Top Five production knives of 2005 thread

STR

STR

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Ok, everyone has had a chance to list the knives they bought for 2005. Now that the year is basically at an end and we are coming up on 06 right around the corner, what are your top five picks of the knives you bought that are production folding knives for 2005? Knives don't have to be new to anyone but you. If you want to state why thats cool too.

My picks of the ones I acquired in 05 are:

1) Best heavy duty user: Spyderco Manix hands down choice for the money.

2) Best light duty Gents folder: Spyderco ZDP189 Burgundy Calypso Jr. This is one of the best knives to come out all year. Sheeple friendly and cuts til the cows come home.

3) Best folding hunter: Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter. This is so much knife for the $50 purchase it just blew my mind. One of the best handles of any folder I've ever bought.

4) Best small everyday carry knife: Salt 1 from Spyderco. Completely maintainance free carefree knives in these Salts.

5) Best medium-large everyday carry knife: BenchMade 420 Resistor. Perhaps the smoothest opening and closing knife I've ever owned. Sweet knife here but my Wave I put on it was the deciding factor. Without that I'd probably pick something else.
 
I really didn't buy too many knives in 2005, except for a handful of production pieces, most of which were only "new" to me. For the most part, I was extremely pleased.

1. Spyderco Caly Jr. in ZDP189. Small, light, good looking, wicked slicer. Great EDC.
2. Benchmade 806D2. The pinnacle of "tactical" IMHO. If I 'need' one big, bad-ass life or death folder, I'm packing this thing.
3. V&D M1 D/A. Waaaaay nicer then the specs or price would suggest. Total sleeper. Zytel scales let it down a bit, otherwise it has a huge toy factor.
4. Benchmade 635 Mini Skirmish. Outstanding Blackwood design in a reasonable carry size. Fantastic fit and finish. Closes the quality gap between production Ti framelocks vs. "semi-production" Ti framelocks.
5. Spyderco Native. A classic I suppose, my first from Wal-Mart is a great bargain for just under 40 bucks. Can't seem to leave it at home.

(6. Bradley Alias II. Criticized for it's high MSRP. Only an issue if you actually PAY that, IMHO. Are comparisons to the Sebenza fair? Yes and no. Either way, there's no getting around that it's a great knife.)
 
I have picked up a few users in 2005, the ones that have really worked for me are as follows:

1. Spyderco Mini Manix - This has quickly become my work knife, the slight reduction in size and weight from the full size Manix has made it perfect for my requirements. In my line of work, it gets a hiding everyday, and loves it.

2. Swamp Rat Camp Tramp - This is in my travel bag whenever I leave the city and head bush. This chopper takes and holds an edge that surprises me. As a user, and at the price, this is one heck of a useful blade.

3. Spyderco Grey Calypso Jr - Not sure if I bought this one in 2005, but this little knife is a beauty, it consistently proves that a small knife can do a big job. Did I mention sharp, scalpel sharp.

4. Kershaw Kai Shun 8.5" Kitchen Knife - Not a kitchen chopper, but this thing after a light strop still scares me in the kitchen. If it touches you, you bleed - never owned a sharper kitchen knife.

5. Leatherman Charge TI - My fishing companion and household quick fix tool. Every man should own one, this is a seriously good knife/tool that is an absolute steal at the price.

Have acquired allot more than these 5 in 2005, but these ones have found their way into my consistently used list.
 
This is my first year as a knife knut, and I am just getting started, so my knife purchases haven't been that interesting, yet.

(in no order)

1) Kershaw Leek. Slim and elegant. Fun to use, cuts well, and has a great design. A great EDC user for only 40 bucks.

2) Spyderco Native. My first knife in a super steel, and for only 40 bucks. This really got me into good knives and is one of the best bargains going.

3) Buck 110. I know it's about 3 decades too old to be the knife of the year, but it is my first year owning one. Along with the Native, this knife got me into good knives and is also one of the best bargains going. Feels like a tank. Very nice and solid, and pretty cool looking.

4) Buck Nighthawk. This, more than any other knife I own, is a knife I can I can abuse and not have to worry about. It is rugged and looks good dinged up. A total user.

5) Mcusta Kasumi. IMO, this is the most beautiful knife in the world. Period. A classy dress knife that is also a great performer thanks to VG-10. This knife got me into high(er)-end production knives. It is my EDC outside of work (while I usually EDC my Leek and Native at work).

Here are the knives I would add to the list if including knives I plan on buying.

1) Chris Reeve Sebenza. I haven't even handled one yet, and it's not a new knife, but it continues to be the production folder than all production folders, and even many custom folders, are compared to. It is a huge influence on the high-end folder market, and in many ways is the Ferrari of folders.

2) Spyderco Manix. A great bargain at just over 100 bucks. Feels great in the hand and is made from high-end materials. Is often mentioned in the same discussions as Sebenza and Strider, but at a much lower price.

3) Benchmade Skirmish. It is a beauty and a beast. I consider it very elegant and pretty, yet still very scary and mean. Also a bargain.

The Mcusta Kasumi would stay on the list.
 
1) Spyderco Manix

2) Spyderco Cricket

3) CS Vaquero Grande

4) BM710HS

5) BM710HS/Leatherman Charge XTi
 
CRKT M16-SF: most fun I ever had with those twin-flippers on it!
Kershaw Black Horse II: in camo..a sweet fish & game user.
Buck 179 Hilo: perfect Gents framelock EDC.Wicked edge.
Spyderco Endura:SS scales, tough,stout EDC
Cold Steel Ti-Lite: next on my wish list.
 
I am pretty new at this and my list for 2005 isnt too long, but here it is:

1. Spyderco Persian (I never thought i'd buy a spyderco 'cause i find their designs " shall we say... aesthetically challenged - but the persian is beautiful and excellent knife too (i hear it off production though - replaced by a smaller model))
2. Combat Elite RRF - perfect EDC, excellent materials, smothest opening
3. Microtech Vector - sharpest litle knife ever
4. Microteck mini-socom second sharpest little knife ever
5. Ka-Bar Dozier folding hunter in D2 (for $40 - an amazing quality knife)
 
I find it hard to just pick single knives, so the following are companies I think are tops right now (production only):

Benchmade-still being innovative and releasing interesting, high quality designs

Spyderco-see description above, because it holds true here, too

Fallkniven-I still think they make the best PRODUCTION fixed blades on the market

Ranger Knives-Yeah, I know many consider them custom, and for good reason, but they are readily available from several sources and, according to several posters, the quality is way above what you pay for one

BK&T-still offering the best bang-for-the buck fixed blades on the market

Just my opinion. Be well!
 
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