailmaster with its 9.5" blade. To give perspective, though, one of the instructors said he knew of an Army SF colonel who wouldn't allow any men under his command to bring a knife with a blade larger than 6". That colonel's conviction was any wilderness task can be accomplished with a 4"-5" blade, given correct training and knowledge on the user's part. The colonel also pointed out that a soldier spends much time sitting in vehicles and larger knives can be cumbersome in a vehicle, especially if it must be entered or exited rapidly.

The general agreement of my instructors was that each person should find a knife that they *know* will function as needed in the field, personally testing said knife before depending on it. They steered us students towards a knife with a 7"+ blade, advising us to use all sorts of knives to find what each of us was most comfortable with. All other things being equal, though, they liked and recommended knives with at least 8" of blade, and this was evidenced by what they carried themselves.

I don't know if it's been updated recently, but here's a link to the class site:
http://survivalperspective.com/
 
Survival knife size is always going to be a topic. One aspect that doesn't seem to get factored in is the specific environment. I know when the subject comes up, I think in terms of northern hardwood forest. It's what i'm familiar with. But I wonder what differences I would find in rainforest or desert or arctic, and how our ideas of survival knives match the locals' actual use. Of course, they may not actually be involved in survival activities, having adapted to specific niches within their territory.
 
If you can find one, the Al Mar Jumbo Quicksilver circa 1991 was the biggest, baddest and largest folder on the market at a near 6" AUS-6a blade. I paid something like $70.00 back then. Not sure what one would command now pricewise but it was the WOW knife long before the 6" Cold Steel Ti, Voyager and the 5.5 Cuda's were abound.

Matador-
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Survival knife size is always going to be a topic. One aspect that doesn't seem to get factored in is the specific environment... I think in terms of northern hardwood forest... But I wonder what differences I would find in rainforest or desert or arctic
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That's a good question and a good observation. From my experience, different environments necessitate different tools. For example, a hardwood forest needs a tool optimized for repetitive striking of hard, dense surfaces. This leads the survivor to a hatchet, an axe, or a large, thick knife. A rainforest, however, calls for a cutting tool that can sever thick, fibrous, and soft material. Enter the machete - its thin, long blade profile allows for the swift strokes needed to cut vines and cords. In a pinch, a long-bladed knife can serve in this role, too.

A hatchet's edge is far too small for effective foliage-hacking. Conversely, a machete chips, bends, and breaks when used on dense wood. Each is a somewhat specialized tool. However, one form of cutlery actually can accomplish both tasks - a big, strong survival knife. Yep, I believe a 9" bladed survival knife is actually a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none object. It's not optimal for vine hacking, nor is it ideal for wood chopping. When all else fails, though, such a knife can accomplish both tasks, and more.

While ideal survival blade length is and always will be debateable, I am personally convinced that I could do whatever needed doin' with a big, strong fixed blade knife.
 
Matador said:
If you can find one, the Al Mar Jumbo Quicksilver circa 1991 was the biggest, baddest and largest folder on the market at a near 6" AUS-6a blade. I paid something like $70.00 back then. Not sure what one would command now pricewise but it was the WOW knife long before the 6" Cold Steel Ti, Voyager and the 5.5 Cuda's were abound.

Matador-
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Do you think that kind of thing would be on eBay?
 
Do you think that kind of thing would be on eBay?
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I'm not the original poster of that knife suggestion, but there's only one way to find out about E-bay - do a search :thumbup: Look under the "Collectables" category, then go to "Folding Knives". Things are always changing on The Bay, so look back regularly.

Here's another idea for a large folding knife, although it's outside of your original price range: the TOPS CQT Magnum 747. http://www.topsknives.com/product_info.php?products_id=59&osCsid=7312d423bb5abf5a8dfdbdb15f8a2091
It retails at $219, so you could find one at an e-tailer for around $170. It's got a 4.5" blade, 5.5" handle, 5/32" thick blade stock (nearly 3/16" thick, which is quite beefy for a folder), G-10 handle slabs, and I believe it has both a pocket clip and a nylon belt sheath.

Regardless of the knife you choose, don't be afraid to spend a bit more to get quality that you can count on - a lifetime of usage will be well worth the extra dollars spent :thumbup:
 
BLM4, I have just gotten an AMK jumbo quicksilver from ebay today, and like it, but do feel the handel is a little light as there is no actual liner, just the plastic handles and the steel lock. I do like it though. I think if you were looking for a realy nice monster folder, I think the cold steel 6" ti lite is the way to go. Many places sell them for less than 75$ and from the ones ive handled, are very sturdy, solid knives. Hope this helps!
 
These aren't quite as big as you are looking for, but they're my favorite "big" folders.

4xxhfzd.jpg
 
One more plug for a CS. the Recon 1 folders, new ones with the g-10 handles. only 4 inches (below what you had stated) but super strong you can find them for between 65-75$$$ I think (I have given daily use to my older zytel handled one for 6 years) . Also the big voyagers are also strong for their price. you can get either type in several blade designs and with or without serrations.
 
This is my EDC. Though it's not quite as large as you want, I've never found myself short on blade.Lone Wolf Harsey T-2

theperfectfolder.jpg


Oh, and Vivi, what the hell did you do to your spydies, sharpen them on a wire wheel?
 
I know they are just under the blade lenght (and over the price range), but I've been impressed with BM's Rukus, Ontario Hossom Retribution (the big one), Lone-Wolf Harsey T3 and TOPS 747 folders...The Hossom is a monstor of a folder and would be a great choice for something in the lines of a medium sized fixed blade.

I also have a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande and the SOG Elite II; I would probably take a hard look at the Cold Steel Voyager series as I think they would be a little more robust than the SOG Elite II (just my opinion, the lock is great, but the amount of steel between the handles isn't very much...don't think it would handle much if any lateral stress).

Opinal is another great recommendation...it's not pretty, but they work well.

ROCK6
 
I took a wilderness survival course in which we were required to have on our person, at all times in the wilderness, a large, fixed-blade knife.
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I'm curious
Was there a knife the instructor "recommended"?
Or you could use any fixed blade you wanted?

I was having the same issue with my neck knives I wear
I get a lot of weird looks..especially when I go in a bank!!!
Hhehehhehe
It's legal so who cares anyways
They can look all they want :cool:

I guess if I ever get a ticket I'll have to get a lawyer to prove that a neck knife is "openly ABOUT the belt"...As per California law
You guys will pitch in for the Trent Defense Fund right?! ;)
 
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