Torn between higher end fixed blade or higher end folder...

HikingIsLife

HikingIsLife

Joined
Apr 9, 2011
Messages
766
At the end of the day...I don't make enough money to satiate my need for all higher end blades. Lol. Soooo, I need to figure out what kind of combo I should rock.

What I have currently:

ESEE Junglas (happy with this one all the way around for a large camp knife/chopper).
Busse SAR 5 (torn with this blade...love the ergos...love INFI...feels like an outstanding all around mid-sized camp knife up to any chore the Junglas is a little large for)

Last need...which is actually the blade I use more than ANY of the above is a folder...I use a folder everyday as I GM a large wine/gourmet food retailer. I cut more tape and cardboard everyday than I would guess most people could imagine. I do have to pry open wooden wine boxes on occasion...though I have always hesitated to use a folder to ever accomplish this task (wishing I could carry a fixed blade w/o scaring the customers/staff).

For this category I was questioning the sale of the SAR 5 to fund a higher end folder like CRK Sebenza/Umnumzaan and buy an ESEE 3/4. The other side is to get a good folder I don't mind beating up a bit like a Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

Any advice??
 
Well I have another couple hundred bucks free I can play around with here. LOL. Love the post Jiggy.
 
Get whatever folder you want, and get a dedicated pry tool for the crates.
County comm has a really cool breacher bar that I'm going to buy; they have some neat customized ones posted on their site too.
 
Do yourself a favor and buy a Spyderco Gayle Bradley. You'll thank me later. Look into a mini prybar from STR as well.
 
Just bought a mini prybar, man that thing is going to be perfect! Thanks Tony. Why the Gayle Bradley over the Para 2?
 
CPM M4 steel... I've used my Gayle Bradley hard for the last two weeks at work. Cutting everything I possibly can. The blade goes through #10 and #12 stranded wire like butter. After sweating like a maniac for days I had only light surface rust spotting near the spyder hole and I got rid of it in no time flat with an eraser. I haven't touched up the edge in these past two weeks and the blade has zero rolling or chipping and is still hair shaving sharp. I am extremely impressed with the Gayle Bradley and the CPM M4 steel. I would recommend it to anyone.

Besides the cutting performance the knife is pretty heavy duty. It is one of the smoothest opening and closing production knives I've ever felt. The SS liners are nice and thick and the lockup is rock solid on the knife. No play in any direction and I am fully confident in the lock. The carbon fiber looks nice and even offers some grip like a smoothed out ray skin.

The only qualm I have with the knife is that there in no cutout to get to the liner lock, but I can still get to the lock easily enough to unlock the blade. For the price, I think the Gayle Bradley is one of the best bangs for the buck that you can find right now. High quality materials and excellent build quality at an unbelievable price.

I'll put it this way. If you buy a Gayle Bradley and don't like it, you can send it to me and I will send you my S30V Paramilitary 2 (light user) and forty bucks. I'll even Edge Pro the Para 2 to a mirror polish before I send it out. That's how confident I am in recommending the GB.

EDIT: I've got one of STR's mini prybars and they are so damn handy. They slide into a pocket and disappear and they have a hundred uses on a construction site. I love mine.
 
Tony8179 said:
CPM M4 steel... I've used my Gayle Bradley hard for the last two weeks at work. Cutting everything I possibly can. The blade goes through #10 and #12 stranded wire like butter. After sweating like a maniac for days I had only light surface rust spotting near the spyder hole and I got rid of it in no time flat with an eraser. I haven't touched up the edge in these past two weeks and the blade has zero rolling or chipping and is still hair shaving sharp. I am extremely impressed with the Gayle Bradley and the CPM M4 steel. I would recommend it to anyone.

Besides the cutting performance the knife is pretty heavy duty. It is one of the smoothest opening and closing production knives I've ever felt. The SS liners are nice and thick and the lockup is rock solid on the knife. No play in any direction and I am fully confident in the lock. The carbon fiber looks nice and even offers some grip like a smoothed out ray skin.

The only qualm I have with the knife is that there in no cutout to get to the liner lock, but I can still get to the lock easily enough to unlock the blade. For the price, I think the Gayle Bradley is one of the best bangs for the buck that you can find right now. High quality materials and excellent build quality at an unbelievable price.

I'll put it this way. If you buy a Gayle Bradley and don't like it, you can send it to me and I will send you my S30V Paramilitary 2 (light user) and forty bucks. I'll even Edge Pro the Para 2 to a mirror polish before I send it out. That's how confident I am in recommending the GB.

EDIT: I've got one of STR's mini prybars and they are so damn handy. They slide into a pocket and disappear and they have a hundred uses on a construction site. I love mine.
Click to expand...

Wow, that makes even me want to try the GB. I suspect if you can hold out for a little longer the zt056X wouldn't make a bad choice either. Like most other people say, if you are planning to pry with your knife, just get a pry bar. Not saying you can't pry with a knife, I know a crk would take care of me if I needed to pry something, but it would make your knife last a long longer and keep it in better shape. Prying should also be easier with a dedicated pry bar.

If you cant wait, maybe you should try the m4 GB, and with Tony's deal, there isn't too much to lose. It's also loads cheaper than a CRK.
 
Well Tony. I took 100% of your advice in this thead. I bought a STR Mini Prybar and a new Gayle Bradley. With the enthusiasm of your post I couldn't say no. I will let you know my thoughts. Thanks again.
 
I'm sure you will not be disappointed, but my offer stands if you don't like the GB.
 
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